Um-hm-hm… aah ah ah…
Don’t leave me this way
I can’t survive, can’t stay alive
Without your love, oh baby
Don’t leave me this way, no
I can’t exist, I’ll surely miss your tender kiss
Don’t leave me this way
(A broken man with empty hands
Oh baby please, don’t leave me this way)
Aaah baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you
Now come on down and do what you gotta do
(Now come on girl and do what you gotta do)
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can’t you see it’s burning out of control
Come on (now) satisfy the need in me
Only your good lovin’ can set me free… hey
Don’t, don’t you leave me this way, no
Don’t you understand I’m at your command
Oh baby please, please don’t leave me this way
Aaah baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you
Now come on down and do what you gotta do
(Now come on girl and do what you gotta do)
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can’t you see it’s burning out of control
Come on (now) satisfy the need in me
Only your good lovin’ can set me free… hey
Need your lovin’ baby, need need your love right now…
Your love is so important to me… got to have it…
(‘Cause it would be wrong
To string me along a love so true)

Given my druthers, I’d still prefer my pre-tween daughter listen to Thelma Houston’s (no relation) song than Katy Perry’s. Fact of the matter, of course, is that the Top 40 has been a lyrical wasteland for as long as the Top 40 has existed (two notable exceptions in the 02/77 top 10, however, are Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” and Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice.” There are no notable exceptions in this month’s list.).