Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers
Affection
Richman

Well, people all over the world, people all over the world, people all over the world are starvin' just for affection
Well, but to me this ain't funny
To me this is real
So I thought I'd tell everybody
How I feel
About affection
I said affection
Now, you guys, you all know that your friend Jonathan likes to eat food a lot. And I like to do other things, I like to run around, jump, but affection is the most important thing to me. I'd trade everything else in a minute...
You know, I used to starve for affection
I blamed the world, and it could be the world's fault, I suppose
But I was a star of the type who said, "I don't have time for them,"
And the type who says, "I have nothing in common with those."
But then I relaxed a little
And I met more folks who liked me
And they helped me to reach out and give
And that helped me to get more of affection
And that helped me to live
So I say that people all over the world are good
People all over the world ain't bad
But if they keep bein' snobs about it
They ain't gonna get what they wish they had
And that's affection
Affection
Well, there's telephones, televisions, and cars, yes
And there's records and books and magazines for you
But poor affection sits there standing in the corner
Saying to itself, "I wish someone would give me something to do."
Well, I know it takes nerve to reach out and give affection
To folks who seem to want your touch but you can't tell
Cause they can laugh at you, and that's rejection
And you probably won't like that so well
But I say that people all over the world are good
People all over the world ain't bad
But if they keep on chickenin' out
They won't get what they wish they had
Affection
That's affection
I know they want affection
I know they want affection