We'll say a friend of mine
A fella I know real well
Came to me on Friday, he had a story to tell
I've heard it a thousand times
But this one hit close to home
'Cause the woman who left him I've taken for my own

Love leaves you no choice in the matter
There ain't a damn thing sadder
Than a man in the throes of something real
The woman who lays down beside you
She can't help or hide you
It don't matter how she wants to feel

So I bought him a round or two
And gave him a talking to
I said, "Boy, you can't let yourself get so far"
But you can't tell a man a thing
When he's picking out diamond rings
And you yourself don't know who you are

Love leaves you no choice in the matter
There ain't a damn thing sadder
Than a man in the throes of something real
The woman who lays down beside you
She can't help or hide you
Don't matter how she wants to feel
My hands, they used to be a young man's hands
But I worked 'em to the bone, for the woman
Where'd she even find the time to get to know another man?
"Leave me alone," he said, "leave me alone"

Love leaves you no choice in the matter
There ain't a damn thing sadder
Than a man in the throes of something real
And the woman who lays down beside you
She can't help, she can't hide you
Don't matter how she wants to feel
Oh no, no matter how she wants to feel