Sam Moore's album version
| Sam Moore: | Oh somebody, the sermon today is about a song I love so much |
| You know I can't get no more (satisfaction) | |
| Girl, you just don't give me no more (inspiration) | |
| Listen to me | |
| You gone and lost that (lovin' feeling) | |
| But ah, but ah, you won't see me packin' up my coat (goin' leavin') | |
| Sam Moore: | You better believe me when I tell you (ooh, ooh) |
| Uh huh (ah, ooh, ooh) | |
| It's better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| You know that a man without a woman (is sure) | |
| Is gonna feel bad | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | Brotherman, brotherman, listen |
| Girl you cause me so much (pain and sorrow) | |
| Ah but you haven't no more money momma it is (so much harder) | |
| You better know it, yeah | |
| Friends stop by my house (instigating) | |
| But you know there won't be no no no no no no no (separating) | |
| Sam Moore: | (Ooh, ooh) |
| Oh, la | |
| (Ooh, ooh) | |
| Moore and Springsteen: | It's better to have and don't need |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| A man without a woman | |
| Sam Moore: | (Is sure gonna be sad) Is surely, oh whoah, yeah |
| Bruce Springsteen: | Come on Sam! |
| Sam Moore: | I ain't got but one thing to say |
| If you don't mind, I'd like to say it | |
| You know my clouds don't have no (silver lining) | |
| Don't throw no umbrella on me, baby, 'cause the (sun is shinning) | |
| Hahaha | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | Say it, Sam! |
| Sam Moore: | I remember when she used to (keep me honey) |
| I like the lyrics to your song, I just can't (feel the music) | |
| I wonder do you know what I'm taking about (Ooh, ooh) | |
| Huh? (Ah, ooh, ooh) | |
| Sam Moore: | It's better |
| Moore and Springsteen: | to have and don't need |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| (Somebody is better than nobody | |
| To have, have, have) | |
| Sam Moore: | Alright |
| Moore and Springsteen: | It's better to have and don't need |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Sam Moore: | Whoah! |
| Moore and Springsteen: | Much better to have and don't need |
| Sam Moore: | And I need |
| Moore and Springsteen: | Than to need and don't have |
| Sam Moore: | I need |
| Moore and Springsteen: | Much better to have and don't need |
| Sam Moore: | Than don't have |
| Moore and Springsteen: | Than to need and don't have |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Sam Moore: | Sing it right there, my buddy |
| Moore and Springsteen: | Than to need and don't have |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Much better to have and don't need | |
| Than to need and don't have | |
| Sam Moore: | Much better |
| Bruce Springsteen: | So much better, now |
| Sam Moore: | Much better |
| Bruce Springsteen: | So much better |
| Sam Moore: | Much better, yow |
| Bruce Springsteen: | So much better, now |
| Sam Moore: | Ah, to have and don't need |
| Bruce Springsteen: | Than gonna |
| Sam Moore: | Need and don't have |
| Bruce Springsteen: | It's better to have, and have, than need and don't have |
| Whoah, whoo hoo |
BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED is a song written by Homer Banks, Thomas Bingham, and John Colbert, and released in 2006 by Sam Moore's on his comeback album Overnight Sensational. Bruce Springsteen guests on the recording of this track.
Sam Moore's comeback album Overnight Sensational was released on Rhino Entertainment on 29 Aug 2006. The Grammy nominated album was Moore's first solo album in over thirty five years (and the second ever). It's a collection of duets with over 20 stars, including Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting, and many more.
Springsteen shares lead vocals with Moore and play guitar on the track BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED. Springsteen's part was recorded around Feb 2006 at Thrill Hill Recording (Springsteen's home studio) in Rumson, NJ. The primary recording sessions for the album (this track in particular) took place in Hollywood CA. Howeverm, Springsteen (with Toby Scott engineering) worked only from his home studio and overdubbed onto Moore's already completed basic track.
Track credits:
Written by Homer Banks, Thomas Bingham, and John Colbert
Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
Michael Thomson, Robert Bacon: guitars
Mike Finnigan: Hammond B3
Greg Phillinganes: keyboards
Cornelius Mims: bass
Vinnie Colaiuta: drums
Jimmy Woods: mouth harp, background vocals
Sherree Ford Brown, Tabitha Fair, Siedah Garrett, Sharlotte Gibson: background vocals
Jay Mitchell: programming
Recorded and mixed by Kevin Guarnieri
Engineer for Bruce Springsteen: Toby Scott
Digital editing: Jeff Kanan, Kevin Guarnieri
Assistant Engineers: Glenn Pittman, Matt Serrecchio, Keith Gretlein
Studios: Henson Recording, Hollywood, CA; Thrill Hill, New Jersey; The Dugout, Hollywood, CA
Nearly 15 years earlier, Bruce Springsteen and Sam Moore teamed up on Springsteen's 1992 album Human Touch. Moore appeared on three of the album's tracks: SOUL DRIVER (harmony vocals), REAL WORLD (vocals), and MAN'S JOB (vocals). Overnight Sensational producer Randy Jackson played bass on Human Touch.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help. Some of the above recording info is taken from Brucebase.
List of available versions of BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED on this website:
BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED [Sam Moore's album version]