Songfacts®:

• Written by the Philadelphia Soul specialists Leon Gamble and Kenny Huff, this was originally recorded by The O'Jays in 1973 on their album Ship Ahoy. In 1978, the Jamaican group Third World recorded the song in a more uptempo style with a funk bassline, leaving off the strings from the original version. In 1991, Heavy D & the Boyz pumped the bass even more on their rap version, which hit #11 in the US and #2 in the UK.
• The song has a somewhat universal message of loving and acceptance, as the singer has seen the light, and wants he and others to spread the message of hope. The Heavy D version has different lyrics and it finds the overweight lover trying to win the heart of a girl in a club.
• Third World gained a much larger audience with this song, expanding their base beyond reggae. They had two other UK hits: "Cool Meditation" and "Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)." They also charted again with a 1985 reissue of "Now That We Found Love" that hit #22.