Mary J. Blige

Released: August 26, 2003

Songwriter: Mary J. Blige Barry White Majid Hasan Sean Foote Tom Brock Robert Taylor

Producer: Diddy Mario Winans Majid Hasan Sean Foote

[Verse 1]
What is a friend?
Could it be that it's just a word
Or something in your life that you've heard
Or just another one of those big fat lies
Because many nights this word has made me cry
So hard my stomach hurts deep down inside

[Chorus]
Uh oh, there goes that word again
(There it goes again)
How did we let it end?
I thought you were my friend
(I swear I thought you were my friend)
I can't believe my very eyes
(I can't believe it)
Right to my face you lied
'Cause you're my so-called friend (Yeah yeah)

[Verse 2]
How could you call yourself a friend?
Uh oh, there goes that word again
That brings people together and tears them apart
It's always said by those who claim they love you
When all the while they want to fill your shoes
And never calling you up with no good news

[Pre-Chorus]
They're always happy when you're through (Yeah)
They never want the best for you (Never, never)
They're always trying to fill your shoes
(I don't understand this kind of friend, y'all listen)

[Chorus]
Uh oh, there goes that word again
How do we let it end? (How do we let it end?)
I thought you were my friend
(I thought you were my friend, yeah)
I can't believe my very eyes
(I can't believe my very eyes)
Right to my face you lied
(Oh, right to my face you lied)
'Cause you're my so-called friend

[Bridge]
Opportunity's knocking, here comes my friend
Uh oh, there goes that word again
They only come around when they need something y'all
Listen here, listen here
They call you every day 'til they reel you in
And they want to hang out so you can spend on them
I don't understand, I don't understand this kind of friend

[Chorus]
Uh oh, there goes that word again
How do we let it end?
I thought you were my friend
I can't believe my very eyes
(I can't believe my very eyes)
Right to my face you lied
(Right to my face you lied)
'Cause you're my so-called friend

Uh oh, there goes that word again
(Friends, how many of us have them? I don't think we really need them, if they aren't a friend)
How did we let it end?
I thought you were my friend
I can't believe my very eyes
Right to my face you lied
'Cause you're my so-called friend

Uh oh, there goes that word again
How did we let it end?
I thought you were my friend

[Outro]
I thought you were, you were my friend
Give me another track immediately

Mary Jane Blige (b. Jan 11 1971) grew up in the projects of Yonkers, New York. A random decision to record a cover of “Caught Up in the Rapture” by Anita Baker in a pop-up recording booth at a mall led MJB to getting signed by Uptown Entertainment. After providing background vocals on Father MC’s hit single “I’ll Do 4 U” in 1990, a young intern at Uptown named Sean “Puffy” Combs ended up executive producing Mary’s 1992 debut album What’s The 411?. Fusing hip-hop beats with Mary’s soulful voice earned her the nickname “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul”.

She followed up her debut with a string of critically acclaimed albums, including 1994’s My Life and 1997’s Share My World, as well as hit singles such as “Not Gon' Cry,” “Family Affair,” “Be Without You,” and “Just Fine.”

She also collaborated with rappers on a number of tracks, including Jay-Z’s “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” Ghostface Killah’s “All That I Got is You,” Wyclef’s “911,” Common’s “Come Close,” and Method Man’s “I’ll Be There for You/All I Need to Get By,” which was a platinum hit and won the two of them a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group.

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