New Edition

Released: September 10, 1996

Songwriter: Jermaine Dupri Johnny Gill Ralph Tresvant Michael Bivins Carl So-Lowe

Producer: Jermaine Dupri Carl So-Lowe

[Intro: Michael Bivins & Ronnie DeVoe]
Yo, Ron, man
(What's up, man?)
Man, I just got off the phone with my girl, right?
(Oh, yeah?)
And all she could think about was, you know, what we be doin' out here, you know what I'm sayin'? Like we be just with girls all the time
(Ah, same ol' same)
Yeah, I be tryna tell her, you know, it's all about you girl, no lie

[Verse 1: Johnny Gill]
I never move too fast, girl
When it comes to letting my feelings show
I like to take my time out
I like to do it slow
'Cause a man's got to do
Every woman he can
'Cause it's in our nature
Said it's in my nature

[Chorus: New Edition & Johnny Gill]
First come, first served (Oh, oh)
Is the way some do it but not me
I (I), shop around (Yes, I do), shop, shop around (Oh)
First come, first served
Is the way some do it but not me (But I)
I, shop around (Shop around), shop, shop around

[Verse 2: Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown]
[Ralph Tresvant]
I've got expectations what my settle down should be
She got to be stacked head to toe
She's gotta be down for me

[Ricky Bell]
And I won't settle for nothing less
But the cream of the crop
Girl, I gotta have the best

[Johnny Gill]
Don't let, don't let, I won't let you sell that game
'Cause I know what I want, and you know what you gotta bring

[Bobby Brown & Johnny Gill]
You don't have to tell me
About the things that's going on
I know how to pick and choose, win or lose
(I know a good thing when it's going on)
I know a good thing when it's going on

[Chorus: New Edition & Bobby Brown]
First come, first served
Is the way some do it but not me (But not me, I)
I, shop around (I shop around, baby)
Shop, shop around (I shop around)
First come, first served (First come)
Is the way some do it but not me (But not me, I)
I, shop around (Shop around), shop, shop around

[Bridge: Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant]
(Oh, oh) (Shop around, shop around)
So what'cha gon' do
Say ya wanna get down, ah
So what'cha gon' do
Say ya wanna get down
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)

[Chorus: New Edition & Johnny Gill]
First come, first served (Oh, oh)
Is the way some do it but not me
(The way some do it but I)
I, shop around (Shop around), shop, shop around (Oh, oh)
First come, first served (The way that I want it)
Is the way some do it but not me (The way that I need it)
I, shop around (You gotta please me), shop, shop around

[Outro: Johnny Gill]
She's gotta be stacked head to toe
She's gotta go for what she knows
'Cause that's the kinda girl that I need
Stacked head to toe
She's gotta go for what she knows
'Cause that's the kinda girl that I need

New Edition is a Boston-based R&B group that was seen as the inspiration of the boy bands that followed them during the 1980s and 1990s. The group initially consisted of Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe. They released their debut album Candy Girl in 1983 after being discovered by producer Maurice Starr. This album yielded the hits “Candy Girl,” “Popcorn Love,” and “Is This the End.” After a financial dispute, New Edition cut ties with Starr and released their second album New Edition in 1984, which features two of their biggest “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man.” In November 1985, they released All for Love featuring the hits “Count Me Out” and “A Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)” and one month later released Christmas All Over the World.

Before the end of 1985, the group decided to vote Bobby Brown out of the group for his disruptive behavior. After their 1986 doo-wop cover album Under the Blue Moon, lead singer Ralph Tresvant was considering a solo career as the group’s direction was in question. In 1987, Johnny Gill was added to the group and the quintet went on to create their most popular album Heart Break with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis in 1988. This album was released on June 20, 1988—the same day as Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel—and features two more of their biggest “If It Isn’t Love” and “Can You Stand the Rain.”

In 1990, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill and Bell Biv Devoe all went on to have successful hits. Among these hits was the remix to BBD’s “Word to the Mutha,” which was the first song to feature all six members. After a hiatus, all six members came together in 1996 to create the album Home Again, which hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and was a multi-platinum success. After some friction on the Home Again tour, Bobby Brown decided to depart the group again. In 2004, after leaving their longtime label MCA Records, New Edition signed with Bad Boy Records and released the album One Love but they left Bad Boy a year later due to a lack of promotion. The group continues to tour together and sell out shows after 30 years in the business. The group was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2017—one day ahead of the BET premiere of their 3-night mini-series The New Edition Story.

more tracks from the album

Home Again

From the album

Home Again (1996)

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Home Again