New Edition

Released: September 10, 1996

Songwriter: Jermaine Dupri Ricky Bell Ronnie DeVoe Jane Eugene Carl McIntosh Steve Nichol Bob James Carl So-Lowe Dougie D

Producer: Jermaine Dupri Carl So-Lowe

[Verse 1: Bobby]
I know sometimes I seem a little crazy
But I'm not too crazy in love
See, I'm not a trick
I can take it or leave it
You can be about it
'Cause I can do without it

[Pre-Chorus - Ricky]
For some reason
You take your life for granted
Like it's a game
And you'll only win
The things you say
And the things you do
You act like it won't come to an end
You need to realize

[Chorus]
Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself
Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

[Verse 2: Ralph]
Some people say that I'm
Nothing but a player
I don't play when it comes to my heart
Don't be so cruel
When you know everything is cool
You can be about it
Cause I can do without it, oh

[Verse 3: Ronnie]
Now I let you slide once
Let you slide twice
The third time, babydoll
It won't be so nice
You looking hot though
But you can't play Ron DeVoe
The laid back mack
With mad flow so here we go
I got a hottie with a mad body
Don't you know in the 5-0-0
On the way to the crib-o
So how you live
I had to ask my man Biv
Uh huh, it's looking kind of positive

[Chorus]
Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself
Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

[Pre-Chorus]
For some reason
You take your life for granted
Like it's a game
And you'll only win
The things you say
And the things you do
You act like it won't come to an end
You need to realize

[Chorus]
Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

Easily you can be left alone
Tighten it up
You better
Before you find yourself by yourself

Is this the part
You take my heart
And wipe your feet on?

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)

New Edition popular songs

Tighten It UpNew Edition

New Edition

Home Again