New Edition

Released: July 6, 1984

Songwriter: Arno Lucas Steve Goodman Rick Chudacoff

Producer: Peter Bunetta Rick Chudacoff

[Intro: New Edition]
Shooby-doo-bop
Shooby-doo-bop
Shooby-doo-bop
(Yeah)

[Verse 1: Ralph Tresvant + Bobby Brown]
I'm sitting here, writing this letter
Hoping it will make you feel better
We've been through the sunshine and the rain
And I never realized that you were in pain, yeah
Someone has mistreated you
Left you all alone and blue
And don't you know it hurts me, too
And, baby, I know my life won't be the the same
And if you hear me call your name...

[Chorus: New Edition]
(Shooby-doo-bop) Maryann
(Shooby-doo-bop, shooby-doo-bop) You will never need another
(Shooby-doo-bop) Here I am
(Shooby-doo-bop, shooby-doo-bop) I will be your real lover

[Verse 2: Ralph Tresvant + Ricky Bell]
Someone else's plans and his schemes
Left you with these broken dreams
Dreams that keep you up all night, yeah
I know my life won't be the same
And if you hear me call your name, girl

[Chorus: New Edition]
(Shooby-doo-bop) Maryann
(Shooby-doo-bop, shooby-doo-bop) You will never need another
(Shooby-doo-bop) Here I am
(Shooby-doo-bop, shooby-doo-bop) I will be your real lover

[Bridge: New Edition]
You and I can make it if stay together, baby
And if we try, we will last until forever
Whoa, whoa

Shooby-doo-bop
Shooby-doo-bop
Shooby-doo-bop
(Maryann)
Shooby-doo-bop

[Chorus: New Edition]
Maryann (Shooby-doo-bop, bop, bop, shooby-doo-bop)
You will never need another (Shooby-doo-bop)
Here I am (Shooby-doo-bop, bop bop, shooby-doo-bop, bop, bop)
You will see, it will be, you're the only one for me
(Shooby-doo-bop) Maryann
(Shooby-doo-bop, bop bop, shooby-doo-bop) You will never need another
(Shooby-doo-bop) Here I am, oh baby
(Shooby-doo-bop, bop bop, shooby-doo-bop)
(Shooby-doo-bop) Maryann
(Shooby-doo-bop, bop bop, shooby-doo-bop) You will never need another
(Shooby-doo-bop) Here I am
(Shooby-doo-bop, bop bop, shooby-doo-bop) I will be your real lover

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.

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