Released: September 11, 1990

Featuring: Salt-N-Pepa

Songwriter: Cheryl “Salt” James LA Reid Babyface Pebbles

Producer: LA Reid Babyface

[Intro]
Do you get suspicious?
Watch for the glances
Don't put your love life in the streets

Do you get suspicious?
Watch for the glances
You better take it from me

[Verse 1]
Friends, who needs 'em?
One can't live with 'em, can't live without
Men, can't keep 'em
Not when your good friend is trying to bring you down

Do you get suspicious when they call you their girlfriend
And you don't know them very well?
Watch for the glances on the side to your boyfriend
Just read the signs, I'm sure you can tell

[Chorus]
See somebody standing in your own backyard
Somebody's trying to steal your man
Don't be a fool and let them get that far
You better stop them while you can
Hold on to your man

Hold, hold
Hold on to him
(Hold on)
Hold, hold

[Verse 2]
Trends, they feed 'em
They all jump on it, on whatever's hot
But girlfriends be careful
Because your man might be just what they ain't got, no

You should be cautious if you've found you a good man
Don't put your love life in the streets
There is a shortage of good love from a good man
So watch your back, you better take it from me

[Chorus]
See somebody standing in your own backyard
Somebody's trying to steal your man
(They'll try and steal your man)
Don't be a fool and let them get that far (no fool)
You better stop them while you can
(Stop them while you can)

(Hold, hold
Hold on to him)
Hold on
(Hold, hold)
You better take it from me
(Hold, hold)
Don't be no fool
(Hold, hold)
Oh, no

[Rap: Salt 'N Pepa]
Yo, you better watch out
She's out to take your guy
And I can see why (He's fly)
Even I had my eye on him for a long time
Yo, Pep (What?)
Kick that rhyme

Don't be dumb, all the girlies want some
He's paid, he's not a bum
Know where I'm coming from?
Understand, she has a plan
And, that's right, she'll take your man

(Hold on, hold on)
So you better hold on tight 'cause she'll take your man
And you know that I'm right, she'll take your man
Girls be on your best guard 'cause she'll take your man
Right from your own backyard

[Chorus]
Oh, if you see somebody standing in your own backyard
They're out to get your man, girl don't you let them in
Don't you be a fool and let them get that far
So stop them while you can, they've got a master plan

See somebody standing in your own backyard
Somebody's trying to steal your man
(You better take it from me)
Don't be a fool and let them get that far
(Don't be no fool)
You better stop them while you can

[Outro]
'Cause when you snooze, you lose
That's when they make their move
So stop them while you can
It's just a matter of time
And girl that ain't no lie
They're out to take your man
Hold on to your man

Hold on, hold on, hold on to your man
Hold on, hold on, take it from me
Hold on, hold on, hold on, can't you see?
Hold on, hold on, can't you see?

Do you get suspicious?
Watch for the glances
Don't put your love life in the streets

Do you get suspicious?
Watch for the glances
You better take it from me

[Chorus]
Oh, if you see somebody standing in your own backyard
They're out to get your man, girl don't you let them in
Don't you be a fool and let them get that far
So stop them while you can, they've got a master plan

See somebody standing in your own backyard
Somebody's trying to steal your man
(You better take it from me)
Don't be a fool and let them get that far
(Don't be no fool)
You better stop them while you can

'Cause when you snooze, you lose
That's when they make their move
So stop them while you can
It's just a matter of time
And girl that ain't no lie
They're out to take your man
Hold on to your man

Hold on, hold on, hold on to your man
Hold on, hold on, take it from me
Hold on, hold on, hold on to your man

Pebbles

Pebbles (born Perri McKissack on August 29, 1964) is a singer-songwriter from the Bay Area. She got her start as a back-up singer for the Vallejo-based group Con Funk Shun in the early 1980s before breaking through with her self-titled debut album in 1987. Her first big single from the album was the L.A. Reid & Babyface-produced hit “Girlfriend,” which hit #1 on the R&B Singles chart and peaked at #5 on the pop chart. She followed that up with her biggest single “Mercedes Boy,” which also topped the R&B Singles chart while peaking at #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & Dance charts.

Her 1990 sophomore album Always was primarily written and produced by L.A. & Face. The album featured the #1 R&B singles “Giving You the Benefit” and her duet with Babyface “Love Makes Things Happen” as well as the Top 5 R&B hit “Backyard” with Salt-N-Pepa. On a personal note, R&B singer Cherrelle is her cousin and she was featured on the title track along with Johnny Gill.

Prior to the release of Always, Pebbles and L.A. Reid married in 1989. Following the release of that album, she began managing TLC under her Pebbitone company while they signed to LaFace Records. TLC filed for bankruptcy in 1995 and cited mismanagement by Pebbles as a source of their financial issues. This situation took a toll on her marriage to L.A. Reid and he filed for divorced the same year.