Released: January 25, 1999

Songwriter: Toni Estes Isaac Phillips Fred Jerkins III Rodney Jerkins LaShawn Daniels

Producer: Rodney Jerkins

[Verse 1]
Friday night, you and your boys went out to eat, oh
Then they hung out
But you came home around three - yes, you did
If six of y'all went out, uh
Then four of you were really cheap, yeah
'Cause only two of you had dinner
I found your credit card receipt

[Chorus 1]
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Pack your bags, up and leave
Don't you dare come running back to me
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy, yeah (uh)

[Verse 2]
I'll pack a bag so you can leave town for a week (Yes, I am)
The phone rings, and then you look at me
Why'd you turn and look at me?
You said it was one of your friends, down on 54th Street, boy
So why did 213 show up on your Caller I.D.? Oh

[Interlude]
I've been through all of this before
I've been through all this before
So how could you think
Don't think about it, don't think about it
That I would stand around and take some more?
Get gone, get gone
Things are gonna change
Things are going to change, baby
'Cause I won't be a fool anymore
You don't stand no chance, boy
That's why you have to leave
I said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So don't turn around to see my face
Don't you turn around
There's no more tears left here for you to see

[Verse 3]
Was it really worth you going out like that? (Tell me, oh)
See, I'm movin' on
And I refuse to turn back (Back, back, yeah)
See, all of this time
I thought I had somebody down for Whitney
It turns out, you were making a fool of me, ohh

[Chorus]
It's not right, but it's okay
Sho 'nuff okay, ha
I'm gonna make it anyway
Make it anyway
Pack your bags, up and leave
Pack your bags, get out and leave
Don't you dare come runnin' back to me
Don't you dare, back to me, boy
It's not right, but it's okay
It's not right, it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
I'm gonna, I'm gonna, ahh
Close the door behind you, leave your key
Close the door, and leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy
I'd rather be alone than unhappy, oh
It's not right, but it's okay
It's not right, it's okay, baby
I'm gonna make it anyway
I can pay my own rent
Pack your bags, up and leave
Pay my light bill, take care of my babies
Don't you dare come runnin' back to me
Oh, oh, oh-whoa
It's not right, but it's okay
Oh, lord
Oh-oh-oh, ooh
I'm gonna make it anyway
Get up and leave
Close the door behind you, leave your key
Yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah
I'd rather be alone than unhappy
I'd rather be alone than unhappy
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna be okay
I'm gonna be alright
I'm gonna make it anyway
I'm gonna be okay
I'm gonna be alright
Pack your bags, up and leave
I'm gonna be okay
I'm gonna be alright
Don't you dare come runnin' back to me
(Things are gonna change)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
('Cause I won't be a fool anymore)
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna be okay
I'm gonna be alright
I'm gonna make it anyway
I'm gonna be okay
I'm gonna be alright
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'm gonna be okay
I'm gonna be alright
I'd rather be alone than unhappy
(There's no more tears left here for you to see)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

[Outro]
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Pack your bags, up and leave
Don't you dare come running back to me
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway
Close the door behind you, leave your key
I'd rather be alone than unhappy
It's not right, but it's okay
I'm gonna make it anyway

Whitney Houston

Known across the pop culture spectrum as the “Queen of Pop” and “The Voice” for her mezzo-soprano octave, Whitney Elizabeth Houston left an indelible impression upon pop culture. She is one of the most successful artists of all time, with more than 200 million albums sold worldwide.

Born August 9, 1963, Houston grew up singing as part of the gospel choir at her local church. She was surrounded by powerful voices in her own family (mother Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, godmother Darlene Love, honorary aunt Aretha Franklin). After working as a model and commercial actress in the early 1980s, Whitney was discovered during a New York City nightclub performance, which led to her signing a contract with Clive Davis at Arista Records. Whitney’s first song was a duet in 1984 with Teddy Pendergrass on “Hold Me.”

She released her self-titled début album the following year, which catapulted her into superstardom as the album topped the Billboard 200 for 14 non-consecutive weeks before becoming the top-selling album of 1986, eventually achieving diamond status in the US and selling over 22 million copies worldwide. The singles “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved platinum status. The music video for “How Will I Know” received heavy rotation on MTV, which was uncommon for Black women at the time. She took home the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award for “Saving” in 1986; her performance at the Grammys of “Saving” later won her an Emmy award. She also won seven American Music Awards between 1986 and 1987.