New Edition

Released: March 15, 1983

Songwriter: Maurice Starr Michael Jonzun

Producer: Maurice Starr Michael Jonzun Arthur Baker

[Verse 1: Ralph Tresvant]
Is this the end?
Are you my friend?
It seems to me
You ought to be free

[Bridge: Ralph]
You used to be mine when the chips were down
You used to be mine when I weren't around
Girl, can't you see how I feel?
All these feelings that I feel are real
Oh oh, girl
Can't you see I need you?

[Verse 2: Ralph]
Is this the end?
Are you my friend?
It seems to me
You ought to be free

[Bridge: Ralph]
You used to be mine when the chips were down
You used to be mine when I weren't around
Girl, can't you see how I feel?
All these feelings that I feel are real
Oh oh, girl
Can't you see I need you?

Aw, baby, is this the end?
Aw, baby, is this the end?

[Outro: Ricky Bell & (New Edition)]
Mama told me one day it was gonna happen
But she never told me when
She told me it would happen when I was much older
Wish it would've happened then
(Is this the end?)
Mama told me one day it was gonna happen
But she never told me when
She told me it would happen when I was much older
Wish it would've happened then
(Is this the end?)
I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know
Is this the end, girl?
(Is this the end?)
I gotta know, I gotta know, I gotta know
Is this the end?
(Is this the end?)
I need to know

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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Is This The EndNew Edition

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Candy Girl