New Edition

Released: November 9, 2004

Songwriter: Stevie J Neely Dinkins Vito Colapietro

Producer: Co-Stars

[Intro: Ronnie DeVoe & Ralph Tresvant]
Listen up ma, I got something to tell you, yeah
Gotta play the game
Play the game, strictly for the ladies, come on

[Verse 1: Ralph Tresvant]
There's no kisses from you, when I'm leaving in the morning
There's no roses for you, when I know I've hurt your feelings
Don't know what happened to us, girl, I never saw it coming
How did love go downhill?
I think I know what cheatin' men feel

[Pre-Chorus: Ralph Tresvant]
I hit the bar, bought a drink, sip it slow just to think
Then a star wearin' big Gucci
She said it looks like you need a friend
The lonely girl is knockin', let me in
We can leave, no delay take my mind off this pain
To go do things in the Marriott suite
Tell wifey that I might be working late
Hope I never have to say I lied

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
To keep my six, to keep my house (I'm sorry, girl)
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, babe, to make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, babe, I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied

[Verse 2: Ralph Tresvant]
I'm so nervous these days, got a feeling she'll be calling
I know hurt is on the way when I dream of angels fallen
There's no perfect way to say how my vows to you were broken
Who is that on the phone? Let me explain before go

[Pre-Chorus: Ralph Tresvant]
I hit the bar, bought a drink, sip it slow just to think
Then a star wearin' big Gucci
She said it looks like you need a friend
The lonely girl was knockin', I let her in
We left, no delay, took my mind off this pain
To go to bed in the Marriott suite
I know I said that I was working late
But you found out today I lied

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
To keep my six, to keep my house (Hey hey)
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, baby, to make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, baby, I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)

[Bridge: Ralph Tresvant]
From the moment I heard you say you're leavin' (Don't go)
It was the worst I thought could happen (For sure)
I'm already missing your lovin', your laughter, the morning after
It's not a home without you here
I swear I learned my lesson, baby

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
To keep my six, to keep my house
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, babe, to make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss (Yeah)
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, babe, I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied (Yeah)
To keep my six, to keep my house
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, babe, to make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, babe, I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)

[Outro: Ronnie DeVoe]
Strictly for the ladies, my Black sistas
Strictly for the ladies, you know, Latinas, yeah
Strictly for the ladies, Playboy Bunnies and all, ya know
Strictly for the ladies, come 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

One Love

From the album

One Love (2004)

New Edition popular songs

That’s Why I LiedNew Edition

New Edition

One Love