Released: November 16, 1987

Songwriter: LA Reid Babyface

Producer: LA Reid Babyface

[Intro]
To believe
Or not to believe
That is the question
It just takes a street degree
You've lied your last lie
And I've cried my last cry
I'm out the door, babe
There's other fish in the sea

[Verse 1]
Girl, make a list
Go out and find yourself a new bad thing
Girl, you need a trip
'Cause he's not worth the misery and pain
Just remember
How he would tell you lies
And then pretend that everything is so sweet
Why should you sacrifice
If you're not satisfied?
He's just a canine running 'round in heat

[Chorus]
Girlfriend
How could you let him treat you so bad?
Oh
Girlfriend
You know you were the best he ever had
Oh, oh, oh-whoa
Girlfriend
How could you let him treat you so bad?
(Treat ya, treat ya) Oh
Girlfriend
You know you were the best he ever had
Oh, oh, oh-whoa

[Verse 2]
Girl, you must resist
Don't let him squirm his way into your heart
No, girl, I must insist
You've got to stop the fool
Before he starts
Just remember how he was so untrue
With all the tacky things he did to you
No need to signify
'Cause he's not worth your time
You need to find someone that's true to you

[Chorus]
Girlfriend
How could you let him treat you so bad?
Oh
Girlfriend
You know you were the best he ever had
Oh, oh, oh-whoa
Girlfriend
How could you let him treat you so bad?
(Treat ya, treat ya) Baby, don't be sad, no
Girlfriend
You know you were the best he ever had
Oh, oh, oh-whoa

[Post-Chorus]
To believe
Or not to believe
That is the question
It just takes a street degree
You've lied your last lie
And I've cried my last cry
I'm out the door, babe
There's other fish in the sea

Cute (Cute, cute, cute)
Hey, Deele
Sing

[Bridge]
To believe
Or not to believe
That is the question
It just takes a street degree
You've lied your last lie
I've cried my last cry
I'm out the door, babe
There's other fish in the sea

[Chorus]
Girlfriend
How could you let him treat you so bad?
(Treat ya, treat ya) Baby, don't be sad, no
Girlfriend
You know you were the best he ever had
Oh, oh, oh-whoa

[Refrain]
Don't let him get you down
Girl, he's been messing around
You've been used, abused
So, baby, make your move
You've learned your lesson now
So, turn this hurt around
You ain't no fool
'Cause you've got to bust loose

[Outro]
Girlfriend
How could you let him treat you so bad, oh
Girlfriend
You know you were the best he ever had
Oh, oh, oh

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.