Based on sales, Boyz II Men is one of the most successful R&B groups of all time, having recorded five #1 pop hits between 1992 and 1997. They have since topped sales of 25 million records. Three of their #1 hits, "End of the Road", "I'll Make Love to You", and "One Sweet Day" (a duet with Mariah Carey), set and broke records for the longest period of time a single remained at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Boyz II Men were originally signed to Motown Records from 1990 to 2000, at which point they were moved to parent label Universal Records. After the 2000 album Nathan Shawn Michael Wanya, Boyz II Men moved to Arista Records. In 2003, Michael McCary left the group due to chronic back problems resulting from scoliosis. As of 2005, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris continue to tour and record as a trio.
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
Boyz II Men Lyrics
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Ain't nothing like the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
I got your picture hangin' on the wall
It can't see or come to me when I call your name
I realize it's just a picture in a frame
I read your letters when you're not near
But they don't move me
And they don't groove me like when I hear
Your sweet voice whispering in my ear
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
I play the game, a fantasy
I pretend I'm not in reality
I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me
No other sound is quite the same as your name
No touch can do half as much to make me feel better
So let's stay together
I got some memories to look back on
And though they help me when you phone
I'm well aware nothing can take the place of being there
So let me get the real thing
So let me get the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
At the core of Boyz II Men's song Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing is the idea that there is no substitute for genuine human connection. The lyrics explore the feeling of missing someone who is far away, and the limitations of technology and other means of communication to adequately replace that feeling of closeness. The line "I realize it's just a picture in a frame" serves to highlight the inadequacy of a photograph to capture the essence of a person.
The song suggests that we use various substitutes when we are missing someone, such as reading their letters, playing games, or looking at their photos, but ultimately these substitutes leave us feeling unfulfilled. The singer longs for the authentic experience of being in the presence of the person they miss, as "nothing can take the place of being there." The repetition of the phrase "ain't nothing like the real thing" reinforces this idea, driving home the point that all substitutes pale in comparison to the genuine experience of human connection.
In this song, Boyz II Men touches on the timeless human experiences of love, longing, and the desire for intimacy. It communicates a message that is relatable across generations and has likely resonated with listeners throughout the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
There is nothing that can replace the genuine experience, my love
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Nothing compares to the real thing
I got your picture hangin' on the wall
I have a picture of you hanging on my wall
It can't see or come to me when I call your name
It cannot respond or comfort me when I call out your name
I realize it's just a picture in a frame
I am aware that it is only a picture, not the real you
I read your letters when you're not near
I read your letters when you're not physically present
But they don't move me
But they do not touch me emotionally
And they don't groove me like when I hear
And they do not connect with me in the same way as hearing your sweet voice
Your sweet voice whispering in my ear
The sound of your sweet voice whispering in my ear
I play the game, a fantasy
I create scenarios in my mind as an escape from reality
I pretend I'm not in reality
I pretend I am not living in the present moment
I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me
I require the comfort of your embrace to soothe me
No other sound is quite the same as your name
There is no other sound that has the same effect as hearing your name
No touch can do half as much to make me feel better
No touch has the same power to comfort me as your touch
So let's stay together
So let us continue to be together
I got some memories to look back on
I have memories to reflect upon
And though they help me when you phone
And though they help me when you call me
I'm well aware nothing can take the place of being there
I am conscious that nothing can replace physically being with you
So let me get the real thing
So allow me to have the genuine experience
So let me get the real thing
So allow me to have the genuine experience
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
There is nothing that can replace the genuine experience, my love
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Nothing compares to the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
There is nothing that can replace the genuine experience, my love
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Nothing compares to the real thing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind