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.
Not Like You
Boyz II Men Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I never really thought about it
Around the world playing the field but you were chill,
As I reflect it seems you just allowed it
All the facebook photographs of ladies adoring me,
Meanwhile you were sitting home alone.
(Take It Nate)
Caught me off guard because we never ever talked about it
Now heartbreak is the tune,
A million words, a million tears just can’t do nothing about it
It’s my bad I don’t want you to apologize for what you feel
Girl you were looking for the love you needed
[Chorus]
Images keep on swirling in my mind so every day I gotta pray about it
(Not Like You)
Truth is I don’t question your character just so hurt and really mad about it
(Not Like You)
Maybe you were selfless while I was selfishly busy doing me
(Not Like You)
I got too busy almost losing you
(I know it’s Not Like You)
I knew I had you so I took you love for granted like I really didn’t care about it
(Not Like You)
Never realized what you got until its gone now all I do is sit and think about it
(Not Like You)
Cast the hurt and the shame and my ego’s blame in the sea of forgetfulness
Please forgive me I’ve been such a fool
(I guess it’s Not Like You)
I almost lost you now I know for sure
We have a love that’s worth fighting for
Even though it hurts I’m gonna hold on tighter, I won’t let you go
When you find the one love has been cheating
And saying sorry is a state of being
I guess I gotta learn my lesson from painful memories
[Chorus]
I knew I had you so I took you love for granted
Like I really didn’t care about it (not Like You)
Never realized what you got until its gone
All I do is sit and think about it (not Like You)
Cast the hurt and the shame and my ego’s blame in the sea of forgetfulness
Please forgive me I’ve been such a fool (but this is Not Like You)
(This is Not Like You)
Not Like You
Baby (Not Like You)
Baby, please (Not Like You)
Please, don’t leave me baby (Not Like You)
I got too busy almost losing you
I know it’s Not Like You (Not Like You)
It’s just so not like you baby, I don’t know (Not Like You)
Cast the hurt and the shame and my ego’s blame in the sea of forgetfulness
Please forgive me I’ve been such a fool
But this is Not Like You
The lyrics to the song "Not Like You" by Boyz II Men speak of a man’s realization of how he almost lost the love of his life because he was too busy chasing his dreams and taking her for granted. The song begins with the man reflecting on how he used to work every day and never really thought about his girlfriend being at home alone while he was out traveling the world and enjoying himself. He acknowledges all the facebook photographs of ladies adoring him, but all the while, his girlfriend was sitting at home alone. The chorus speaks of how the images keep swirling in his mind, and how he needs to pray every day about it. He says that he doesn't question his girlfriend's character, but is hurt and really mad about almost losing her. He knows he was selfish, while she was selfless, and he almost lost her.
The second verse speaks of the man realizing that his world is falling apart, and how heartbreak is now the tune. He acknowledges that he never really talked about anything with his girlfriend, and now he is faced with the reality of almost losing her. He accepts that it's his bad, and he doesn't want her to apologize for what she feels, as she was just looking for the love that she needed. The chorus reiterates the hurt that the man feels and how he needs forgiveness. Finally, in the bridge, the man says that he knows he almost lost her, but he now knows they have a love that's worth fighting for. He realizes that saying sorry is a state of being and that he needs to learn a lesson from painful memories.
Overall, the song speaks of the importance of not taking relationships for granted, and how sometimes it's too easy to get wrapped up in chasing one's dreams and forget about the importance of companionship. The song portrays a sense of humility, where the man is accepting his faults and is now learning from his mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Use to work every day,
I used to work every day and never really thought about how it affected my relationship.
I guess I never really thought about it
I never really considered how being away from my relationship impacted it.
Around the world playing the field but you were chill,
I was traveling the world and enjoying attention from other women while you remained calm and understanding.
As I reflect it seems you just allowed it
Looking back, it seems like you were simply letting me do what I wanted.
All the Facebook photographs of ladies adoring me,
I had pictures on Facebook with women fawning over me.
Meanwhile you were sitting home alone.
While I was out, you were at home alone.
My world’s falling apart
My life is falling apart.
Caught me off guard because we never ever talked about it
I was surprised because we never discussed our relationship problems.
Now heartbreak is the tune,
Now I am dealing with a broken heart.
A million words, a million tears just can’t do nothing about it
I have tried everything to fix our relationship, but nothing seems to work.
It’s my bad I don’t want you to apologize for what you feel
I accept responsibility and do not want you to apologize for your feelings.
Girl you were looking for the love you needed
You were seeking the love you needed.
Images keep on swirling in my mind so every day I gotta pray about it
I think about the situation constantly and have to pray every day.
(Not Like You)
Truth is I don’t question your character just so hurt and really mad about it
I do not doubt your character, but I am extremely upset.
(Not Like You)
Maybe you were selfless while I was selfishly busy doing me
You were selfless while I was selfishly focusing on myself.
(Not Like You)
I got too busy almost losing you
I was so caught up in other things that I almost lost you.
I know it’s Not Like You
I know that what I did was not like you.
I knew I had you so I took you love for granted like I really didn’t care about it
I knew that you loved me, so I took that love for granted and did not appreciate it.
(Not Like You)
Never realized what you got until its gone now all I do is sit and think about it
I did not realize what I had until it was gone, and now I cannot stop thinking about it.
(Not Like You)
Cast the hurt and the shame and my ego’s blame in the sea of forgetfulness
I want to let go of the hurt, shame, and blame that comes from my ego.
Please forgive me I’ve been such a fool
Please forgive me because I have acted foolishly.
(I guess it’s Not Like You)
I almost lost you now I know for sure
I almost lost you, and now I am certain that our love is worth fighting for.
We have a love that’s worth fighting for
Our love is worth fighting for.
Even though it hurts I’m gonna hold on tighter, I won’t let you go
Even though it is painful, I will hold onto you tighter and never let you go.
When you find the one love has been cheating
When you find the person you love has been unfaithful.
And saying sorry is a state of being
Apologizing is a natural part of this situation.
I guess I gotta learn my lesson from painful memories
I need to learn from this experience and the pain it has caused me.
(Not Like You)
Baby (Not Like You)
This situation is not typical of you, baby.
Baby, please (Not Like You)
Baby, please do not leave me because this is not who I truly am.
Please, don’t leave me baby (Not Like You)
Please do not leave me, baby, because this is not who I am.
I got too busy almost losing you
I was too busy and almost lost you.
I know it’s Not Like You (Not Like You)
This situation is not typical of you, and I recognize that.
It’s just so not like you baby, I don’t know (Not Like You)
This is so unusual for you, baby, and I do not know how to handle it.
Cast the hurt and the shame and my ego’s blame in the sea of forgetfulness
I want to let go of the hurt, shame, and blame that comes from my ego.
Please forgive me I’ve been such a fool
Please forgive me because I have acted foolishly.
(But this is Not Like You)
I know that this is not typical of you, and I want to make it right.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, TERRY STEVEN LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind