The project first began in 1979 as a solo project for Joanne McDuffy, backup vocalist for singer and producer Rick James, whom she had supported on several tours. James developed tracks with McDuffy and session vocalists the Water Sisters, creating the "Mary Jane Girls" sound. Motown offered James a contract for what it believed was the girl group he wanted to produce; not wanting to lose the deal, James lied and told Motown that the Mary Jane Girls were a group and not McDuffy's solo project. Rick got whoever he could to provide photographs to Motown. McDuffy continued to sing lead and background with the Water Sisters for all Mary Jane Girl recordings and the band sang for the group with McDuffy on tour. It is commonly believed, though not confirmed, that the group was so named due to Rick James' affinity for marijuana; a common alternate term for the substance is "Mary Jane."
Their self-titled debut album, Mary Jane Girls was released in 1983, reaching #56 on the Billboard 200, and #6 in the Top Hip-Hop/R&B charts. The album's four singles, "Candy Man", "All Night Long", "Boys" and "Jealousy" all charted. In 1985, their sophomore effort, Only Four You, was released; the single "In My House" became the group's biggest single, reaching #7 on the Billboard 200. Shortly before the release of the album, Bailey left the group and was replaced by Marine.
The only song recorded by the Mary Jane Girls not composed by Rick James was "Walk Like a Man". A cover version of the famous song by The Four Seasons featured on the soundtrack for the film A Fine Mess, this turned out to be the Mary Jane Girls' last single, reaching #41 on the Billboard 2000. In the meantime, Rick James had a falling out with Motown, eventually resulting in the dissolution of the Mary Jane Girls in 1987.
Break It Up
Mary Jane Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can break it up
Up, up
I can break it up
Boy, I really think that you and I should have a talk
You've been running 'round on me all over town
If you think I'm just another girl, then I will walk
I've been called up by your girlfriends, telling foolish lies
And they tell me you've been tripping out on me
If you think I'm gonna stand it, then you must be jive
I will never be that blind, boy, don't you see
And, boy, if that's the way you want it
I can surely break it
I don't need you if you won't be good to me
And, boy, if that's what you desire
Then you're just a liar
I don't think you're good enough for me
Up, up, up
(Break it up, boy, oh, baby, baby)
I can break it up
Up, up
(Break it up, boy, little boy, I can break it up)
I can break it up
Little boy, I hear you're losing ground on all your needs
And you know that if you lose me, you'll be lost
I just only want to satisfy all of your needs
And I didn't even care about the cost
You've been seen with Jean and Jane and Joan and Brenda
And I hear that they've been giving you money too
If you ever get this letter that I send ya
Then you'll read it down in writing we are through
Because that's just the way I want it
This time, boy, it's over
I can't stand the pain of being hurt by you
This time, boy, it's my desire
And you are just a liar
So I'll call it quits, this time we're really through
Oh-whoa, boy, we've got to break it up
Oh-whoa, baby, we must break it up
Up, up
(Break it up, boy, oh, my baby, baby)
I can break it up
Up, up
(Break it up, boy, break it up)
I can break it up
Up, up
(Break it up, boy, ooh-whoa, I can break it up)
I can break it up
Because that's just the way I want it
This time, boy, it's over
I can't stand the pain of being hurt by you
This time, boy, it's my desire
And you are just a liar
So I'll call it quits, this time we're really through
Oh-whoa, boy, we've got to break it up
Oh-whoa, we've got to break it up
Oh-whoa, we've got to break it up
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Do-do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Break it up
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Do-do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Break it up
In Mary Jane Girls’ “Break It Up,” the singer confronts her unfaithful boyfriend and threatens to end their relationship. The chorus, “Up, up, up / I can break it up,” empowers the singer to take control of the situation and leave a toxic relationship. The singer acknowledges that she knows the boyfriend has been cheating on her, but refuses to tolerate it any longer. She warns him to not disrespect her and that he is not good enough for her. Despite the boyfriend’s attempts to reconcile, the singer makes it clear that she is done with the relationship.
The song’s instrumentation features a catchy bass line and a groovy drum beat, giving it an upbeat and danceable quality. The repetition of the “up, up, up / I can break it up” line in the chorus is a nod to the classic break-up song trope of empowerment and self-reliance. Overall, “Break It Up” is an anthem for anyone who has had enough of a toxic relationship and is ready to take control of their own happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Up, up, up
The singer is revving up to break up with her boyfriend
I can break it up
The singer knows she has the power to end the relationship
Boy, I really think that you and I should have a talk
The singer wants to discuss her boyfriend's infidelity
You've been running 'round on me all over town
The artist is aware of her boyfriend's cheating behavior
If you think I'm just another girl, then I will walk
The artist wants her boyfriend to respect her as an individual
Don't you ever lose respect and don't put me down
The singer commands her boyfriend to treat her with respect and dignity
I've been called up by your girlfriends, telling foolish lies
The singer has received secondhand information about her boyfriend's cheating behavior
And they tell me you've been tripping out on me
The artist's boyfriend has been talking badly about her to their mutual friends
If you think I'm gonna stand it, then you must be jive
The artist is not willing to tolerate her boyfriend's behavior any longer
I will never be that blind, boy, don't you see
The artist is not oblivious to her boyfriend's cheating
And, boy, if that's the way you want it
The singer is preparing to break up with her boyfriend
I can surely break it
The artist knows she has the power to end the relationship
I don't need you if you won't be good to me
The singer doesn't need her boyfriend if he can't treat her well
And, boy, if that's what you desire
The singer acknowledges her boyfriend's desire to cheat
Then you're just a liar
The singer sees her boyfriend's actions as dishonest
I don't think you're good enough for me
The artist believes her boyfriend isn't worthy of her love
Little boy, I hear you're losing ground on all your needs
The artist knows her boyfriend isn't satisfied with their relationship
And you know that if you lose me, you'll be lost
The singer believes she is the best thing that ever happened to her boyfriend
I just only want to satisfy all of your needs
The singer is willing to meet her boyfriend's needs
And I didn't even care about the cost
The artist is willing to go to great lengths to make her boyfriend happy
You've been seen with Jean and Jane and Joan and Brenda
The artist knows her boyfriend has been with many other women
And I hear that they've been giving you money too
The artist is aware that her boyfriend has been accepting money from other women
If you ever get this letter that I send ya
The singer is breaking up with her boyfriend through a letter
Then you'll read it down in writing we are through
The artist is clear that their relationship is over
Because that's just the way I want it
The singer is in control of the breakup
This time, boy, it's over
The singer is ending the relationship for good
I can't stand the pain of being hurt by you
The singer is tired of being hurt by her boyfriend
And you are just a liar
The artist sees her boyfriend as a dishonest person
So I'll call it quits, this time we're really through
The artist is determined to end the relationship
Oh-whoa, boy, we've got to break it up
The singer sees the breakup as necessary
Oh-whoa, baby, we must break it up
The singer wants to emphasize the need for the breakup
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Vocalization
Do-do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do
Vocalization
Break it up
The artist is breaking up with her boyfriend
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: James Ambrose Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind