Her first hit for Atlantic was the Billboard R&B top ten single "Come Share My Love". She followed that with a remake of Glenn Miller's 1940 tune "Imagination". Her success continued with two more top ten singles, "Baby Be Mine" and "That's What Love Is". The latter was a duet with hit-making R&B crooner Gerald Levert, and was the result of the creative union Howard formed with Levert. The pair later became romantically involved, and that romance spawned one of Howard's biggest hits, "Love Under New Management". The song was written during their brief love affair, but was released after their romance had dissolved.
In 1992 Howard portrayed Billie Holiday in Spike Lee's Malcolm X , followed by a featured role in John Singleton's Poetic Justice with pop icon Janet Jackson. Howard recorded two more albums during the 1990s "Miki Sings Billie" (1993) and "Can't Count Me Out" (1996) In 2001, the album "Three Wishes" was released on the Peak label. The album peake dat #60 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #25 on the Independent Albums chart. The song "Nobody" received radio airplay. The album received a Grammy nomination for "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album" at the 2002 Grammy Awards. In 2006, Miki's album "Pillow Talk - Miki Sings the R&B Classics" was issued on the Shanachie label. The "Pillow Talk" album peaked at # 60 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Howard is currently working on regenerating her career after taking some time out to raise her children. She undertook a world tour with Roy Ayers and the Jazz Allstars. In June 2008, she released her ninth studio album, Private Collection. The album was released on her own her legally owned new independent label, Branicka Records. On November 1, 2010, "Unsung: Miki Howard" was televised on TV One. In February 2011. Miki Howard continues to tour and record.
Release Me
Miki Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the way that you've been sneaking
Up behind me indiscreetly?
Tell me what have I done
To deserve this crazy treatment?
Got me havin' thoughts of leavin'
And I
But I
Refuse to pay the price for the ones that've hurt you
Ooh, baby
Oh release me, oh set me free
I don't want this kind of love
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough
Oh release me, oh set me free
I don't want this kind of love
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough
Tell me why be suspicious
Of the company I'm keeping?
So you're having trouble sleeping?
Isn't love built on trust?
That's the very thing we're missing
Honey baby, won't you listen?
And I
Am not the kind of girl that would up and desert you
And I
Refuse to pay the price for the ones that've hurt you
Oh release me, oh set me free
I don't want this kind of love
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough
Oh release me, oh set me free
I don't want this kind of love
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough
Baby, how you gon' treat me
Tippin' on me indiscreetly?
If you really don't need me
Baby, baby, set me free
So you're having trouble sleeping?
And I've been having thoughts of leaving
I don't deserve this crazy treatment
Baby, baby, release me
Why you wanna do me like this?
All your games and your tricks
I ain't with it
What's up with that?
Now you say you want to play
Well, it's got to be my way
You better get your gat out
'Cause the girl's from the hood yeah, I am that, oh
Oh release me, oh set me free
I don't want this kind of love
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough
Oh release me, oh set me free (you gotta set me free)
I really don't want it, babe
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough
Oh release me, oh set me free (set me free now)
I don't want it, uh, really can't use it, baby
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Take it back, I've had enough of you, ooh
Oh release me, oh set me free
Oh, release me, oh set me free
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
Oh release me, oh set me free
I don't want this kind of love
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me (if it's got to be)
I don't want it
The lyrics to Miki Howard's song "Release Me" deal with the singer expressing her frustration with a partner who is acting suspiciously towards her. She questions why he feels the need to sneak up behind her and be suspicious of the people she spends time with. She asserts that she is not the kind of person to just up and desert someone, but also refuses to pay the price for the past hurt someone else may have caused. The chorus emphasizes her desire to be released from this kind of love and set free from the burden of dealing with this type of treatment. She questions why her partner treats her this way and challenges him to set her free if he doesn't really need her.
The song speaks of the importance of honesty and trust in a relationship, and how these elements are essential for building a strong foundation. The singer does not want to be with someone who lacks these qualities and is not willing to put in the work to maintain a healthy and loving relationship. Through the song, she expresses her desire to be free from the toxic elements of this relationship, hoping that her partner will recognize his mistakes and make the necessary changes to keep their love alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Silly boy, what is up
Why are you acting so foolish?
With the way that you've been sneaking
Why are you being so sneaky around me?
Up behind me indiscreetly?
Why are you being so indiscreet?
Tell me what have I done
Please explain why you're treating me this way
To deserve this crazy treatment?
Why are you treating me like this?
Got me havin' thoughts of leavin'
You're making me want to leave
Oh release me, oh set me free
Let me go
I don't want this kind of love
I don't want a love that comes with this kind of behavior
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me
If this is how you're going to love me, then take it back
Take it back, I've had enough
I don't want it anymore, I've had enough
Isn't love built on trust?
Trust is a necessary part of a loving relationship
That's the very thing we're missing
Our relationship is missing trust
Honey baby, won't you listen?
Please listen to what I'm saying
Why be suspicious of the company I'm keeping?
Why are you so suspicious of the people I spend time with?
So you're having trouble sleeping?
Are you having trouble sleeping because you're worried about me?
And I've been having thoughts of leaving
I'm considering leaving because of your behavior
Baby, how you gon' treat me
Why are you treating me this way?
Tippin' on me indiscreetly?
Why are you being so sneaky with me?
If you really don't need me
If you don't need me, then let me go
Baby, baby, set me free
Please release me
Why you wanna do me like this?
Why are you treating me so badly?
All your games and your tricks
You're being manipulative and deceitful
I ain't with it
I won't tolerate it
What's up with that?
Why are you behaving this way?
Now you say you want to play
Now you want to act like everything is a game
Well, it's got to be my way
I won't put up with your games and tricks anymore
You better get your gat out
You better prepare for me to leave
'Cause the girl's from the hood yeah, I am that, oh
I come from a tough background, and I won't let you treat me badly
I really don't want it, babe
I truly don't want this kind of love or treatment from you
If that's the way it has to be, if that's the love you have for me (if it's got to be)
If this is the only way you know how to love me, then I don't want it
I don't want it
I don't want this type of relationship
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jon Nettlebey, Terry Coffey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mozella Harris
You do not have the correct lyrics to this song
@MrNYCEyes
This video screams early 90s. The hair, the makeup, the clothing THE MUSIC! A time I wish I was in my 20s.
@enmaxus7210
I was in my 20's and not only did you miss out in the early 90's but the entire decade of the 80's as well. Todays music is so awful.
@MrNYCEyes
+enmaxus not every music today is bad but yes 80s and 90s music is where it's at.
@kandklove1
Same
@steveanderson9182
THIS SONG BRINGS ME BACK TO THE EARLY 1990'S
@leighburton832
They should have played this song more on the radio!
@michelleramsey4302
I used to wear this entire tape out...the whole thing was FIRE!!!
@iluvrachellef
as we say.....it shooooo was...i still play it. #TeamMiki
@trevortaylor5881
I was a little boy and remember this and couldn’t wait to sing along with this when it came on because I just like the sound of her voice.