The group is well known for its highly diverse musical style (able to play anything from traditional jazz stylings to mainstream R&B and rock-based music to funk grooves and even Latin and Jamaican-based rhythms) and also its captivating live performances.
Discovered and originally signed to Perspective Records by music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1989 (after being heard at a performance at a club in downtown Minneapolis called First Avenue), their debut album was entitled Meant To Be Mint (released in 1991).
Despite their musical versatility the band attempted to attract New Jack Swing listeners with their dance cut "Are You Free", but it wasn't successful (the song hit #55 on the R&B charts). However, they did enjoy major success with the stunning ballad "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)".
The song stayed on the charts for 34 weeks, hitting the R&B top 5 (#3), and the Pop Top 10 (#6). Forever In Your Eyes was also successful (#7 R&B). Two years later they released their 2nd platinum album, From The Mint Factory (1993). They enjoyed success with the #2 hit "U Send Me Swingin'", while "Someone To Love" and "So Fine" hit the R&B Top 30. 1996 saw the release of "Definition of a Band". The album hit the R&B Top 20. Some successful singles on this album are: "What Kind Of Man Would I Be" (#2 R&B), and "You Don't Have To Hurt No More" (#10 R&B). Two years later, The Collection: 1991-1998, a greatest hits compilation, was issued.
After Perspective Records/A&M folded, the group signed with Elektra Records in 1999, releasing their fourth full-length album, Life's Aquarium (#7 R&B). It's main single, If You Love Me, hit the R&B Top 5.
As the 21st Century came around, Mint Condition was the only R&B/Funk band signed to a Major Record Label.
After a six year hiatus, the group resurfaced as a quintet due to former member and keyboard player Keri Lewis leaving the group to produce for other artists, such as his one-time wife, singer Toni Braxton .
During the same year, they released Living The Luxury Brown on their independent label Caged Bird Records. The album hit #1 on the Independent Album Charts. Live From The 9:30 Club, a performance of a concert at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, was issued in 2006.
Leave Me Alone
Mint Condition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hair flung back, with his fingers pleasin' ya
So now my head, is in a spin profound
By way of, this big ass cerebral pound
Don't you know, I was so down for you
But I see, you had other things to do
Thought you had, had me on a string
Just keep all your lies at the door, and just
[Chorus:]
Leave me alone
Stop all that crying, and
Leave me alone
'Cause I ain't buying it, so just
Leave me alone,
Stop all that crying, and just
Leave me alone,
'Cause I ain't buyin it
Had your nerve, one minute you sob for me
And the next, livin' extra-curricular fantasies
And this pain, feels like it'll carry through
The next life, I really feel it's true
Don't be surprised if I smile and say
Still just leave my ass alone
[Repeat Chorus]
The lyrics to Mint Condition's song "Leave Me Alone" reveal a story of betrayal in a relationship. The singer is shocked and hurt when he walks in on his partner being pleasured by someone else. He describes the impact of this discovery on his mental state, saying that his head is spinning from this "big ass cerebral pound." The singer expresses feeling let down and used, believing that he was the only one in the relationship while his partner was living a double life.
The chorus of the song is a plea for his partner to leave him alone and stop trying to make amends by crying and making promises he doesn't believe. The singer is firm in his decision to end things and move on from his heartbreak.
The second verse of the song underscores the pain the singer feels, comparing it to something that will carry on into his next life. He tells his partner not to be surprised if he can still smile and say "just leave my ass alone." Ultimately, the song is about the pain of betrayal and the importance of self-respect.
Line by Line Meaning
Shocked, when I seen ya
I was surprised and deeply hurt when I saw you with someone else
Hair flung back, with his fingers pleasin' ya
I saw you with your hair back and your new man pleasuring you, which hurt me even more
So now my head, is in a spin profound
I'm deeply confused and hurt by what I just saw
By way of, this big ass cerebral pound
I'm experiencing intense emotional pain and my mind is overwhelmed
Don't you know, I was so down for you
I was really invested in our relationship
But I see, you had other things to do
But now I realize that you were not fully committed to me
Thought you had, had me on a string
I thought that I was in control and that you would do anything I wanted
And you said, for me you'd do anything
You promised me that you would do anything to make me happy
Just keep all your lies at the door, and just
Please don't even bother trying to lie to me anymore, and
[Chorus:] Leave me alone Stop all that crying, and Leave me alone 'Cause I ain't buying it, so just Leave me alone, Stop all that crying, and just Leave me alone, 'Cause I ain't buyin' it
I want you to leave me alone and stop trying to make me believe your lies because I'm not falling for them anymore
Had your nerve, one minute you sob for me
You had the audacity to cry in front of me one minute
And the next, livin' extra-curricular fantasies
And then you were living out your own secret fantasies that didn't involve me
And this pain, feels like it'll carry through
The pain I'm feeling is so intense that I feel like it will never go away
The next life, I really feel it's true
I feel like this pain will follow me into my next life
Don't be surprised if I smile and say Still just leave my ass alone
Don't be surprised if I try to act like everything is okay, but I still want you to stay away from me
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEFFREY STEPHEN ALLEN, RICKY KINCHEN, KEIRSTON LEWIS, KERI JAMAL LEWIS, LAWRENCE EL GRECCO WADDELL, STOKLEY MANDELLA WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind