Like the Jackson 5 before them, New Edition became a pop phenomenon, and were big enough to have Madonna as an opening act during their early days.
The group parted company with Starr in 1984; Starr responded by promptly creating the group New Kids on the Block, essentially New Edition with Caucasian teenagers. After the split the boys still received success from singles such as "Cool It Now, Mr. Telephone Man", and "Count Me Out". Around 1986, Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, due to behavioral problems during concerts, He went on to pursue a solo career in 1987 but did not find success in his solo ventures until 1988. Brown was replaced by former solo child star Johnny Gill who would become an official member that same year. The group's sound also evolved at this time from bubblegum pop-styled R&B to smoother, more adult music. The new material, primarily produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, had a strong new jack swing feel. The first album recorded with Gill, Heart Break, had numerous R&B hits, including "If It Isn't Love", "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heart Break", and "Boys To Men" (which later lent its name to the Philadelphia-based group Boyz II Men).
New Edition essentially broke up in 1989, with Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe forming the popular hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant beginning his solo career and Gill restarting his solo career, with more success this time. In 1991, the group had a semi-reunion of sorts when they recorded a remix of the Bell Biv DeVoe track "Word To The Mutha!" in which all six members performed and appeared in the music video.
In 1996, the reunion became complete, as all six former members reunited for the Home Again album. Although the album featured the hit singles "Hit Me Off" and "I'm Still In Love With You", the ensuing tour would prove disastrous for the group. By the middle leg of the tour in 1997, Bobby Brown and Mike Bivins left, due to egos clashing and a less-than-harmonious time with the other members. The band canceled the tour and went on indefinite hiatus soon afterward.
The band reformed again in 2002 without Bobby Brown and released an album on Bad Boy Records entitled "One Love". They are currently working in the studio with plans to release another album with all six members in 2008.
Count Me Out
New Edition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Count me out
Fellas want to hang
And save tonight just
For the gang
But you'll have to count me
Out this time
Don't look surprised
When I tell you that
Gotta spend some time
With my baby, yes
So if that means
We're gonna rain on
Your parade
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I want to be with my girlfriend
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out
When she asked me please
Could I say no and feel at ease
If you count me out tonight
She's gonna be with me wherever
I go
She's got a sweet personality
She saves her kisses just for me
So if that means we're gonna rain on your parade
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I'm saving kisses for my baby
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
My baby wants to be with me
You'll have to count me out
That's the way it's gonna be
You'll have to count me out
Count me out
Count me out
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I want to be with my girlfriend
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I'm saving all my loving for her
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out
I love my baby but she's just a tease
And when I need her I say please, please, please
Can I hold you,
Squeeze you,
'Cause I need you
Count me out
You'll have to count me out this time
Don't count me out
Don't leave me out
You'll have to count me out
this time
You'll have to count me out
Count me out
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
Count me out
You'll have to count me out
Man, we're going to the movies
Then to the park, to play a little ball 'til it get dark
That's what being young is all about
Man, see-O-you-N-T me out
Well what about us,
We're your friends
We want to see-O-you-N-T
me in,
No not tonight
Where you going then
Tonight I want to be with my girlfriend
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
this time
You'll have to count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Don't count me out
Don't leave me out
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I'm saving kisses for my baby
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I want to be with my girlfriend
You'll have to count me out this time
You'll have to count me out
The lyrics of New Edition's song Count Me Out appear to be an anthem of teenage love and loyalty. The song is about a group of teenage boys who want to hang out, but the lead singer insists that he would rather be with his girlfriend. The song sends a message about putting love first, and the importance of standing by your significant other. The lyrics contain instances of a boy explaining to his friends that he would rather spend time with his girlfriend and not exclude her. He justifies this with the fact that she is his priority, and he is committed to spending his time with her instead of his friends. Through the lyrics, he explains the value of love and relationships in a young person's life. The chorus of the song, which features the line "you'll have to count me out," is a clear statement of his loyalty to his girlfriend and his unwillingness to exclude her from his life.
The song conveys the message that love is a priority and that one must be willing to make compromises and sacrifices for love. It also highlights the importance of friendship and putting oneself in a loyal perspective, counting oneself out of plans that are not inclusive. Overall, the song is a fun and catchy tune that highlights the struggles and joys of teenage romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Count me out
I am not going to participate
Fellas want to hang
And save tonight just
For the gang
But you'll have to count me
Out this time
If I can't bring my girl
My friends want to hang out tonight, but I am not going to join them because I want to bring my girlfriend, and if she cannot come, then I am out
Don't look surprised
When I tell you that
Gotta spend some time
With my baby, yes
Do not be surprised when I tell you that I need to spend time with my girlfriend
So if that means
We're gonna rain on
Your parade
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
If me and my girlfriend being together is going to ruin your plans, then I am out; you will have to count me out
When she asked me please
Could I say no and feel at ease
If you count me out tonight
She's gonna be with me wherever
I go
If my girlfriend asks me to be with her, I cannot say no and feel comfortable; if she cannot come with us, I am out, and she will be with me wherever I go
She's got a sweet personality
She saves her kisses just for me
So if that means we're gonna rain on your parade
You'll have to count me out
You're gonna have to count me out
You'll have to count me out
I'm saving kisses for my baby
My girlfriend is sweet, and she saves her love just for me; if that means we are going to spoil your plans, then you will have to count me out; I am saving my affection for my girlfriend
You'll have to count me out
That's the way it's gonna be
You will have to count me out, and that is the way it is going to be with or without you
I love my baby but she's just a tease
And when I need her I say please, please, please
Can I hold you,
Squeeze you,
'Cause I need you
Count me out
You'll have to count me out this time
I love my girlfriend, but sometimes she can be hard to get, and when I need her, I beg her to be close to me, but if I cannot have her with me tonight, then you will have to count me out
Man, we're going to the movies
Then to the park, to play a little ball 'til it get dark
That's what being young is all about
Man, see-O-you-N-T me out
We are going to the movies and then to the park to play some ball before it gets too late because that's what being young is about, but if my girlfriend cannot come along, then you will have to count me out
Well what about us,
We're your friends
We want to see-O-you-N-T
me in,
No not tonight
Where you going then
Tonight I want to be with my girlfriend
My friends are asking me to join them tonight, but I am not interested; tonight, I want to be with my girlfriend, and if she cannot come, then I am out
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICKY K. TIMAS, VINCENT E. BRANTLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind