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.
Maryann
New Edition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping it will make you feel better.
We've been through the sunshine and the rain.
And I never realized you were in pain.
Someone has mistreated you,
Left you all alone and blue.
And don't you know it hurts me, too,
And, baby, I know my life won't be the the same.
Maryann, you will never need another.
Here I am. I will be your real lover.
Someone else's plans and his schemes
Left you with these broken dreams
Dreams that keep you up all night, yeah.
I know my life won't be the same.
And if you hear me call your name, girl.
Maryann, you will never need another.
Here I am. I will be your real lover.
You and I could make it if stay together, baby.
And if we try, we will blast off to forever. Woah, woah!
Maryann, you will never need another.
Here I am. I will be your real lover.
The lyrics to New Edition's "Maryann" describe a man reflecting on the pain and mistreatment that his love interest, Maryann, has endured. He acknowledges that he never realized how much she was suffering and how much it hurts him as well. He offers himself as her "real lover" and promises to never let her down.
The song displays themes of empathy, loyalty, and commitment. The man recognizes Maryann's struggles and offers himself as a constant support system. He believes that they can overcome any obstacles as long as they have each other. The chorus repeats the phrase "Maryann, you will never need another. Here I am. I will be your real lover." This reinforces the man's promise to be devoted to Maryann and to never let her go.
Overall, "Maryann" is a heartfelt ballad that speaks to the power of love and the importance of being there for someone in their time of need.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting here, writing this letter,
I am taking the time to write this letter in order to communicate my feelings to you.
Hoping it will make you feel better.
I hope that my letter will make you feel better and let you know that I care.
We've been through the sunshine and the rain.
We've shared good times and bad times together.
And I never realized you were in pain.
I may not have noticed before, but now I see that you have been hurting.
Someone has mistreated you,
I understand that someone has treated you poorly.
Left you all alone and blue.
Their actions have left you feeling alone and sad.
And don't you know it hurts me, too,
I feel your pain as well.
And, baby, I know my life won't be the same.
Knowing what you've been through has changed me forever.
And if you hear me call your name
If you listen closely, you will hear me calling out to you.
Maryann, you will never need another.
I am committed to being there for you and providing for your needs.
Here I am. I will be your real lover.
I am here for you, and I love you for who you are.
Someone else's plans and his schemes
Another person has manipulated and taken advantage of you.
Left you with these broken dreams
Their actions have shattered the dreams and hopes you once had.
Dreams that keep you up all night, yeah.
These dreams continue to haunt you and affect your sleep.
You and I could make it if stay together, baby.
I believe that we can overcome anything if we face it together.
And if we try, we will blast off to forever. Woah, woah!
If we work at it, our love will continue to grow and last forever.
Maryann, you will never need another.
I am here for you and will always be here for you.
Here I am. I will be your real lover.
I will always love you and be loyal to you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRADITIONAL, LEON BIBB, STUART SCHARF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind