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.
Ooh Baby
New Edition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh¡Âbaby
Ooh¡Âooh¡Âooh¡Â
Since the day I saw you, baby, I knew you were for me
Always all by myself, I sought your company
All the fellas told me that you played me for a fool
Said I wouldn't hang out, I'd go home right after school
What did I do to you
To make you feel this way
You said you'd be my baby
Never go away, go away
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âooh¡Âooh¡Â) How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
Spent all my time, baby, just working on my form
Trying to improve myself so I could give you more
You told me I was turning out the way that I should be
How could I know that you would turn your back on me
What did I do to you
To make you feel this way
You said you'd be my baby
Never go away, go away
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âooh¡Âooh¡Â) How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âooh¡Âooh¡Â) How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
How could you leave
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
How could you leave
How could you leave
How could you leave
How could you leave
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
How could you leave
How could you leave
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
How could you leave
How could you leave
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
How could you leave
How could you leave
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âooh¡Âooh¡Â) How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âbaby) How could you leave when I need you, baby
(Ooh¡Âooh¡Âooh¡Â) How could you leave when I need you, baby
How could you leave when I need you, baby
The song "Ooh Baby" by New Edition is about a man who is heartbroken because his love interest has left him. The lyrics reveal that he has always been drawn to her and has invested time and effort into being the best version of himself for her. Despite the attention and admiration he bestows upon her, she ultimately chooses to leave him. He is left wondering what he did wrong and how she could walk away when he needed her the most.
The lyrics convey a sense of betrayal and confusion, as the singer struggles to make sense of the unexpected breakup. He feels hurt and abandoned by the woman he thought he could trust and rely on. The repetition of the chorus highlights the depth of his longing and the desperation he feels to understand why his lover has left him. The melody of the song is soulful and plaintive, conveying the emotions of heartbreak and loss.
Overall, "Ooh Baby" is a poignant ballad that explores the pain and confusion of lost love. The lyrics are relatable and heartfelt, and the song is a testament to the enduring power of classic R&B ballads.
Line by Line Meaning
Since the day I saw you, baby, I knew you were for me
From the moment I saw you, I felt that you were the one for me.
Always all by myself, I sought your company
I was always alone, and I wanted to be with you.
All the fellas told me that you played me for a fool
My friends told me that you were using me and making me look foolish.
Said I wouldn't hang out, I'd go home right after school
They told me that instead of hanging out with them, I would always go straight home after school to be with you.
What did I do to you
I am confused about what I did wrong.
To make you feel this way
To cause you to leave me and treat me this way.
You said you'd be my baby
You promised to be my girlfriend/lover.
Never go away, go away
You promised to never leave me.
Spent all my time, baby, just working on my form
I put all of my time and effort into bettering myself for you.
Trying to improve myself so I could give you more
I wanted to become a better person to give you a better life.
You told me I was turning out the way that I should be
You said that my efforts to improve myself were paying off and I was becoming the person you wanted me to be.
How could I know that you would turn your back on me
I had no idea that you would leave me and betray my trust.
How could you leave when I need you, baby
I am struggling to understand why you would walk away when I needed you the most.
Ooh, baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Vocalization expressing sadness, confusion, and longing.
How could you leave
Expressing confusion and sadness over the fact that the person left.
Lyrics © Cloud9
Written by: Arthur Henry Baker, Tina Baker, Larry Curtis Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind