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.
When Will I See You Smile Again?
New Edition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never meant to hurt you
Please forgive me
Tears I see drop from your eyes
Tell me why you cry
Guilt I feel when you look at me
Did I let you down
Girl, you see that I
I apologize
Tell me what to do
To get through to you
Girl, it's not the same
I know I was to blame
Just tell me when will I
See you smile again
Tell me when will I see you smile again
'Cause I know I messed up, baby
And I know you're fed up, sugar
Tell me when will I see you smile again
'Cause I know I messed up, baby
And I know you're fed up, sugar
Promises I know I made many times before
And I broke each one of them
But I had to learn over and over again
Don't hurt the one you love
Girl, you see that I
I apologize
Tell me what to do
To get through to you
Girl, it's not the same
I know I was to blame
Just tell me when will I
See you smile again
Tell me when will I see you smile again
'Cause I know I messed up, baby
And I know you're fed up, sugar
Tell me when will I see you smile again
'Cause I know I messed up, baby
And I know you're fed up, sugar
Look, baby
Listen
Please forgive me for all the wrong I've done
You see, I just can't understand
Why I keep making this same kind of mistake
Over and over again
But there's one question that remains in the back of my mind now
And that is
When will I see you smile again
Tell me when will I see you smile again (maybe we can talk it over)
'Cause I know I messed up, baby (maybe we can work it out)
And I know you're fed up, sugar
Tell me when will I see you smile again
'Cause I know I messed up, baby
And I know you're fed up, sugar (is there something I can do)
Tell me when will I see you smile again
'Cause I know I messed up, baby
And I know you're fed up, sugar
Tell me when will I see you smile again
The lyrics of New Edition's "When Will I See You Smile Again" clearly express remorse and regret for actions that have caused pain to someone significant in the singer's life. The opening lines set the tone for the remorseful tone of the song. The singer addresses the person they have hurt with an apology for the pain they have caused. The lyrics express the singer's desire to understand the hurt they have inflicted and the guilt that they feel for having let them down.
The chorus repeats the question of when the singer will see the person smile again. This repetition emphasizes the significance of the smile to the singer, as it represents the return of happiness and joy to their loved one's life. The singer recognizes that they have made promises before and broken them, and they are willing to put in the effort to make things right and not hurt their loved one anymore.
The inclusion of the spoken word section at the end of the song adds an extra layer of emotional honesty and vulnerability to the already sincere lyrics. The singer admits their role in causing pain and confusion, and they ask the person they have hurt what they can do to make things right again.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt request for forgiveness and a desire to make amends that will resonate with anyone who has experienced relationship troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so sorry, baby
Expressing apologizes for the wrongdoings
I never meant to hurt you
Admitting the mistake and showing remorse for the hurtful behavior
Please forgive me
Asking for forgiveness from the other person
Tears I see drop from your eyes
Noticing the emotional pain the other person is feeling
Tell me why you cry
Show curiosity and a desire to understand the other person's feelings
Guilt I feel when you look at me
Acknowledging the sense of responsibility for causing the other person's pain
Did I let you down
Questioning the possibility of failing to meet the other person's expectations
Girl, you see that I
Asking for the other person's attention to convey a sincere message
I apologize
Offering an apology to show remorse and ask for forgiveness
Tell me what to do
Expressing a desire to make things better and willingness to take actions
To get through to you
Trying to make the other person understand and connect emotionally
Girl, it's not the same
Acknowledging that things have changed and there is a problem
I know I was to blame
Taking responsibility for the harmful behavior
Just tell me when will I
Seeking clarity and information about how to make amends
See you smile again
Desiring to bring joy and happiness back into the other person's life
Promises I know I made many times before
Admitting to making promises in the past and having difficulty fulfilling them
And I broke each one of them
Recognizing the repeated failed attempts to keep promises
But I had to learn over and over again
Reflecting on previous mistakes and learning from them
Don't hurt the one you love
Realizing that hurting the person you love is a mistake and regretful
Look, baby
Trying to get the other person's attention and connect emotionally
Listen
Showing a willingness to hear and understand the other person's perspective
Please forgive me for all the wrong I've done
Asking for forgiveness and acknowledging the mistakes that were made
Why I keep making this same kind of mistake
Expressing confusion and frustration around repeating similar mistakes
Over and over again
Emphasizing the pattern of behavior that is causing harm
But there's one question that remains in the back of my mind now
Showing a degree of uncertainty and confusion around how to fix the problem
And that is
Introducing the question that needs an answer
When will I see you smile again
Asking for a specific outcome that indicates reconciliation and return to happiness
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALTON "WOKIE" STEWART, TIMOTHY WILLIAM GATLING, WILLIAM GATLING TIMOTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michellewilson2645
Who is listening to this in 2024? Still relevant today! ❤
@anthonymorgan2881
Me I do
@anthonymccutchen1569
Me ❤
@keelee23kee19
Me 🤚🏾I had the cassette AKA the tape 📼
@iremainproductions4827
Nothing today can give you the feeling this music did!
@soulintuned55
Expression of relationships are so different. These songs express understanding, knowing someone and not merely being connected because youve become physically active with someone.
@HannibalHector714
This generation will never understand how DOPE the 90's were. ✌🏾😎
@rb7007
I know.
Poor things. 😂
@lr5554
They will never know
@jorgetomas380
NNNNOPE.