Tresvant sang lead on many of the New Edition lead singles including "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now" and "If It Isn't Love". Tresvant led the group from 1983 to 1989.
Despite the success of groupmates Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe, and Johnny Gill, Tresvant was cautious about his own solo career. Signing to MCA Records, Tresvant let his apprehension be known in several interviews.
Nevertheless, well-known producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis were confident in his abilities after having worked with him on the album Heart Break. They wrote the song "Sensitivity" for him which hit #1 on the R&B charts, #4 on the Hot 100 and it went gold. His self-titled album released shortly after in 1990 and went platinum as well, topping the R&B charts. The album scored two more hits with "Stone Cold Gentleman" reaching #3 on the R&B charts and "Do What I Gotta Do" which reached #2.
Tresvant appeared in the movie House Party 2 in 1991 and the play, "The Man Of Her Dreams" in 2002. In 1993, he released his second album, It's Goin' Down. The album gave Tresvant greater involvement as he produced many of the tracks himself. However, perhaps due to limited promotion, the album failed to perform commercially as well as the debut.
On September 18, 2004, he married Amber Serrano.
Ralph's third solo album, Rizz Wa Faire, was released March 7, 2006. The first single from the album was "My Homegirl".
Stone Cold Gentleman
Ralph Tresvant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stone to the bone, baby
Yeah
Who's the mack?
Stone cold
Baby, I'm stone cold
Am I
The kind of guy
Who gives you a dozen roses everyday
Shower you
With hugs and kisses
And making sure
That you get love in each and every way
My momma told me to remember boy
She says a woman is your pride and joy
And that's why I treat you with seniority
A gentleman is what I strive to be
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
So, girl, just take my hand
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
Yeah
Stone cold gentleman
Aw, baby
Stone cold
Baby, I'm stone cold
Here we go
Come on
Here we go
Come on
Now I
Baby don't mind giving
Giving you
The kind of love
That I know you deserve
Cause I'll be there yeah
24..7
To treat you nice
Day and night
Oh baby just say the word
And I will open every door for you
Send you letters and some sweet perfume
I'll call you up to say I love you so
I do special things cause I want you to know
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
You've been missing out on what is chivalry
I'm a stone cold gentleman
And Ill treat you right
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
Cause baby
I'm stone cold
She kinda got a future behind her
She gotta lotta future behind her
Big bright future behind her
You know it
Hey, excuse me
Baby
I'll open doors for you
Send you some sweet perfume
I'll call you baby don't you know
Oh, I do special things cause I want you to know
Here we go
Come on
Here we go
Come on
Rap
I'm a stone cold gentleman but I
Don't like a girl that tries to get too fly
Remember that day I spoke, you kept walking
Pulled up in the Benz today and you were honking my boys
And all of a sudden you started giving the rhythm up
Its plain to see you're just out for the Benjamins
Yo, Rizz, ain't she the one that stepped at the high ha
B, and I ain't even trying to go out like that
Stone cold
Baby, I'm stone cold
Baby I'm not
No Casanova
But I'll give my heart, I'll give you my charm
Baby I'm a gentleman
And I'm not
Trying to win you over
Just give me your hand and I'll do what I can
Baby, I'm stone cold
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
So, girl, just take my hand
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
Baby I'm cold
Aw, sugar, I'm cold
Aw, I'm gonna treat you nice day and night day and night baby
Baby say the word
And I'll be right there
Ooh, gonna open every door for you
Just for you baby
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
So, girl, just take my hand
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I'll treat you right
All day and night
Baby I'm stone cold
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I'll treat your right
All day and night
"Stone Cold Gentleman" is a song by Ralph Tresvant, a former member of New Edition. The song is about being a true gentleman to a lady, offering her roses, hugs and kisses and making sure that she is loved and treated with respect and dignity. The song has a very positive message and promotes chivalry, romantic love, and mutual respect between men and women. Ralph Tresvant is proud of his heritage as a gentleman and seeks to remind women that they should be treated well by their partners.
The chorus repetition of "stone cold" is somewhat of a play on words, as it is slang for "unemotional," however, Tresvant is using the phrase to mean how he is unwavering in his gentlemanly ways. He emphasizes it with the repetition of "stone" throughout the song, giving the impression of someone strong and unshakeable in his conviction.
The rap section towards the end of the song takes a different turn as Tresvant addresses a woman he feels is interested more in his money than his character. By calling her out for being all about 'Benjamins' ( slang for $100 bills), he is revealing how money-focused some women can be in the dating scene.
Overall, "Stone Cold Gentleman" is a wholesome and romantic song, with its subtle message that being a true gentleman does indeed capture a woman's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Stone to the bone, baby
I am a strong and dependable person.
Who's the mack?
Who is the coolest and smoothest person?
Am I what you're missing?
Do I have the qualities you are looking for in a partner?
The kind of guy who gives you a dozen roses everyday
I am the kind of guy who is romantic and thoughtful.
Shower you with hugs and kisses
I show affection to the person I care for.
And making sure that you get love in each and every way
I try to love and care for my partner in every possible way.
My momma told me to remember boy
My mother taught me an important lesson.
She says a woman is your pride and joy
Women are important and should be treated with respect and love.
And that's why I treat you with seniority
I treat you with respect and put you first.
A gentleman is what I strive to be
I try to be a kind and respectful man.
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I am a strong, caring, and respectful man.
I do all that I can
I try my best to be the best partner I can be.
Give my heart, my charm, my personality
I give my partner all of me.
So, girl, just take my hand
Let me show you what a true gentleman is like.
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
You have not had someone who treats you with respect and love.
I'll open every door for you
I am always here to help and support you.
Send you letters and some sweet perfume
I try to show my affection for you in many ways.
I'll call you up to say I love you so
I express my love verbally and often.
I do special things cause I want you to know
I want you to feel loved and appreciated always.
Baby I'm not No Casanova
I am not a heartbreaker but a genuine man.
But I'll give my heart, I'll give you my charm
I will give my all to make you happy.
Baby I'm a gentleman
I am a respectful and kind man.
And I'm not trying to win you over
I don't have to try because I am already the right fit for you.
Just give me your hand and I'll do what I can
Trust me and let me show you love and respect.
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I am a dependable, kind, and respectful person.
And I'll treat you right all day and night
I will always show you love and care.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEVIN ROBERSON, ANTONIO REID, RALPH TRESVANT, DARYL SIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dymond Bihh
Uh
Stone to the bone, baby
Yeah
Who's the mack?
Stone cold
Baby, I'm stone cold
Am I
What you're missing?
The kind of guy
Who gives you a dozen roses everyday
Shower you
With hugs and kisses
And making sure
That you get love in each and every way
My momma told me to remember boy
She says a woman is your pride and joy
And that's why I treat you with seniority
A gentleman is what I strive to be
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
So, girl, just take my hand
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
Yeah
Stone cold gentleman
Aw, baby
Stone cold
Baby, I'm stone cold
Here we go
Come on
Here we go
Come on
Now I
Baby don't mind giving
Giving you
The kind of love
That I know you deserve
Cause I'll be there yeah
24..7
To treat you nice
Day and night
Oh baby just say the word
And I will open every door for you
Send you letters and some sweet perfume
I'll call you up to say I love you so
I do special things cause I want you to know
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
You've been missing out on what is chivalry
I'm a stone cold gentleman
And Ill treat you right
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
Cause baby
I'm stone cold
She kinda got a future behind her
She gotta lotta future behind her
Big bright future behind her
You know it
Hey, excuse me
Baby
I'll open doors for you
Send you some sweet perfume
I'll call you baby don't you know
Oh, I do special things cause I want you to know
Here we go
Come on
Here we go
Come on
Rap
I'm a stone cold gentleman but I
Don't like a girl that tries to get too fly
Remember that day I spoke, you kept walking
Pulled up in the Benz today and you were honking my boys
And all of a sudden you started giving the rhythm up
Its plain to see you're just out for the Benjamins
Yo, Rizz, ain't she the one that stepped at the high ha
B, and I ain't even trying to go out like that
Stone cold
Baby, I'm stone cold
Baby I'm not
No Casanova
But I'll give my heart, I'll give you my charm
Baby I'm a gentleman
And I'm not
Trying to win you over
Just give me your hand and I'll do what I can
Baby, I'm stone cold
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
So, girl, just take my hand
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
Baby I'm cold
Aw, sugar, I'm cold
Aw, I'm gonna treat you nice day and night day and night baby
Baby say the word
And I'll be right there
Ooh, gonna open every door for you
Just for you baby
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I do all that I can
Give my heart, my charm
My personality
I'm a stone cold gentleman
So, girl, just take my hand
Cause you've been missing out on what is chivalry
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I'll treat you right
All day and night
Baby I'm stone cold
I'm a stone cold gentleman
I'll treat your right
All day and night
sophia
Wait... Something just hit me: What if Ralph and Bobby made a joint album together around this time???? That would've been iconic! It would have been SOOOO GOOD! It would've been R and B (see what I did there?)
Katrina HW
Yesssss!!
Josh Flynn
Missed opportunity
A E
Goodness
TheArbitrator
Ralph and Bobby 😂
Kenya The Mighty
Ralph and Bobby are triple threat badasses. They both bust dope rhymes, dance excellently and can sing greatly. That isn't seen very often now.
music lover1984
Yep I've even peeped them in movies getting their act on.
Sir Chi87
Ralph and Bobby got along great
D2daR
@music lover1984
Bobby was a joker in 'A Thin Line Between Love and Hate'. 😆🔥
stevovimy
The haircuts, the clothes, the music! I miss the 90's so much and i'm glad to have been alive in those great times.