After dropping out of high school and joining the US Naval Reserve, he eventually went AWOL to concentrate on music. He fled to Canada in 1964 and started using the name Ricky Matthews. In Toronto, he led various incarnations of The Mynah Birds, some of which included Neil Young and Bruce Palmer (who would go on to form Buffalo Springfield) and Nick St. Nicholas (later of Steppenwolf). After scoring a deal with Motown, the band was swindled by their manager and the label discovered James was on the lam, and the band split up.
After serving time for desertion, James tried to rekindle the Mynah Birds, but eventually found a role as a writer and producer at Motown, using the name Terry Johnson on tunes for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and The Spinners. He moved to California in 1969 and formed Salt 'n' Pepper (not to be confused with Salt-N-Pepa) and worked with a number of bands (Heaven and Earth, Great White Cane, and Stone City Band) before returning to Motown, where he developed the gritty funk sound that would bring him hits and notoriety. "Super Freak" in 1981, from the Street Songs album, was his biggest hit. During this period, he also helped launch the careers of R&B singer Teena Marie and the Mary Jane Girls as well as producing Eddie Murphy's hit, Party All the Time.
After remaining moderately successful through the 80s, his popularity waned in the 90s and he succumbed to drugs, having frequent run-ins with the law, one of which resulted in a prison term. After an unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1997 and suffering a stroke, James retired. He died in 2004 from heart failure with multiple contributing factors.
Mary Jane
Rick James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mary I love you, do it girl
Mary Jane, Mary Jane
I'm in love with Mary Jane
She's my main thing
She makes me feel alright
And when I'm feeling low
She comes as no surprise
Turns me on with her love
Takes me to paradise, do you love me Mary Jane?
Yeah, whoa-oh-oh
Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Now do you think you love me Mary Jane
Don't you play no games
Mary Jane, I love her just the same
Mary Jane I love her, Mary baby, just the same, Mary Jane
The woman plays no games, now, now, now, Mary Jane
I'm in love with Mary Jane, I'm not the only one
If Mary wanna play around, I let her have her fun
She's not the kind of girl that you can just tie down
She likes to spread her love and turn your head around
Do ya love me Mary Jane, yeah
Whoa-oh-oh
Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Now do you think you love me Mary Jane
Don't you play no games
(Uh, come here baby)
Mary Jane, I love her just the same
Mary Jane I love her, baby, baby, baby, baby, yeah, Mary Jane
But Mary plays no games, Mary Jane
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah oh baby
Yeah! Ooohwoo
Oh baby, oh baby, hit me
Whoa, Mary, only love
I love you, yeah, whoo!
Something until we give it now, lovey-dove
Love baby
Uh-huh, wow, baby!
Sing! Du-da-da-du-da-dah-dah
Du-da-da-du-da-dah-dah
Du-da-da-du-da-dah-dah
Sing! Du-da-da-du-da-dah-da (oh yeah)
Du-da-da-du-da-dah-dah
Du-da-da-du-da-dah-dah
Sing! Du-da-da-du-da-dah-da
Sing it for me baby du-da-da-du-da-dah-da
Come Mary, Mary Jane du-da-da-du-da-dah-da
Sing it for me baby du-da-da-du-da-dah-da
The song "Mary Jane" by Rick James is renowned for its double entendre lyrics, as it seems to describe a passionate love affair between the musician and a woman named Mary Jane, while the actual subject matter is marijuana. The chorus "Mary Jane, Mary Jane, I'm in love with Mary Jane" makes that clear, but the verses still maintain a degree of ambiguity. James claims that Mary Jane "makes me feel all right" and "takes me to paradise," while also conceding that "she's not the kind of girl that you can just tie down" and that "if Mary wanna play around, I let her have her fun."
Line by Line Meaning
Come here, baby
Rick James is addressing his lover and asking her to come closer to him.
Mary I love you, do it girl
Rick James is expressing his love for Mary Jane and giving her permission to do what she wants.
Mary Jane, Mary Jane
Rick James is repeating the name of his lover, Mary Jane.
I'm in love with Mary Jane
Rick James is explaining that he is in love with Mary Jane.
She's my main thing
Mary Jane is the most important thing in Rick James's life.
She makes me feel alright
Mary Jane makes Rick James feel good.
She makes my heart sing
Rick James's love for Mary Jane makes him happy.
And when I'm feeling low
Rick James is explaining that Mary Jane helps him when he is feeling down.
She comes as no surprise
Rick James is stating that Mary Jane's presence is always welcome and wanted.
Turns me on with her love
Rick James is saying that Mary Jane's affection excites him.
Takes me to paradise
Rick James feels like he's in paradise when he's with Mary Jane.
Do you love me Mary Jane?
Rick James is asking Mary Jane if she loves him back.
Yeah, whoa-oh-oh
Mary Jane responds positively to Rick James's question.
Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Rick James is repeatedly asking Mary Jane if she loves him.
Now do you think you love me Mary Jane
Rick James is asking Mary Jane if her feelings are real.
Don't you play no games
Rick James doesn't want Mary Jane to mess with his feelings.
Mary Jane, I love her just the same
Rick James loves Mary Jane equally, no matter what she does or how she behaves.
The woman plays no games, now, now, now, Mary Jane
Rick James believes that Mary Jane is honest and straightforward in their relationship.
I'm not the only one
Rick James acknowledges that there are others who also love Mary Jane.
If Mary wanna play around, I let her have her fun
Rick James is okay with Mary Jane seeing other people as long as she's happy.
She's not the kind of girl that you can just tie down
Rick James explains that Mary Jane is free-spirited and doesn't want to be controlled.
She likes to spread her love and turn your head around
Rick James is saying that Mary Jane enjoys spreading her affection around to whoever she pleases.
Whoa-oh-oh
Mary Jane responds positively again to Rick James's question about her love.
Du-da-da-du-da-dah-dah
This line is part of the song's chorus and has no specific meaning.
Sing it for me baby du-da-da-du-da-dah-da
Rick James is asking Mary Jane to sing the chorus line for him.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rick James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@baddiemauve4958
[Verse 1]
I'm in love with Mary Jane
She's my main thing
She makes me feel all right
She makes my heart sing
[Hook 1]
And when I'm feeling low
She comes as no surprise
Turns me on with her love
Takes me to paradise
[Hook 2]
Do you love me Mary Jane?
Yeah. Whoa-oh-oh
Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Now do you think you love me Mary Jane
Don't you play no games
[Verse 2]
I love her just the same
I love her, Mary baby, just the same
The woman plays no games
Now, now, now
I'm in love with Mary Jane
I'm not the only one
If Mary wanna play around
I let her have her fun
She's not the kind of girl
That you can just tie down
She likes to spread her love
And turn your head around
[Hook 2]
Do you love me Mary Jane?
Yeah. Whoa-oh-oh
Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Now do you think you love me Mary Jane
Don't you play no games
[Bridge]
I love her just the same
I love her baby, baby, baby, baby, yeah
Cause Mary plays no games
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh baby
[Verse 3]
Yeahhhhh! Ooowoooo
Oh baby. Oh baby. Hit me
Whoah, Mary. Only love
I love you, yeah. Whooo!
Something until we give it now, lovey-dove
Uh-huh. Wow, baby!
Sing! La-du-da-da-du-da-dahh
Sing! La-du-da-da-du-da-dahh
Sing it for me baby
Come Mary, Mary Jane
Sing it for me baby
@shmurdaboi3548
We call this here a lil twenty twen twen
@kalebportes4541
NWIGAAAAAAA
@darrenjohnson4090
Its betta ta give than receive my brotha
@KashtaNovaFolks
@@kalebportes4541 pop apnpnp non p pn no N no one mono I on pmonk no non pin
@kalebportes4541
@@KashtaNovaFolks what?
@keabot
😂😂😂😂👍🏽
@asherzerbib3461
In memory of John Witherspoon, RIP old man...
@brittanyblack8167
Yass , baby he's in heaven right now partying too this jam
@alexkennedy6118
rip
@dep7up
And bernie mack ✊🏿