[Intro: Michael Bivins, (New Edition)]
Picture this: Where it all started
Was back in Boston, Massachusetts some time ago (Believe that!)
And by reopening the doors to all youth
A little salt was thrown on me and my boys
(You know what I'm sayin'?) But now we're back
Picking up where we left off (Ah yeah!)
And through this song, process of elimination will be done
(You better believe that!)

"Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, and Mike"
"Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, and Mike"

[Verse 1: Ralph Tresvant & Ricky Bell]
The beginning of a dream
Where our ideas were born
Tell 'em, Ricky
To understand what this really means
Let's set the record straight once and for all
I'll tell you 'cause

[Chorus: New Edition]
Other people imitate
And try their best to recreate
This is where it all started from
So they only perpetrate
But they can never duplicate
This is where it all started from
(Yo, it's on you Ron)
[Verse 2: Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Johnny Gill]
It's nice to be the original
That all the counterfeits like to bite off
We only take it as a compliment
When they copy some of our material

[Chorus: New Edition]
To stay the best among the rest
We work to keep our movements fresh
This is where it all started from
(Yo, listen up! Uh!)
Instead of being clones
(Why don't ya) Think of something on your own
This is where it all started from
(Now there's one more thing we think you should know)
Don't be a victim to the wannabe
This is where it all started from
(A fake, a fake)
'Cause no other's ever gonna be (Like us)
This is where it all started from
(Take that)

[Breakdown: New Edition, Ralph Tresvant]
("Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, and Mike"
"Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, and Mike")
We're coolin'
("Cool it, coo—, coo—, coo-coo—, cool it now")
Let's sweeten it up
("Candy girl")
Count it off — one, two, one, two
But you better not, better not
("Count me out")
This is where
[Chorus: New Edition, Ralph Tresvant]
Other people imitate
(This is where)
And try their best to recreate
This is where it all started from
("Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike")
(This is where)
So they only perpetrate
(This is where)
But they can never duplicate
This is where it all started from
("Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike")
(This is where)
To stay the best among the rest
(This is where)
We work to keep our movements fresh
(Ah yeah)
This is where it all started from
(Yo, listen up! Uh!)
Instead of being clones
(Why don't ya) Think of something on your own
(This is where)
This is where it all started from

[Outro: Ricky Bell]
Yo, wait a minute! Hold up! Wait! Stop! Wait a minute! Pause!
You didn't know we was coming back like this on 'em, my brother!