[Intro: Ronnie DeVoe & Ralph Tresvant]
Listen up ma
I got something to tell you, yeah
Gotta play the game
Play the game, strictly for the ladies, come on

[Verse 1: Ralph Tresvant]
There's no kisses from you
When I'm leaving in the morning
There's no roses for you
When I know I've hurt your feelings
Don't know what happened to us
Girl, I never saw it coming
How did love go downhill?
I think I know what cheatin' men feel

[Pre-Chorus: Ralph Tresvant]
I hit the bar, bought a drink, sip it slow just to think
Then a star wearin' big Gucci
She said it looks like you need a friend
The lonely girl is knockin', let me in
We can leave, no delay take my mind off this pain
To go do things in the Marriott suite
Tell wifey that I might be working late
Hope I never have to say I lied
[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
To keep my six
To keep my house (I'm sorry, girl)
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, babe
To make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, babe
I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied

[Verse 2: Ralph Tresvant]
I'm so nervous these days
Got a feeling she'll be calling
I know hurt is on the way
When I dream of angels fallen
There's no perfect way to say
How my vows to you were broken
Who is that on the phone?
Let me explain before go

[Pre-Chorus: Ralph Tresvant]
I hit the bar, bought a drink, sip it slow just to think
Then a star wearin' big Gucci
She said it looks like you need a friend
The lonely girl was knockin', I let her in
We left, no delay, took my mind off this pain
To go to bed in the Marriott suite
I know I said that I was working late
But you found out today I lied
[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
To keep my six
To keep my house (Hey hey)
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, baby
To make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, baby
I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)

[Bridge: Ralph Tresvant]
From the moment I heard
You say you're leavin' (Don't go)
It was the worst I thought could happen (For sure)
I'm already missing your lovin'
Your laughter, the morning after
It's not a home without you here
I swear I learned my lesson, baby

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
To keep my six
To keep my house
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, babe
To make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart
To keep your kiss (Yeah)
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, babe
I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied (Yeah)
To keep my six, to keep my house
To still be here to work things out
To find some way, babe, to make it up to you
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
To keep your heart, to keep your kiss
To still be here to raise our kids
To keep my ring, babe, I couldn't tell the truth
That's why I lied (That's why I lied)
[Outro: Ronnie DeVoe]
Strictly for the ladies, my Black sistas
Strictly for the ladies, you know, Latinas, yeah
Strictly for the ladies, Playboy Bunnies and all, ya know
Strictly for the ladies, come on