Return Of The Mack

Album

Steam

Label

Warner Music Group ( Warner Bros. Records (1958–1967, 1970–1971) Warner Bros.-Seven Arts (1967–1970) Kinney Record Group International (1970–1972) Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (1972–1991) Warner Music (1991–2001))

Genre

New jack swing

Composer(s)

Mark Morrison

Entered Chart

Mar 1, 1997

Peak Date

Jun 7, 1997

Released

4 March 1996

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Atlantic 84868

Mark Morrison wrote this uplifting club banger, which was a huge hit in the summer of 1997. Morrison said in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "When I wrote that song, it was all about my moving from the negative to the positive. And that's how it turned out. Within the space of a year, I went from the lowest point of my life to return as The Mack and move forward to what's become the highest point of my life." This uses a sample of a Kool & The Gang instrumental called "N.T." Morrison decided to become a singer after spending three months in jail in 1995 for his part in a nightclub disturbance. In 1997 he was given a community service order for attempting to take a stun-gun onto a plane. When it was discovered Morrison was paying somebody else to complete his order on his behalf he was sentenced to a year in jail. With a big, ear-catching chorus, this song became a comeback anthem, but in the verse lyrics, Morrison sings from the perspective of a guy who got his groove back after his girl betrayed him. When this song topped the British chart, Morrison became the first black male solo artist to reach #1 in the UK in the '90s. Director Jake Nava (who helmed Adele's "Someone Like You") shot a music video in London, including some scenes of Morrison driving around the city. Sounds simple enough, except the singer didn't have a license and didn't even know how to drive. Nava kept Morrison on the side streets so his erratic driving wouldn't get them into trouble. Mark Morrison's hit song returned to people's ears when it was featured in the third episode of the Netflix series Master of None in November 2015. The Los Angeles rapper Mann released a cover version of the song, featuring vocals from Snoop Dogg and Iyaz. Their breezy re-imagining peaked at #28 in the UK in 2011. Morrison had a few more hits in the UK, but never again got higher than #76 ("Moan & Groan") in America. A series of arrests derailed his career. In 2017, this was used in Burger King commercials promoting their Mac N' Cheetos offering. In the spot, the heads of Chester Cheetah and Burger King's King are superimposed on people in the original video, which is as trippy as it sounds.

Oh-oh-oh, come on, oh yeah

Well I tried to tell you so (yes, I did)
But I guess you didn't know
As the saddest story goes
Baby, now I got the flow
'Cause I knew it from the start
Baby, when you broke my heart
That I had to come again and show you that I'm real

(You lied to me) all those times I said that I loved you
(You lied to me) yes, I tried, yes, I tried
(You lied to me) even though you know I'd die for you
(You lied to me) yes, I cried, yes, I cried

(Return of the Mack) there it is
(Return of the Mack) come on
(Return of the Mack) oh my God
(You know that I'll be back) here I am
(Return of the Mack) once again
(Return of the Mack) top of the world
(Return of the Mack) watch my flow
(You know that I'll be back) here I go

So I'm back up in the game (hustlin' snow)
Running things to keep my swing (all night long)
Letting all the people know
That I'm back to run the show
'Cause what you did, you know was wrong
And all the nasty things you've done (oh, oh, oh)
So, baby, listen carefully
While I sing my come-back song

(You lied to me) 'cause she said she'd never turn on me
(You lied to me) but you did, but you did
(You lied to me) all these pains you said I'd never feel
(You lied to me) but I do, but I do, do, do

(Return of the Mack) there it is
(Return of the Mack) hold on
(Return of the Mack) don't you know?
(You know that I'll be back) here I go
(Return of the Mack) oh, little girl
(Return of the Mack) once my pearl
(Return of the Mack) up and down
(You know that I'll be back) round and round

Uh, Mark stop lying about your big break

(You lied to me) 'cause she said she'd never turn on me
(You lied to me) but you did, but you did
(You lied to me) all this pain you said I'd never feel
(You lied to me) but I do, but I do, do, do

(Return of the Mack) there it is
(Return of the Mack) come on
(Return of the Mack) oh my god
(You know that I'll be back) here I am
(Return of the Mack) once again
(Return of the Mack) top of the world
(Return of the Mack) watch my flow
(You know that I'll be back) don't you know?

(Return of the Mack) there it is
(Return of the Mack) hold on
(Return of the Mack) be strong
(You know that I'll be back) here I go
(Return of the Mack) my little girl
(Return of the Mack) once my pearl
(Return of the Mack) up and down
(You know that I'll be back)