"Human II (Don't Turn Your Back on Me)" is a standout ballad by the legendary R&B group , featured on their 1997 album, Evolution . The track is widely recognized as a "sequel" or spiritual successor to the 1986 hit "Human" by The Human League. Song Overview and Background
: It frames a narrative of a person who has made a grave error in a relationship and is begging for another chance, asking, "How much should it cost to make things right?".
Human II (Don't Turn Your Back on Me) Lyrics — Boyz II Men
The song serves as a vulnerable plea for forgiveness and understanding, centered on the shared fallibility of the human experience.
: The track was produced and co-written by the iconic duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis , who also produced the original 1986 song by The Human League. All four original Boyz II Men members— Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Michael McCary —are credited as co-writers.
: Released during the peak of the group's career, the song showcases their signature lush vocal harmonies and emotional delivery, blending smooth R&B with a classic pop-ballad structure.
: The recurring line "Don't take my joy away" uses "joy" as a metaphor for the narrator's spirit, love, and resilience, which they fear losing if their partner turns away. Legacy and Connection to "Evolution"
: The lyrics repeatedly emphasize being "only a man" made of "flesh and blood," acknowledging that mistakes are an inevitable part of life.
"Human II (Don't Turn Your Back on Me)" is a standout ballad by the legendary R&B group , featured on their 1997 album, Evolution . The track is widely recognized as a "sequel" or spiritual successor to the 1986 hit "Human" by The Human League. Song Overview and Background
: It frames a narrative of a person who has made a grave error in a relationship and is begging for another chance, asking, "How much should it cost to make things right?".
Human II (Don't Turn Your Back on Me) Lyrics — Boyz II Men Boyz II Men - Human II (Dont Turn Your Back On Me)
The song serves as a vulnerable plea for forgiveness and understanding, centered on the shared fallibility of the human experience.
: The track was produced and co-written by the iconic duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis , who also produced the original 1986 song by The Human League. All four original Boyz II Men members— Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Michael McCary —are credited as co-writers. "Human II (Don't Turn Your Back on Me)"
: Released during the peak of the group's career, the song showcases their signature lush vocal harmonies and emotional delivery, blending smooth R&B with a classic pop-ballad structure.
: The recurring line "Don't take my joy away" uses "joy" as a metaphor for the narrator's spirit, love, and resilience, which they fear losing if their partner turns away. Legacy and Connection to "Evolution" Human II (Don't Turn Your Back on Me)
: The lyrics repeatedly emphasize being "only a man" made of "flesh and blood," acknowledging that mistakes are an inevitable part of life.