I met this girl before I was really a man
I was just a teenager of almost sixteen,
but before my next birthday came around
the way this chick had me hooked was obscene.
Like all nice grooves it started friendly enough.
She was the answer to my every dream.
Mary Jane lifted my mood when I was sad
and she knew everyone on the scene.
We had a pretty good run at first.
We saw each other almost every night.
It was all laughter and fun and bliss and joy.
I never once remember having a fight.
But I knew that we spent too much time together.
I neglected school, family, other friends.
And I spent way too much money on this girl
Her hand in my wallet had to end.
So I approached her reasonably and said
We need to have a short separation.
She just laughed in my face and replied,
I own you, boy. You can’t walk offa my plantation.
I said, you don’t know me, woman
and puffed up my chest, indignant at the slight
But I guess she did know me because
in her arms I lay at the end of that night.
That marked a changed in our relationship
I still loved her but now more out of fear
I wanted to avoid how I felt away from her
a combination of anger and despair.
So I started being with her all the time.
We still had lots of friends that we shared.
But I felt resentment of her power over me
and knew one day I'd escape if I dared.
If I hadn’t met a new friend who showed me true love
I might have taken Mary Jane to my grave
But my new friend looked me in the eyes and said,
Man, that woman has made you a slave.
My will power awoke. I developed a spine
and told Mary Jane she must go.
Like most abusers, she was a little thick
It took her a while to understood No.
This time when I removed her claws from my heart
I set up a boundary she could not penetrate.
She tried to come back many, many times;
but my love for her had turned into hate.
Years later now, I no longer hate Mary Jane.
but she’s still not welcome in my life.
I gave her more power than any partner should have.
She was an okay girlfriend, but a lousy wife.
I usually don’t speak against her in public.
She’s got a lot of passionate defenders
But I finally decided to tell you my story
In case you too are trying to suspend her.
Mary Jane.
