"Leave Me Alone" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the eleventh and final track from the Bad album. It was released as a single on February 13, 1989, serving as the eighth single from the album.
Background[]
"Leave Me Alone" was co-produced with Quincy Jones and recorded in 1985 as a demo at Hayvenhurst. The track was worked on at Westlake between 1986-1987. "Leave Me Alone" was the first song to feature Jackson talking about his issues with the media, tabloids, and negative rumors about his personal life.
It wasn't included on the first pressings of Bad. Rather, it was added in later 1987 pressings of the CDs.[1]
Music video[]
The music video (directed by Jim Blashfield and produced by Blashfield, Jerry Kramer (who also directed additional footages), Dennis E. Jones, Paul Diener, Jackson, and Frank DiLeo) was filmed in January 1988 in Culver City, California, and was released on January 2, 1989. The video previously appeared in the 1988 film, Moonwalker.[2]
The music video is a satirical and surreal visual experience that uses a mix of stop-motion animation and live-action footage. It features Jackson navigating a whimsical and bizarre amusement park filled with exaggerated representations of tabloid rumors and media scrutiny.
Through clever symbolism and vivid imagery, it critiques the relentless public and media attention Jackson faced, offering a commentary on fame, privacy, and the pressures of being constantly under the microscope. The video’s playful yet pointed visual narrative captures the song’s message of defiance and frustration, making it a unique and memorable piece in Jackson's artistic vision.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Aaow!
Hoo-hoo!
[Verse 1]
I don't care what you talkin' 'bout, baby
I don't care what you say
Don't you come walkin' beggin' back, mama
I don't care anyway
Time after time, I gave you all of my money
No excuses to make
Ain't no mountain that I can't climb, baby
All is goin' my way
[Pre-Chorus]
('Cause there's a time when you're right
And you know you must fight)
Who's laughin', baby? Don't you know?
(And there's the choice that we make
And this choice you will take)
Who's laughin', baby?
[Chorus]
So just leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone
Leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone (leave me alone)
Stop it!
Just stop doggin' me around (Just stop doggin' me)
Hee-hee!
Hoo-hoo!
[Verse 2]
There was a time I used to say "Girl, I need you"
But who is sorry now?
You really hurt, you used to take and deceive me
Now, who is sorry now?
You got a way of makin' me feel so sorry
I found out right away
Don't you come walkin', beggin', I ain’t lovin' you
Don't you get in my way
[Pre-Chorus]
('Cause there's a time when you're right
And you know you must fight)
Who's laughin', baby? Don't you know?
(And there's the choice that we make
And this choice you will take)
Who's laughin', baby?
[Chorus]
So just leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone
Leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone (Leave me alone)
Stop it!
Just stop doggin' me around
Hee-hee!
Hoo-hoo!
Aaow!
[Instrumental Inturleude]
Da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da da-da da-da
Da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da da-da da-da
Da-da-da-da-da da-da
Da-da-da-da
Da-da-da da
Ah, ah
[Pre-Chorus]
('Cause there's a time when you're right
And you know you must fight)
Who's laughin', baby? Don't you know, girl?
(There's the choice that we make) (Stop it, baby)
(And this choice you will take) (Stop it, baby)
Who's laughin', baby?
[Chorus]
So just leave me alone, girl (Hee!) (Leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone
Leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone (Leave me alone)
Stop it!
Just stop doggin' me
Leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone
Leave me alone, girl (Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone)
Leave me alone (Leave me alone)
Stop it!
Just stop doggin' me around
Hee-hee!
Hoo-hoo!
[Outro]
Don't come beggin' me
Don't come beggin'
Don't come lovin' me
Don't come beggin'
I love you
I don't want it
I don't, I don't, I don't, I, aaow!
Hee-hee!
Hoo-hoo!
Don't come beggin' me
Don't come beggin'
Don't come lovin' me
Don't come beggin'
I love you
I don't want it
I don't need it
I don't love ya
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[3]](/wiki/File:Leavemealonevinylback.jpg "Leavemealonevinylback.jpg (77 KB)")
![Vinyl[3]](/wiki/File:Leavemealonevinyl.jpg "Leavemealonevinyl.jpg (135 KB)")
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"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Leave Me Alone gallery, click here. |
Trivia[]
- While filming the clip, Tatiana Thumbtzen (star of "The Way You Make Me Feel" music video) visited the set for "Leave Me Alone". She got to do a photoshoot with Jackson.
- While "Leave Me Alone" is well known for being exclusive to the CD version of Bad, there have been three exceptions. The first was back in 2001, when "Leave Me Alone" appeared on the cassette version of the 2001 Bad: Special Edition reissue. "Leave Me Alone" also appeared again on vinyl with the 2009 re-release of the Bad album, and once again on the 25th reissue of the Bad album on November 29, 2012.