"Privacy" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the eleventh track from the Invincible album.
Background[]
"Privacy" was written by Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Bernard Belle, and David Campbell. It was produced by Jackson and Jerkins and recorded in August 1999 at Sony Music Studios.
"Privacy" delves into Jackson's struggles with the paparazzi stalking him, and media creating false stories to support their twisted narratives against him. The second verse as a whole is speculated to refer to Princess Diana, who was a very close friend to Jackson, and faced just as similar issues prior to her death in 1997 of a car crash.
Audio[]
Lyrics []
[Verse 1]
Ain't the pictures enough, why do you go through so much
To get the stories you need, so you can bury me?
You've got the people confused, you tell the stories you choose
You try to get me to lose the man I really am
You keep on stalkin' me, invading my privacy
Won't you just let me be?
'Cause your cameras can't control, the minds of those who know
That you'll even sell your soul just to get your story sold
[Chorus]
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah
So paparazzi, yeah, yeah, get away from me
Just get away from me (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
Some of you still wonder why one of my friends had to die
To get a message across, that yet you haven't heard
My friend was chased and confused like many others I knew
But on that cold winter night, my pride was snatched away
She get no second chance, she's ridiculed and harassed
Please tell me why? (Hold on) (Mercy)
Now, there's a lesson to learn, respect's not given, it's earned
Stop maliciously attackin' my integrity
[Chorus]
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (Hold on)
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (Hold on)
So paparazzi, yeah, yeah, (Mercy) just get away from me
Just get away from me (Yeah, yeah) (Slash!)
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Now, there's a lesson to learn, stories are twisted and turned
Stop maliciously attackin' my integrity (Oh, oh, hoo-hoo!)
[Chorus]
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (Hold on, hold on now)
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (Hold on, hold on)
So paparazzi, yeah, yeah (Oh, my, don't, don't, don't you do it) get away from me, yeah, yeah (Hold on, oh my)
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah
(Please don't do it, please, please don't do it)
I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (Get away from me, get away)
So paparazzi, yeah, yeah
(I'm tired of you stalkin', walkin', talkin', stalkin')
Get away from me, yeah, yeah
(You're just sartin' with me, brighter than me, stalkin' me, hold on, aah!)
Privacy, I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (You just, you just stop it, oh my)
Privacy, paparazzi, yeah, yeah (Privacy no, hee-hee-hee!)
Privacy, I need my privacy, yeah, yeah (My privacy, my privacy, privacy)
Privacy, get away from me, yeah, yeah (Privacy, no)
[Outro]
Privacy, yeah, why'd you do it? (Yeah, yeah)
Please don't do it
Why'd you do it? (Yeah, yeah)
Can you just let it?
Hah, please don't do it (Yeah, yeah)
Why do you do it?
Can you just let it? (Yeah, yeah)
Hah, do it
Trivia[]
- Right before the guitar solo, Michael shouts "Slash!". However, the guitarist isn't actually featured on the track and instead, the guitar solo is performed by Michael Tompson. Slash was originally going to be featured, although this couldn't happen due to time pressures.[1]