"Throwin' Your Life Away" (also titled "Throwing Your Life Away" and "(Stop) Throwing Your Life Away") is an unreleased song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, intended for the Bad album.
Background[]
"Throwin' Your Life Away" was recorded between December 15, 1986-January 4, 1987 at Hayvenhurst.[1] It was co-produced by Bill Bottrell and intended for the Bad album, although it failed to make the final cut.
"Throwin' Your Life Away" was revisited in 1988, when Jackson was touring.[2] Vocals were recorded during the early Dangerous sessions at Ocean Way Recording.[3] A CD featuring the track appears in the court documents of Jeffré Phillips' lawsuit,[4] suggesting that it may have been reworked again with Neff-U between 2008–2009. The track was listed on a 2009 note with the titles of songs Jackson wanted to finish.
"Throwin' Your Life Away" was remixed by Neff-U in 2010 for the first posthumous studio album, Michael, this time retitled "(Stop) Throwing Your Life Away".[5] He didn't have access to the multitrack, adding guitar and strings to the existing '88 mix. However, it didn't make the final cut.[6] The full runtime is 3:40.
| “ | The original 1988 Throwing Your Life Away is much stronger. Neff-U did the 2010 remix, but he didn’t have access to a multi-track. He added new strings and guitar on top of the 88 original. Those new layers drowned MJ’s vocal out, so the remix is far less powerful, in my opinion. | ” |
–Damien Shields on X, October 23, 2022[7] | ||
Leak history[]
On June 23, 2020, a full phone recording of the 1988 version played at Brad Sundberg's In the Studio with MJ seminar leaked online. On August 21, 2024, an alternate recording from In the Studio with MJ leaked online in better quality. On June 19, 2025, a 1988 demo DAT was put on sale on eBay. The tape's runtime is 9:08.[8] On August 30, 2025, the 1988 demo audio was leaked by John Tyla in high quality and was published by MJ Leaker on his YouTube channel. The audio was cut down to 4:03, as the rest of the track was a looped instrumental. The full 9-minute track was leaked on August 31, 2025, by Lydon Hayes on YouTube.[9]
On July 20, 2024, Faux leaked a medium-quality snippet of the 2010 remix online.[10] Damien Shields confirmed its authenticity two days later.[11] Meanwhile, two more snippets leaked on the same day.[12] It was fully leaked on August 24 by an unknown source, with Shields again confirming its authenticity a day later.[13]
Audio[]
- 1988 version - (
listen) - 2010 remix (low quality version) - ( listen)
- 2010 remix (high quality version) - ( listen)
- 2010 remix (high quality version) - (
Lyrics[]
Note: These aren't official lyrics and may contain inaccuracies.
[Intro]
Chop, huh!
[Verse 1]
I was young and loved to fight
I was never wrong but always right
Look at ol' me
I was young and ready to go
But I’m gonna need a revelation
Look at ol' me
I was playin' the underdog
I got my kicks but I’m gonna go home
Look at ol' me
Life was sweet and life was bad
Got my time when I'm doin' that
Look at ol' me
[Pre-Chorus]
Now I must find
There’s no love in my life
[Chorus]
Don’t be throwin' your life away
Throwin' your life away
Oh!
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
[Verse 2]
I was livin' high and low
I got my kicks and I got my soul
Look at ol' me
I was doing the underdog
I got my choice and I gotta go home
Look at ol' me
I was really doing bad
I got my time and I got my plan
Look at ol' me
I was really in the right
I got my time without a sound
Look at ol' me
[Pre-Chorus]
Now I must find
There’s no love in my life
[Chorus]
Don’t be throwin' your life away
Throwin' your life away
Oh! Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Throwin' your life away
Throwin' your life away
Oh! Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Oh! Na-na-no, da-da, da-da-da
[Bridge]
Release me
Someone say "Release me"
Someone say "Release me"
Someone say "Release me"
Now I know we're fightin'
Had to do the damage
Chop!
[Chorus]
Throwin' your life away
Throwin' your life away
[Outro]
Oh!
Right there, hee!
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Don’t you find it so easy to just say no? To just say no?
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- "Throwin' Your Life Away" was picked up to be considered for Bad 25, but it was ultimately left off.
References[]
- ↑ @BillBottrell - X, December 5, 2024
- ↑ Throwin' Your Life Away / Michael Jackson. Detailed Record View | U.S. Copyright Public Records System
- ↑ @BillBottrell - X, July 24, 2025
- ↑ Application For Writ Of Possession (Claim and Delivery) {CD-100}
- ↑ (Stop) Throwing Your Life Away / Michael Jackson. Detailed Record View | U.S. Copyright Public Records System
- ↑ The Discussion of MJ's Unreleased Tracks
- ↑ @DamienShields - X, October 23, 2022
- ↑ Michael Jackson - Throwing Your Life Away Demo DAT
- ↑ Michael Jackson - Throwin Your Life Away (Original Version)
- ↑ (NEW LEAK) Michael Jackson - Throwing Your Life Away (2010 Neff-U Mix Snippet) (HQ available)
- ↑ @Damien Shields - X, July 22, 2024
- ↑ (NEW LEAK) Michael Jackson - Throwing Your Life Away (2010 Neff U Mix Snippet 2) (HQ available)
- ↑ @Damien Shields - X, August 30, 2024