The song was positively received by critics and was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award in the category of Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single. It was also commercially successful, reaching number one in Billboard's Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. "My Prerogative" also reached top ten positions in many countries, such as Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The music video for the song features Brown performing the song on stage with his band and dancers. The song was also performed at most of his concerts, usually as the last song of the set list. On the February 4, 1989, performance at Madison Square Garden, he was joined on stage by many popular rap artists and producers of the time.
"My Prerogative" has been covered and sampled by a number of artists from different genres, including Britney Spears. She released her cover in her first compilation, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (2004). The cover was produced by Bloodshy & Avant and was noted for aptly referring to Spears's relationship with the media at the time. Although the song only appeared in component charts in the United States, Spears's cover surpassed Brown's version in some European countries, peaking at the top of the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy and Norway and reaching the top ten in another fourteen countries.
My Prerogative
Bobby Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me (now, now)
Why don't they just let me live (oh, oh, oh)
I don't need permission
Make my own decisions (oh)
That's my prerogative
They say I'm crazy
That's my prerogative
They say I'm nasty
But I don't give a damn
Gettin' girls is how I live
Some ask me questions
Why am I so real
But they don't understand me
I really don't know the deal
About a brother
Trying hard to make it right
Not long ago
Before I win this fight
Sing!
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me
Why don't they just let me live (tell me why)
I don't need permission
Make my own decisions (oh)
That's my prerogative
It's my prerogative (it's my prerogative)
It's the way that I wanna live (it's my prerogative)
I can do just what I feel (it's my prerogative)
No one can tell me what to do (it's my prerogative)
Cause what I'm doin'
I'm doin' for you now
Don't get me wrong
I'm really not zooped
Ego trips is not my thing
All these strange relationships
Really gets me down
I see nothin' wrong
With spreadin' myself around
Sing
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me (yeah)
Why don't they just let me live (tell me why)
I don't need permission (I don't need)
Make my own decisions (my own decisions)
That's my prerogative
It's my prerogative (it's my prerogative)
I can do what I wanna do (it's my prerogative)
Truly live my life (it's my prerogative)
I'm doin' it just for you (it's my prerogative)
Tell me, tell me
Why can't I live my life (live my life)
Without all of the things that people say (oh, oh)
Yo tell it, kick it like this
Oh no no
I can do what I wanna do
Me and you
Together, together, together, together, together
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me (everybody's talkin')
Why don't they just let me live (why)
(Why don't they just let me live girl)
I don't need permission (I don't need permission)
Make my own decisions
That's my prerogative
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me (everybody's talkin')
Why don't they just let me live
I don't need permission (I don't need)
Make my own decisions (my own decisions)
That's my prerogative
What is this a bizzit that I can't have money in my pocket
And people not talk about me
This world is a trip, I don't know what's going on these days
Got this person over here talking about me, this person
Hey, listen, lemme tell you something
This is my prerogative, I can do what I want to do
I made this money, you didn't
Right Ted?
We outta here
It's my, it's my, it's my, it's my, it's my
My my my my my my my my my my my my my my my
It's my prerogative
The song "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown was released in 1988 and has since been considered an anthem for individuality, self-empowerment, and freedom of choice. The lyrics speak to Brown's desire to live his life on his own terms, without the burden of societal expectations or judgments from others. He asserts that he doesn't need anyone's permission to make decisions and that doing things his way is his prerogative. Brown addresses the rumors and accusations that have been circulating about him, expressing that he is unbothered by the opinions of others and that he will continue to live his life as he sees fit. The chorus repeats the message that Brown's prerogative is to make his own choices and live however he chooses, and he will not apologize for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Get busy
Let's get started
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me (now, now)
People are discussing and gossiping about me
Why don't they just let me live (oh, oh, oh)
Why don't people let me be free and make my own choices
I don't need permission
I don't require anyone's authorization
Make my own decisions (oh)
I will decide for myself
That's my prerogative
It is my right to choose my own path
They say I'm crazy
People allege that I am insane
I really don't care
I'm not bothered about what they think of me
They say I'm nasty
People regard me as unpleasant
But I don't give a damn
I do not care about their opinion
Gettin' girls is how I live
Getting girls is the way I lead my life
Some ask me questions
Some people inquire about me
Why am I so real
Why am I so authentic
But they don't understand me
However, they do not comprehend me
I really don't know the deal
I am uncertain about what's going on
About a brother
As for me
Trying hard to make it right
Struggling to do the right thing
Not long ago
Recently
Before I win this fight
Before I succeeded in this challenge
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me
People are gossiping about me again
It's the way that I wanna live
This is how I desire to lead my life
I can do just what I feel
I'm free to do what my heart desires
No one can tell me what to do
Nobody has the power to instruct me
Cause what I'm doin'
Because I am doing this
I'm doin' for you now
I'm doing it for the benefit of others
Don't get me wrong
Do not misunderstand me
I'm really not zooped
I'm not crazy
Ego trips are not my thing
I am not self-centered
All these strange relationships
All the unusual connections I have with people
Really gets me down
Affects my mood negatively
I see nothin' wrong
I do not regard this as a problem
With spreadin' myself around
With interacting with many people
It's my prerogative (it's my prerogative)
I have the right to make my own decisions
Truly live my life (it's my prerogative)
Live my life genuinely
Tell me, tell me
Please tell me
Why can't I live my life (live my life)
Why can't I lead my life
Without all of the things that people say (oh, oh)
Without having to deal with what people think and say
This is my prerogative, I can do what I want to do
I have the right to make my own choices and take my path in life
It's my, it's my, it's my, it's my, it's my
This ultimate right belongs to me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Teddy Riley, Gene Griffin, Bobby Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@motherof2wifeof18
This song got my ass beat! I told my mother "I'll do my homework when I felt like because it was 'My 'Prerogative." Every time I hear this, I think about that beat down....I'm 40 now
@kanuri
😂
@tkaitv8184
K Bouie no way 😂💀
@motherof2wifeof18
@@tkaitv8184 I have a "southern" mother, so she didn't play getting smart at the mouth!
@fuegodibiase5831
I
Jus
Died
Reading
This
Shit
Hahaha
😅😆😂🤣
@kimbeard2655
AWESOME beat is right
@jonnysickstix2736
this was my mom’s favorite song. she passed away today. so crank it up for her!
@sherrychaffin4843
Sick Stix...So sorry for your loss...Ma knew this was the (JAM).
@edencooper2240
I'm so sorry for ur lose
@marinevet4131
Rip mom