Day was a high-school classmate of both Prince and André Cymone and the trio formed an early band called "Grand Central", later renamed "Champagne". Later, Prince embarked on a solo career but retained Cymone for his backing band. The two began to plan a side-group that would focus more on R&B, while Prince would continue to explore various musical styles. The Time was composed of 4 members from an earlier funk group called "Flyte Tyme", but the lead singer had not been chosen. Sue Ann Carwell was auditioned and Alexander O'Neal nearly became The Time's lead singer, but dropped out due to payment negotiations. Day, who was now in a band called "Enterprise" allowed Prince to have a song called "Partyup" for his Dirty Mind album and Prince would soon return the favor by giving Day the job of lead singer. Day would suggest guitarist Jesse Johnson, who completed the band's ensemble.
The Time's most prolific and visible period came in 1984 when Day played the antagonist to Prince in his film Purple Rain, which helped establish Day's playboy stage presence. Typically escorted by his valet, "Jerome" (Jerome Benton), Day won fans with his exaggerated vanity ("Jerome bring me my mirror!") and strutting bravado, acting as a comic foil to Prince's romantic, sensitive lead. This persona was further exploited for comic effect on The Time's records, on songs such as "Chili Sauce" and "If The Kid Can't Make You Come" from the album Ice Cream Castle.
That album, the group's most popular, is best remembered for the infectious singles "Jungle Love" and "The Bird". With their palpable pop energy and catchy choruses, both songs were huge hits on both Urban and Pop radio. But it wasn't until 1990,when the Time scored a #1 R&B hit with "Jerk Out" (a dance/New Jack Swing cut from their reunited fourth album: Pandemonium . This album also featured the original members of the band). The same year, Day formed his own girl band (not unlike Prince's Vanity/Apollonia 6) called The Day Zs. From that high point, Day's success began to wane in the 1990s. With the breakup of his band, the mediocre sales of his solo records, and the general decline of Prince's popularity, Day's public visibility and creative output waned considerably.
Today, he remains a popular concert draw, fronting a revamped lineup of The Time. Day continues to employ "Jerome" in his stage shows and the comic scenes the two act out together are typically the highlight of a Time performance.
Though he had continued to act in films from time to time in small parts (Richard Pryor's Moving being a brief but memorable turn), Day's presence on the screen decreased until, in 2001, he returned to film in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, performing "Jungle Love" with The Time and dancing with the movie's stars in the movie's coda.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org
Somebody's Watching Me
Morris Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me who's watching.
Who's watching me?
I'm just an average man, with an average life.
I work from nine to five; hey hell, I pay the price.
All I want is to be left alone in my average home;
But why do I always feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, and
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
And I have no privacy.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Tell me is it just a dream?
When I come home at night.
I bolt the door real tight.
People call me on the phone I'm trying to avoid.
Well, can the people on T.V. see me.
Or am I just paranoid?
When I'm in the shower.
I'm afraid to wash my hair.
'Cause I might open my eyes
And find someone standing there.
People say I'm crazy.
Just a little touched.
But maybe showers remind me of
"Psycho" too much.
That's why. . .
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
And I have no privacy.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Who's playing tricks on me?
Who's watching me?
I don't know anymore . . . are the neighbors watching
Who's watching?
Well, it's the mailman watching me: and I don't feel safe anymore.
Tell me who's watching.
Oh, what a mess. I wonder who's watching me now,
(WHO?) the I.R.S.?
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
And I have no privacy.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Who's playing tricks on me?
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
And I have no privacy.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I can't enjoy my tea.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
I want my privacy.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Stop playing tricks on me
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
The lyrics of Morris Day's song "Somebody's Watching Me" explore the feeling of lack of privacy and paranoia, which the singer has to bear. The singer is an average man with an average life, working from 9 to 5, wanting to be left alone in his average home. However, he always feels like he is in the Twilight Zone and that somebody is watching him. This feeling never leaves him. Even when he comes home at night, he bolts the door tight out of fear.
The lyrics also show that this fear extends to irrational thoughts, like being afraid to wash his hair while showering, lest someone might be standing there watching him. People call him on the phone that he is trying to avoid, and he does not feel safe anymore. The lyrics convey the paranoia that the singer feels, and he seems to be unable to escape this feeling, and it is taking over his life.
Overall, the song is a testament to the feeling of lack of privacy that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. In today's world, where privacy has become a luxury, the fear of always being watched and followed by someone can be overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's watching?
Asking who is keeping an eye on the singer.
Tell me who's watching.
Requesting to know the identity of the person observing.
Who's watching me?
Posing the question about who is monitoring the singer's every move.
I'm just an average man, with an average life.
The singer wants to convey that he is a common person with a regular routine.
I work from nine to five; hey hell, I pay the price.
The singer has a job with standard working hours and sacrifices to earn an income.
All I want is to be left alone in my average home;
The singer desires to have a peaceful life without any intrusion into his privacy.
But why do I always feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone, and
The singer feels as if he is living in an alternate reality or experiencing bizarre events.
I always feel like somebody's watching me.
The singer is constantly aware of someone observing him.
And I have no privacy.
The singer laments the lack of freedom to be alone or unobserved.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Repeating the chorus and emphasizing the constant feeling of being monitored.
Tell me is it just a dream?
The singer is in doubt and asks if his apprehension is just a figment of his imagination.
When I come home at night.
Referring to his arrival at home after work.
I bolt the door real tight.
The singer takes measures to ensure the entry door is secure.
People call me on the phone I'm trying to avoid.
The singer disregards incoming phone calls intentionally.
Well, can the people on T.V. see me.
The singer questions whether the people he sees on television are watching him in return.
Or am I just paranoid?
The singer wonders if he is excessively anxious and paranoid.
When I'm in the shower.
Referring to when the singer is taking a shower.
I'm afraid to wash my hair.
The singer expresses concern over washing his hair while in the shower.
'Cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there.
The singer is apprehensive that someone might appear when he opens his eyes.
People say I'm crazy.
The singer acknowledges that some people think he is mentally unstable.
Just a little touched.
The singer admits that he may have some mental instability or mild psychosis.
But maybe showers remind me of 'Psycho' too much.
The singer makes a candid revelation that watching the movie 'Psycho' may have affected him in ways he is not conscious of.
That's why. . .
The singer explains why he is afraid of the shower.
Who's playing tricks on me?
The singer is inquiring if he is being pranked.
I don't know anymore . . . are the neighbors watching
The singer is getting paranoid and suspecting even his neighbors of watching him.
Well, it's the mailman watching me:
The singer is even suspecting the mailman of keeping an eye on him.
and I don't feel safe anymore.
The singer is feeling more and more insecure due to his imagination.
Oh, what a mess. I wonder who's watching me now,
The singer is in a state of disarray and speculating about who is currently monitoring him.
(WHO?) the I.R.S.?
The singer makes a joke regarding the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) being interested in his activities.
I can't enjoy my tea.
The singer is so paranoid that it even affected his ability to enjoy his favorite drink - tea.
I want my privacy.
The singer is expressing a desire for space and not to be monitored at all times.
Stop playing tricks on me.
The singer is pleading with whoever is watching him to stop playing pranks and leave him alone.
Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.
Repeating the chorus and emphasizing the perpetual feeling of being observed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kennedy Gordy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rondmc44
They should've given this to Morris in the first place... This hits way harder than the original version....
Thibaut Zadina
rockwell should sing his own songs, no need to reach out to another singer if you got the voice needed to pull your own song off; that said, a cover by morris day is always welcome!
julius ochoa
the original had some great synth
but the bass on this is absolutely beautiful
Zack C.
This was recorded for the goddamn Haunted Mansion soundtrack. Absolutely no reason for Morris to go as hard as he did but he sure as hell did. Absolutely rips Rockwell's version to shreds.
Pooky1991
Ive been looking for this version everywhere.
Sami Jones
Absolutely love this!!
brian coleman
loved it
Sid Vicious
great video and love the jay and silent bob scene
Diamond Pressle
I always love this version better tho ! Where is it from though?
Dana W
It was from the "soundtrack" of The Haunted Mansion. Say what you will about the movie the soundtrack is great. Though its only about 10% movie music