Released: October 26, 1989

Songwriter: Bobby Brown Teddy Riley Aaron Hall Gene Griffin

Producer: Teddy Riley Gene Griffin

[Intro]
It's my prerogative
It's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's my prerogrative

What was that you said?
Man, you frontin'
It's my prerogative
If I wanna do that I can do what I wanna do, you understand what I'm sayin'?
Listen, we can do this if you want
Tell you what
Yo, Ted, get busy

No, no, ooh
Oh

[Verse 1]
They say I'm crazy, I really don't care
That's my prerogative
They say I'm nasty, but I don't give a damn
Getting girls is how I live
Some ask me questions, "Why am I so real?"
But they don't understand me or really don't know the deal
About a brother, trying hard to make it right
Not long ago, before I win this fight
Sing

[Chorus]
Everybody's talking all this stuff about me
Why don't they just let me live? (Tell mе why)
I don't need permission
Make my own decisions (Oh)
That's my prеrogative (It's my prerogative)

[Post-Chorus]
(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 doing, I'm doing for you, now
Get, busy
Get, busy
Get, bi-bi-bi-busy
Get busy
Sing

[Verse 2]
Don't get me wrong, I'm really not souped
Ego trips is not my thing
All these strange relationships really gets me down
I see nothing wrong with spreading myself around
Sing

[Chorus]
Everybody's talking 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)

[Post-Chorus]
It's my prerogative
It's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's my prerogrative
It's my prerogative
It's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's-it's my prerogrative

[Bridge]
Tell me, tell me, why can't I live my life (Live my life)
Without all of the things that people say

[Interlude]
Yo Teddy, kick it like this
Oh, no, no
I can do what I wanna do
Me and you
Together, together, together, together, to—

[Outro]
What is this, a blizzard, 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
Ayy, listen, let me tell you something, it's my prerogative
I can do what I wanna do
I made this money, you didn't; right, Ted?
We outta here

Why you wanna talk about me?
Tell me, tell me why
Why you wanna talk about me?
Tell me, tell me why
Tell me why
Why you wanna talk about me?
Why, oh, why
(I don't need permission, make my own decisions)
Why you wanna talk about me?
(That's my prerogative)
Tell me, tell me why
Why you wanna talk about me?

Bobby Brown

The King of New Jack Swing. Bobby Brown has never been afraid to push the envelope – musically, artistically or socially. His sheer bravery and brash honesty are the very characteristics that make him “Bobby Brown” – a pioneering entertainer with over three decades of experience. From his successful debut in New Edition, the boy band prototype for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men and the Backstreet Boys, to his multi-platinum career as a solo artist, Brown has left a mark on the music industry that can never be erased.