Released: October 30, 2001

Songwriter: Bernard Belle LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III Rodney Jerkins Michael Jackson

Producer: Michael Jackson Rodney Jerkins

[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

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. Jackson began his career when he was seven years old as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, breaking into stardom in 1969 after signing into Motown. The Jackson 5’s first four singles all peaked at number one on the Billboard 100, and soon after Michael pursued a solo career.

His breakthrough fifth album, 1979’s Off The Wall produced four top ten hits (including “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”) and sold 20 million copies, establishing him as a household name. The album was followed with 1982’s Thriller, which became the best selling album of all time, and was the first album to feature seven top 10 singles, including “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.”

In 1985, Michael contributed to the collaboration single “We Are The World”, which remains one of the best-selling singles of all time and raised nearly $65 million for famine relief.