The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Get busy
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
I really don't care
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
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
I really don't care
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
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Wow, when I first heard this song I heard Britney's cover, so I thought it was HER original song. But then I heard this one on the radio today and figured out it wasn't haha. But anyway, AWESOME song!