Rockwell - Somebody Is Watching Me

Michael first heard this song at the Jackson family's Encino home in California, when Rockwell (aka Kennedy Gordy - son of Motown founder and owner, Berry Gordy) played him the demo.

"I played him the tape and the single stuck out in his mind," said Rockwell. "He asked if he and Jermaine could do the backing vocals. Michael really wanted to do the song because he identified so much with its message. He often feels like a fish in a bowl - always being watched by people wanting a piece of him."

Rockwell often used to stand in the wings when the Jackson 5 were on stage, and was seen as a young boy in the 1971 TV special, Diana!.



Michael missed the first recording session - he was at a theme park with one-time teen rival, Donny Osmond. The following evening, Michael recorded his vocals in just over an hour.

Rockwell used an alias to keep his identity secret from his father, and Michael's contribution went uncredited, as he was under contract to CBS/Epic and the single was issued by his previous record company, Motown.

The song was released in January 1984 - hit no.1 on the R&B singles chart and no.2 on the Hot 100 in the US, and no.6 in the UK. It also achieved no.1 in Belgium.

A cover version by Dutch trio BeatFreakz, featuring a Michael Jackson sound-a-like, hit no.3 in the UK in 2006 - video, starring a pint-sized Michael, parodied Michael's Thriller short film. BeatFreakz also recorded a version of P.Y.T..


Somebody Is Watching Me - Lyrics

Who's watching
Tell me who's watching
Who's watching me

Rockwell:
I'm just an average man with an average life
I work from 9 to 5, 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...

Michael Jackson:
I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy, whoa-oa-oa
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Tell me, is it just a dream

Rockwell:
When I come home at night
I bang the door real tight
People call me on the phone I'm trying to avoid
Or can the people on TV see me, or am I just paranoid?

Rockwell:
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 touch
But maybe showers remind me of \Psycho\ too much
That's why...

Michael Jackson:
I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy, whoa-oa-oa
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me?

Rockwell:
Who's watching me
I don't know anymore!
Are the neighbours watching me?
Who's watching
Well is the mailman watching me?
Tell me who's watching
And I don't feel safe anymore, oh what a mess
I wonder who's watching me now
Who?
The IRS?!

Michael Jackson:
I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy, whoa-oa-oa
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Tell me is it just a dream
I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy, whoa-oa-oa
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me?
Who's watching me?
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Oooh, whoa-oa-oa
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Tell me, can it be?
Who's watching me?
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Whoa-oa-oa
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me?
Who's watching me?
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Can I have my privacy
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me?