Bobby Brown – On Our Own: Lyrics and Music Video
On Our Own by Bobby Brown lyrics and music video. You can sing while listening to the song On Our Own performed by Bobby Brown. Hope you like the music video and song lyrics for On Our Own.
About the Song
[Bobby Brown - On Our Own]: Song Overview
Released in June 1989 as the lead single from the Ghostbusters II soundtrack, On Our Own became Bobby Brown's third consecutive new jack swing chart-topper. This high-energy track solidified his solo stardom post-New Edition, blending streetwise swagger with supernatural movie themes. It spent 2 weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, blocked from No. 1 by Prince's "Batdance."
Release and Chart Performance
- Release Date: June 6, 1989
- No. 2 Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
- Certified Platinum (US) for 1 million+ sales
- Top 10 in 12 countries including UK (No. 10)
- Soundtrack went 2× Platinum, driven by this single
Musical Style and Themes
A new jack swing masterpiece featuring:
- Syncopated drum machine patterns
- Slap bass synth lines
- Call-and-response vocal layers
"When you're all alone, and there's nobody else / You can call on me, I'll be there on the double"
Meaning of the Song
While written for Ghostbusters II, its lyrics reflect dual narratives:
- Literal ghostbusting teamwork
- Metaphor for Brown's career resilience post-group exit
- 1980s urban survival themes ("No job too big, no fee too tall")
"We're here to bust 'em, so don't be afraid / No ghost too tough, no lie can't be unmade"
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- Over 150 million streams (combined platforms)
- Featured in Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2019) and Stranger Things Season 4 (2022)
- 2023 TikTok trend (#OnOurOwnChallenge) with 250k+ videos
- 1989 Soul Train Music Award winner (Best R&B/Soul Single)
- Paved way for Brown's 1990 Don't Be Cruel album success
Songwriting Credits
- Written by Ray Parker Jr. (Ghostbusters theme creator)
- Produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid
- Key contributor: Kayo (additional rap vocals)
Summary
On Our Own epitomizes late-80s pop-R&B crossover, merging movie bombast with streetwise authenticity. Its chart success and enduring nostalgia value cement its status as both a soundtrack staple and Bobby Brown's career-defining moment. The track's fusion of paranormal themes and urban realism continues to influence hip-hop/sci-fi collaborations.
Keywords
- Bobby Brown Ghostbusters song
- New jack swing 1980s hits
- On Our Own lyrics meaning
- Babyface L.A. Reid productions
- Best movie soundtrack songs
- Ray Parker Jr. written tracks
- 1989 Billboard top R&B songs
Bobby Brown: On Our Own Lyrics
Yeah
You want somethin’ done?
You gotta do it yourself
OW!
UH!
Yeah I think this is gonna be another one of those funky ones
Heart, soul, d-d-dance!
If I was you, and you were me, you’d wanna be winning
If you want something bad, yo, you gotta wanna give your all
‘Cause I believe so much in we and know we’re not kidding
If you feel the same as me, yo, you gotta want to take the ball
Now I find out that nothing is given
Don’t know where the cards may fall
All I know is that we’ve gotta get it
We’ve gotta make it on our own
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control
(all on our own)
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home
(all on our own)
Now can’t you see that all we need to be a go-getter
Gotta make your own decisions, you gotta go for what ya know
It comes a time in our lives, you wanna be bigger
Gotta keep, keep on pushing, you gotta learn to take control, yeah
Now I find out that nothing is given
Don’t know where the cards may fall
All I know is that we’ve gotta get it
We’ve gotta make it on our own
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control
(all on our own)
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home (all on our own)
Gotta, gotta, take it home, gotta, gotta, gotta take it home
OW!
UH!
Heart, soul, d-d-dance!
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold
They’re called the Ghostbusters and they’re in control
Had ’em throwin’ a party for a bunch of children
While all the while the slime was under the building
So they packed up their group, got a grip, came equipped
Grabbed they proton packs off their back and they split
Found about Vigo, the master of evil
Try to battle my boys? That’s not legal
(Oh-we-oh) They’re in control
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
I said they’re in control
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control (all on our own)
We got, we got, we got
We got, we got, we got
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home (all on our own)
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold, they’re the Ghostbusters and they’re in control
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control (all on our own)
Gotta, gotta, take it home
Gotta, gotta take it home
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home (all on our own)
Gotta, gotta, take it home
Gotta, gotta, gotta take it home
(Oh-we-oh) OW!
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
(Oh-we-oh) Uh!
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold
They’re called the Ghostbusters and they’re in control
Had ’em throwin’ a party for a bunch of children
While all the while the slime was under the building
So they packed up their group, got a grip, came equipped
Grabbed they proton packs off their back and they split
Found about Vigo, the master of evil
Try to battle my boys? That’s not legal
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control…
You want somethin’ done?
You gotta do it yourself
OW!
UH!
Yeah I think this is gonna be another one of those funky ones
Heart, soul, d-d-dance!
If I was you, and you were me, you’d wanna be winning
If you want something bad, yo, you gotta wanna give your all
‘Cause I believe so much in we and know we’re not kidding
If you feel the same as me, yo, you gotta want to take the ball
Now I find out that nothing is given
Don’t know where the cards may fall
All I know is that we’ve gotta get it
We’ve gotta make it on our own
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control
(all on our own)
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home
(all on our own)
Now can’t you see that all we need to be a go-getter
Gotta make your own decisions, you gotta go for what ya know
It comes a time in our lives, you wanna be bigger
Gotta keep, keep on pushing, you gotta learn to take control, yeah
Now I find out that nothing is given
Don’t know where the cards may fall
All I know is that we’ve gotta get it
We’ve gotta make it on our own
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control
(all on our own)
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home (all on our own)
Gotta, gotta, take it home, gotta, gotta, gotta take it home
OW!
UH!
Heart, soul, d-d-dance!
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold
They’re called the Ghostbusters and they’re in control
Had ’em throwin’ a party for a bunch of children
While all the while the slime was under the building
So they packed up their group, got a grip, came equipped
Grabbed they proton packs off their back and they split
Found about Vigo, the master of evil
Try to battle my boys? That’s not legal
(Oh-we-oh) They’re in control
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
I said they’re in control
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control (all on our own)
We got, we got, we got
We got, we got, we got
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home (all on our own)
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold, they’re the Ghostbusters and they’re in control
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control (all on our own)
Gotta, gotta, take it home
Gotta, gotta take it home
If it’s up to us, we’ve got to take it home (all on our own)
Gotta, gotta, take it home
Gotta, gotta, gotta take it home
(Oh-we-oh) OW!
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
(Oh-we-oh) Uh!
(Oh-we-oh) Y-Y-Ya know it
(All on our own)
Too hot to handle, too cold to hold
They’re called the Ghostbusters and they’re in control
Had ’em throwin’ a party for a bunch of children
While all the while the slime was under the building
So they packed up their group, got a grip, came equipped
Grabbed they proton packs off their back and they split
Found about Vigo, the master of evil
Try to battle my boys? That’s not legal
Well I guess we’re gonna have to take control…
