It Wasn't Me

The lyrics of "It Wasn't Me" depict one man asking his friend what to do after his girlfriend catches him having sex with another woman. His friend's advice is to deny everything, despite clear evidence to the contrary, with the phrase "It wasn't me." Ultimately, the narrator says that the advice "makes no sense at all" and decides to confess and apologize. It is written in the key of C major.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0137223|title=It Wasn't Me|website=Musicnotes.com|date=23 October 2014|id=MN0137223|access-date=2 June 2021}}

The song was inspired by a bit called "No Loyal Men," performed by Eddie Murphy in his comedy special Raw (1987).{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y81Y655C2LU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Y81Y655C2LU |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=How I Wrote That Song: Shaggy "It Wasn't Me"|date=23 April 2015|publisher=YouTube|access-date=12 April 2018}}{{cbignore}} In an interview in February 2016, Shaggy acknowledged an interpolation of the War song "Smile Happy".{{Cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/02/shaggy-it-wasnt-me-15-year-anniversary-top-of-charts|title = You Can't Deny It: How Shaggy Pioneered Reggae's Pop Crossover with "It Wasn't Me"|website = Complex Networks}} The connection is further supported by two later songs that are based on "It Wasn't Me": British singer Liam Payne's 2017 debut single "Strip That Down" (featuring Quavo) from his album LP1, which interpolates the song, and the 2019 song "China" by Puerto Rican rappers Anuel AA and Daddy Yankee and Colombian singer Karol G with Puerto Rican singer Ozuna and Colombian singer J Balvin from the album Emmanuel, which samples the song.{{cite magazine|last1=Cobo |first1=Leila |title=Anuel AA Taps Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Ozuna and Karol G For 'China': Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/8520773/anuel-aa-china-video-daddy-yankee-j-balvin-ozuna-karol-g |magazine=Billboard |access-date=29 July 2019}} Both of these songs credited Shaggy (as Orville Burrell), the others writers of "It Wasn't Me", and members of War (despite their song not appearing on either track) as co-songwriters.{{cite news|url=https://genius.com/a/liam-payne-interpolates-a-shaggy-classic-on-his-new-single-strip-that-down-featuring-quavo|title=Liam Payne Interpolates A Shaggy Classic On His New Single "Strip That Down" Featuring Quavo|last=Mench|first=Chris|date=19 May 2017|work=Genius|access-date=12 April 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/liam-payne-insists-not-rip-11096834|title=Liam Payne insists he did not 'rip off' Shaggy song for new track as he gave singer credit|last=Rainbird|first=Ashleigh|date=1 September 2017|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=12 April 2018}}

The clean version of the song replaces the lyric "Picture this: we were both butt-naked banging on the bathroom floor" with "Picture this: we were both caught making love on the bathroom floor" and "Saw me banging on the sofa" with "Saw me kissing on the sofa".

"It Wasn't Me" was originally never intended to be released as a single. Before the original version of Hot Shot was released in August 2000, Hawaiian DJ Pablo Sato downloaded the album from "a Napster like MP3 site he won't name" and discovered that "It Wasn't Me" was "the album's standout cut." He played the song on American radio the next day, and in an interview, claimed, "The phone lines lit up right away. Within a couple of days, it was our number-one requested song."{{Cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/Jan/18/118islandlife13.html |date=18 January 2001 |publisher=Gannett Co., Inc. |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |title=Isle deejay takes credit for Shaggy hit |first=Derek |last=Paiva |access-date=22 February 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222232247/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/Jan/18/118islandlife13.html |archive-date=22 February 2001 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqgWvHa3LQ|title=The Story of 'It Wasn't Me' by Shaggy|author=VICE|date=10 July 2020|via=YouTube|access-date=4 March 2025}} The song was released to radio on 7 November 2000,{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-11-03.pdf|title=CHR/Pop: Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1375|page=48|date=3 November 2000|access-date=21 April 2021}} then was given a retail release on 6 February 2001 following its airplay success.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-02-10.pdf|title=Hot 100 Spotlight|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=6|page=89|date=10 February 2001|access-date=11 October 2020}}

"It Wasn't Me" was Shaggy's first number-one hit in the United States. The song reached number two on 23 December 2000.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2000-12-23/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=23 December 2000|access-date=4 August 2023}} On 30 December, it was bumped down one position to number three.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2000-12-30/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=30 December 2000|access-date=4 August 2023}} It moved back up to the number-two spot on 13 January 2001, then, on 3 February, it ascended to number one, replacing Destiny's Child's "Independent Women Part I".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-01-13/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=13 January 2001|access-date=4 August 2023}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-02-03/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=3 February 2001|access-date=4 August 2023}} The song remained at number one for two weeks and spent 25 weeks on the chart altogether.

The song also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 4 March 2001, selling 345,000 copies, making the song a transatlantic chart topper.{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/shaggy/6752|title=SHAGGY RETURNS IN STYLE|date=4 March 2000|work=NME|access-date=28 October 2015}} It also reached number one in Australia on 1 April 2001. It is also the 11th biggest selling single of the 21st century in the United Kingdom,{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/|title=The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=19 September 2017|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=13 March 2018}} with sales of over 1.42 million as of September 2017.

As of August 2014, it is the 49th-best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 399,500 units sold.{{cite web |title=Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, épisode 6 (50-41) |url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-93207.html |publisher=Chartsinfrance |date=16 August 2014 |access-date=27 August 2014}}

The music video was directed by Stephen Scott.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} It begins with RikRok running to Shaggy's mansion to explain to him what has just happened. RikRok tells him that he cheated on his girlfriend and got caught. Shaggy tells him to tell her that "It wasn't me." The video then cuts into a flashback to earlier that day. RikRok has been caught sleeping with another woman, and his girlfriend is outside the apartment in her convertible when two women pull up next to her on their sport bikes.

Then, the three women go into the building. He then sneaks out the window, takes the motorcycle of one of his girlfriend's accomplices and leaves. The women come out and the girlfriend and one of her accomplices get in the convertible and the other gets on her motorcycle and they chase after him. From his mansion, Shaggy, using his futuristic technology, tracks down where RikRok is going and prepares an escape for him. RikRok then gets on a bridge over the highway when the accomplice rode on the bridge in front of him.

He then hits the brakes to stop while she stops her motorcycle. RikRok then hears a noise behind him and it is the other accomplices and the girlfriend driving the convertible on the other side of the bridge with the highway down below. An eighteen-wheeler drives by, and Shaggy leaves RikRok a text message telling him to look behind and he notices the truck and jumps off the side of overhead and lands on the truck. He is then dropped off at Shaggy's mansion, showing the same scene from the start of the video.

The lyrical content of "It Wasn't Me" inspired Slate writer Josh Levin to coin the term the "Shaggy defense" to describe R. Kelly's defense at his 2008 child pornography trial stemming from the production of a sex tape: "I predict that in the decades to come, law schools will teach this as the 'Shaggy defense'. You allege that I was caught on camera, butt naked, banging on the log cabin floor? It wasn't me."Josh Levin. 21 May 2008. "[http://www.slate.com/id/2191876/entry/2191877/ Dispatches From the R. Kelly Trial]". R. Kelly was ultimately found not guilty on those charges.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1956/r-kelly-found-not-guilty|title=R. Kelly Found Not Guilty!|date=13 June 2008|website=E! Online}} Levin repeated the term on NPR,NPR. 23 May 2008. "[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90755482 Trapped in a Courtroom: The R. Kelly Trial]". and "Shaggy Defense" entered common use to describe a defendant flatly denying guilt despite overwhelming evidence against them.

The song was spoofed by Bob Rivers, as "Caught Me One Handed", and makes a reference to the Scooby-Doo character, Shaggy Rogers. The video focused on him being caught masturbating (about the girl next door) by his mother.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyzKfk-kRgA|title=Caught Me One-Handed|date=22 January 2009 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=12 April 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} The song was also spoofed on Svengoolie. On The Chris Moyles Show, the song was used as a prank call with "Shaggy" (actually impressionist Jon Culshaw) trying to book a taxi, with the final line being "Can you drop me off at The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1?, 97 to 99 FM".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxdOhC1R0t8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yxdOhC1R0t8 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Shaggy - Taxi|publisher=YouTube|date=28 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}

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• Jamaican 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2000|type=Jamaican 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=MCA Records|id=O88155800-7}}

:A. "It Wasn't Me"

:B. "It Wasn't Me" (club mix)

• US 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=MCA Records|id=088 155 800-7}}

:A. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:48

:B. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal club) – 4:10

• US CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=MCA Records|id=088 155 782-2}}

1. "It Wasn't Me" (album version)
2. "It Wasn't Me" (Squeaky version)
3. "It Wasn't Me" (instrumental version)
4. "It Wasn't Me" (Sports version)

• US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=MCA Records|id=088 155 782-1}}

:A1. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49

:A2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix instrumental) – 3:49

:B1. "It Wasn't Me" (Punch remix) – 3:54

:B2. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:47

• European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=MCA Records|id=155 803-2}}

1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49

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• UK CD single and Australian CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=UK CD single & Australian CD1 liner notes|publisher=MCA Records|id=155 802-2}}

1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49
3. "Dance & Shout" (Pussy 2000 club mix edit) – 8:07
4. "It Wasn't Me" (enhanced video)

• UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=MCA Records|id=MCST 40247, 155807-1}}

:A1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43

:A2. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:47

:B1. "It Wasn't Me" (12-inch vocal) – 3:49

• UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=MCA Records|id=MCSC 40247, 155807-4}}

1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
2. "It Wasn't Me" (album version) – 3:47

• Australian CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=It Wasn't Me|others=Shaggy|year=2001|type=Australian CD2 liner notes|publisher=MCA Records|id=155 800-2}}

1. "It Wasn't Me" (radio edit) – 3:43
2. "It Wasn't Me" (vocal 12-inch mix) – 3:49
3. "It Wasn't Me" (Crash & Burn remix) – 5:37
4. "Dance & Shout" (Pussy 2000 club mix edit) – 8:07
5. "Dance & Shout" (Kulb Kings club mix) – 6:30
6. "It Wasn't Me" (enhanced video)

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Credits are taken from the Hot Shot album booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=Hot Shot|title-link=Hot Shot (Shaggy album)|others=Shaggy|year=2000|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=MCA Records|id=088 112 096-2}}

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at Ranch Recording Studios (Valley Stream, New York)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

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• Shaggy – writing (as Orville Burrell)
• Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent – writing (as Rickardo Ducent)
• Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia – writing, background vocals, drums, production, recording, mixing
• Brian Thompson – writing
• Brian and Tony Gold – background vocals
• Robert Zapata – guitar
• Nigel Staff – keyboard
• Jerry Johnson – brass
• Kevin Batchelor – brass
• Gwen Laster – violin
• Chris Gehringer – mastering

{{div col end}}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=26 December 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=It Wasn't Me|artist=Shaggy|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.musik.org/publikationer/guldplatin.htm|title=Guld og Platin 2001|publisher=IFPI Denmark|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005180226/http://www.musik.org/publikationer/guldplatin.htm|archive-date=5 October 2002|access-date=14 July 2022}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=It Wasn't Me|artist=Shaggy|type=single|award=Gold|id=7735|relyear=2001|certyear=2018|refname=DNKstreaming|access-date=26 July 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Gold|note=since 2009|relyear=2001|certyear=2019|access-date=26 December 2019|id=6903}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|nosales=true}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=26 December 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Shaggy|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Shaggy ft Rikrok|title=It Wasn't Me|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2001|certyear=2023|id=3404-3219-1|access-date=21 April 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

• Alternative facts
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 2001
• List of best-selling singles and albums of 2001 in Ireland
• List of best-selling singles of the 2000s (decade) in the United Kingdom
• List of best-selling singles of the 2000s (century) in the United Kingdom
• List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom
• List of 2000s UK Singles Chart number ones
• Shaggy defense

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, fifth edition

{{Refend}}

• [https://www.iamcreativ.com/blog/2017/everything-is-a-remix/ Everything Is A Remix] Shaggy is inspired by Eddie Murphy

{{Shaggy singles}}

{{UK best-selling singles (by year) 1990–2009}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2000 songs

Category:2000 singles

Category:Shaggy (musician) songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles

Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:List songs

Category:MCA Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Number-one singles in Poland

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Songs about infidelity

Category:Songs written by Shaggy (musician)

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles