You Have the Right to Remain Silent (song)

"You Have the Right to Remain Silent" is a song written by Brenda and Cal Sweat, and originally recorded by Les Taylor on his 1991 album Blue Kentucky Wind, under the title "For the Rest of Your Life". The song was later recorded by American country music group Perfect Stranger and released in February 1995 off of the independent label, Pacific Records, before the group signed to Curb Records and re-released it in May 1995 as the second single and title track from their album You Have the Right to Remain Silent. The song was their only Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, reaching number 4 in August 1995.[1] It was also their only entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 61.[1]

"You Have the Right to Remain Silent"
Single by Perfect Stranger
from the album You Have the Right to Remain Silent
B-side"It's Up to You"
ReleasedFebruary 1995 (Pacific release)
May 23, 1995 (Curb release)
GenreCountry
Length3:31
LabelCurb
Songwriter(s)Brenda Sweat
Cal Sweat
Producer(s)Clyde Brooks
Perfect Stranger singles chronology
"Ridin' the Rodeo"
(1994)
"You Have the Right to Remain Silent"
(1995)
"I Am a Stranger Here Myself"
(1995)

Content

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The song is a soft, mellow ballad of a man asking a woman to have a dance with him, and says to her that she has “the right to remain silent” as they dance together.

Chart performance

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"You Have the Right to Remain Silent" debuted at number 75 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 15, 1995.

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[2] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 61
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 4

Year-end charts

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Chart (1995) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 73

Parodies

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  • American country music parody artist Cledus T. Judd released a parody of "You Have the Right to Remain Silent" titled "You Have No Right to Remain Violent" on his 1996 album I Stoled This Record.

References

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  1. ^ a b Perfect Stranger Chart History
  2. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2740." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 28, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  3. ^ "Perfect Stranger Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  4. ^ "Perfect Stranger Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.