1. Smooth Criminal
Lyrics
2. Beat It
3. Blood On The Dance
Floor
9. The
Way You Make Me Feel
Smooth Criminal
Released thirty years ago in 1988, Smooth Criminal was on Jackson’s 1987 album
Bad. It peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart. The track is about
a woman named Annie who is violently attacked in her apartment. It was used as the
theme song to Moon walker, Jackson’s 1988 film.
Uh,
as he came into the window
It
was the sound of a crescendo, uh!
He
came into her apartment
He
left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh!
She
ran underneath the table
He
could see she was unable
So
she ran into the bedroom
So,
Annie are you OK? II 2 II
Will
you tell us that you’re OK ( uh!)
There’s
a sign in the window
That
he struck you – A crescendo Annie
He
came into your apartment
He
left the bloodstains on the carpet ( uh!)
Then
you ran into the bedroom
You
were struck down It was your doom
Annie
are you OK? II 2 II
You’ve
been hit by You’ve been hit by
So they came into the outway It was S
unday – What a black day,
uh!
Mouth to mouth resuscitation
Sounding heartbeats – Intimidations
Will you tell
us that you’re
OK There’s a sign in the window
That he struck you – A crescendo
Annie He came into your apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh!
Then you ran into the bedroom
(Annie
are you OK, Will you tell us, that you’re OK)
(There’s
a sign in the window)
(That
he struck you – A crescendo Annie)
(He
came into your apartment)
(Left
bloodstains on the carpet)
(Then
you ran into the bedroom)
(It
was your doom – Annie!)
(Will
you tell us, that you’re OK)
(There’s
a sign in the window)
(That
he struck you – A crescendo Annie)
(He
came into your apartment)
(Left
bloodstains on the carpet, uh!)
(Then
you ran into the bedroom)
(It
was your doom – Annie!)
You’ve
been hit by You’ve been struck by
Released in 1983, Beat It was
from this sixth studio album Thriller 1982. It peaked at number three in
the UK. The track has been described as a ‘sad commentary on human nature’ and
is influenced by Michael’s childhood and growing up in a gang culture, as well
as his dislike of violence, hence lyrics such as ‘don’t be a a macho man’. For
the acclaimed video, Jackson famously brought together the ring leaders of two
of Los Angeles’ notorious gangs – the Crips and Bloods – to not only add
authenticity, but also in an attempt to neutralise their issues.
They told him don’t you ever
come around here
Don’t want to see your face,
you better disappear
The fire’s in their eyes and
their words are really clear
You better run, you better do
what you can
Don’t want to see no blood,
don’t be a macho man
You want to be tough, better
do what you can
So beat it, but you want to
be bad
Just beat it No one wants to
be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is
your fight It doesn’t matter
beat it They’re out to get you,
better leave while you can
Don’t want to be a boy, you want to be a man
You have to show them that
You’re playin’ with your life,
this ain’t no truth or dare
They’ll
kick you, then they beat you,
Then they’ll tell you it’s fair
So beat it, but
you want to be bad
beat it No one wants to be
defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is
your fight It doesn’t matter
beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is
your fight It doesn’t matter
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is
your fight It doesn’t matter
Just beat it, beat it Beat it,
No one wants to be
defeated
strong is your fight It doesn’t matter
who’s
wrong or who’s right
No one wants to be
defeated
It doesn’t matter who’s
wrong or right
No one wants to be
defeated
strong is your fight It doesn’t matter
Beat it, beat it, beat it
Released in 1997, Blood On The Dance Floor is from the
remix album Blood On the Dance Floor: Hi Story in the Mix. It was originally
written in 1991 and set to go on his album that year Dangerous, however he left
it off to give himself more time to tweak and perfect it. Blood On The Dance
Floor is about a woman called Susie who seduced Jackson and then plots to stab
him with a knife on a dance floor.
She got your number
She put you under It’s so insane
Every night stance is like takin’ a
chance I
t’s not about love and romance
And now you’re gonna get it
Every hot
man is out takin’ a chance
It’s not about love and romance
To escape the world I’ve got to enjoy that simple dance
And it seemed
that everything was on my side
She seemed sincere like it
was love and true romance
And now she’s out to get me
And Susie ain’t your friend
Blood is on the dance floor
Blood is on the
knife Susie’s got your number
How
does it feel To know this stranger
Is out to kill She got your baby
Every night stance is like takin a
chances
It’s not about love and romance
And now you’re gonna get it
Every hot
man is out takin’ a chance
It’s not about love and romance
To escape the world I got to enjoy this simple dance
And it seemed
that everything was on my side
It seemed sincere like it was
love and true romance
And now she’s out to get me
And Susie ain’t your friend
Blood is on the dance floor
You know Susie says its right
Susie’s got your
number Susie ain’t your friend
Look who took you under She put seven inches in
Blood is on the dance floor
Blood is on the knife Susie’s got your number
Susie
says its right It was blood on the dance floor
(blood on the dance floor)
It
was blood on the dance floor
(blood on the dance floor)
It was blood on the
dance floor
(blood on the dance floor)
It was blood on the dance floor
(blood
on the dance floor)
And I just can’t take it The girl won’t break it Ohhoo
Another track from Bad, Man
In The Mirror was released in 1988, peaking at number two in the UK. While not
written by him, it is believed it was one of Jackson’s favourite tracks and was
one of his famous socially conscious works.
For once I’m my life It’s gonna feel real good,
Gonna make it right As I, turn up the collar on
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
Pretending not to see their needs
A
summer disregard, a broken bottle top
They follow each other
on the wind ya’ know ‘Cause they got nowhere to go That’s why
I want you to
know I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer If you want to make the world a
better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at
yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a
change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)
I’ve been a victim of a selfish
kind of love
That there are some with no home, not a
nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they’re not alone?
A
willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart
They follow the pattern of the wind ya’ see ‘Cause they got
no place to be That’s why
I’m starting
with the man in the mirror (Ooh!)
I’m asking him to change his ways (Ooh!)
And
no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better
place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself,
and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
I’m
starting with the man in the mirror (Ooh!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Change his ways, ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer If you want
to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
(Take a look at yourself and then make that)
Change! I’m starting with the man
in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
No message could have been any clearer
(If you want to make
the world a better place)
You can’t close your, your mind!
(Then you close
your, mind!)
That man, that man, that man, that man
With the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
That man, that man, that man,
I’m asking him to
change his ways
No message could have been
any clearer If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make
the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Na
na na, na na na, na na, na nah
I’m gonna make a change It’s
gonna feel real good! Come on! (Change)
Just lift yourself You know You’ve got
to stop it,
Yourself! (Yeah! Make that change!)
I’ve got to make that change,
today!
You got to You got to not let yourself
Brother
Hoo! (Yeah! Make that change!)
You know I’ve got to get That man, that man
You’ve got to You’ve got to move!
Stand up! Stand
up! Stand up!
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
Gonna make that change
Come on!
You know it! You know it! You know it! You know it
(Change) Make that
change.
Dirty Diana was released in
1988 from his album Bad, peaking at number four in the UK charts. Jackson
revealed the song is about his groupies, focusing on one in particular, and had
to dismiss claims it was about the late Diana, Princess Of Wales after she told
him it was her favourite song of his.
You never make me stay
So take your weight off of me
So
won’t you just let me be I’ve been here times before
But I was too blind to see
That you seduce every man
This time you won’t seduce me
Hey baby do what you please
I have the stuff the you want
I am the thing
that you need
She looked me deep in the eyes
She’s touchin’ me so to start
She
says there’s no turnin’ back
She trapped me in her heart
Dirty Diana, nah Dirty
Diana,
nah Dirty Di-ana, nah Dirty
Diana Let me be! Oh no Oh no Oh no
She likes
the boys in the band
She knows when they come to town
Every musician’s fan
after the curtain comes down
She waits at backstage doors
For those who have
prestige
Who promise fortune and fame
A life that’s so carefree
Hey baby do what you want
I’ll be your night lovin’ thing
I’ll be
the freak you can taunt
And I don’t care what you say
I want to go too far I’ll
be your everything
nah Dirty Diana Dirty Diana,
nah Dirty Diana, nah Dirty Diana,
nah Dirty Diana Diana! Diana! Dirty Diana! It’s Diana!
Yeah, yeah She said I
have to go home
‘Cause I’m real tired you see
But I hate sleppin’ alone
Why
don’t you come with me
She’s probably worried tonight
I didn’t call on the phone to
She
said I’m all yours tonight
At that I ran to the phone
I
said but unlock the door.
Because I forgot the key.
She said he’s not coming
back
Because he’s sleeping with me
Dirty Diana, nah Dirty Diana,
nah Dirty
Di-ana, nah Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah Dirty Diana, nah Dirty Di-ana,
nah
Dirty Diana Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on!
Earth Song was from Jackson’s
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I and was released in 1995, peaking in
the UK in the top spot. It was another of Jackson’s socially conscious tracks,
this time focusing on animal welfare and the environment. Like Blood On The
Dance Floor, it had been destined for his Dangerous album but didn’t make the
cut.
What about sunrise
What about all the things that you said
What about killing
fields Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said were yours and
mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we’ve shed before
Did you ever
stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores Aah, ooh
What have we
done to the world
That you pledge
your only son
What about flowering fields Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children
dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying earth, these weeping
shores
Aah, ooh Aah, ooh I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now
I don’t know where we are
Although I know we’ve drifted far
Aah, ooh Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh Aah, ooh
Hey, what about yesterday (What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down (What about us)
I can’t even
breathe (What about us)
What about apathy (What about us)
Drowning in the seas
(What about us)
What about the promised land Preachin’ what
I believe (What
about us)
What about the holy land (What about it)
What about the greed (What
about us)
Where did we go wrong Someone tell me why (What about us)
What about
baby boy (What about him)
What about the days (What about us)
Do we give a damn Aah, ooh Aah, ooh Song
Billie Jean was one of
Michael Jackson’s earlier singles, released in 1983 from the album Thriller and
hitting the number one spot in the UK. It became the biggest selling single for
MJ and, along with Beat It, helped Thriller become the best selling album of
all time. The track was about a woman called Billie Jean who slept with the
narrator and then told him he is the father of her son, although the narrator
denies it. Jackson had said how he based the son on the experiences his
brothers had while in The Jackson Five, rather than his own experiences.
She was more like a beauty
queen from a movie scene
I said don’t mind, but what do you mean,
I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
She said I am the one, who will dance
on the floor in the round She told me her name was
Billie Jean, as she caused a
scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one Who will
dance on the floor in the round
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
And mother always told me be
careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes
the truth Billie Jean is not my lover She’s just a girl who claims that
I am
the one But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my
son
For forty days and forty nights
The law was on her side
But who can stand
when she’s in demand
Her schemes and plans ‘
Cause we danced on the floor in the
round
So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice
(Don’t
think twice, don’t think twice)
She told my baby we’d danced till three, then
she looked at me Then showed a photo my baby cried his eyes were like mine
(oh,
no!)
‘Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby
People always told me be
careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
She came
and stood right by me
Just the smell of sweet perfume
This happened much too
soon
She called me to her room
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl
who claims that
I am the one But the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my
lover
She’s just a girl who claims that
I am the one But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the
kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover She’s just a girl who claims that
I am the one But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is
not my son
She says I am the one,
(You know what you did,
(she says he is my
son)
breaking my heart babe)
She says I am the one
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie
Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my
lover
(don’t Billie Jean) Billie
Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my
lover
Released in 1983, Thriller
came from his album of the same name. It was originally called Starlight, with
lyrics including ‘Give me the Starlight’. But Jackson then came up with the
title Thriller and changed the lyrics to ‘Cause this is Thriller’. Jackson’s
most iconic music video was created as a result of the track, lasting for 14
minutes and featuring his Thriller dance.
Ahahahahahahahaha It’s close
to midnight
Something evil’s lurking from the dark
Under the moonlight
You see
a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream
But terror takes the
sound before you make it
You start to freeze
As horror looks you right between
your eyes
You’re paralyzed
‘Cause this is thriller Thriller night And no one’s
gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it’s thriller
Thriller
night You’re fighting for your life Inside a killer thriller tonight,
yeah
Ahahahahahahahaha
I’m gonna bring it tonight Ahahahahahahahaha
You hear the
door slam And realize there’s nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand And
wonder if you’ll ever see the sun
You close your eyes And hope that this is
just imagination
Girl but all the while
You hear a creature creeping up behind
You’re
out of time ‘Cause this is thriller Thriller night And no one’s gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it’s thriller Thriller night You’re
fighting for your life
Inside a killer thriller tonight Ahahahahahahahaha
I’m
gonna thrill ya tonight Get up, get up
Darkness falls across the land The
midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize
y’all’s neighborhood
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting
down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse’s shell I’m
gonna thrill ya tonight
I’m gonna thrill ya tonight Ooh, babe
I’m gonna thrill
ya tonight ‘Cause this is thriller
‘Cause this is thriller ‘Cause this is
thriller
‘Cause this is thriller Get up, get up
(I’m gonna thrill you tonight)
I’m gonna thrill you tonight
I’m gonna thrill you tonight
I’m gonna thrill you
tonight
‘Cause this is thriller
The Way You Make Me Feel was
released in 1987 and came from his album Bad. It reached number three in the UK
charts and is a song about being in love and the feeling of love.
Go on girl! Hey pretty baby
with the high heels on
You give me fever Like I’ve never, ever known
You’re
just a product of loveliness
I like the groove of your walk,
Your talk, your
dress I feel your fever
From miles around I’ll pick you up in my car
And we’ll
paint the town Just kiss me baby
And tell me twice That you’re the one for me
The way you make me feel (The way you make me feel)
You really turn me on (You
really turn me on)
You knock me off of my feet (You knock me off of my feet)
My
lonely days are gone (My lonely days are gone)
I like the feelin’ you’re givin’
me Just hold me baby and
I’m in ecstasy Oh I’ll be workin’ from nine to five
To
buy you things to keep you by my side
I never felt so in love before
Just
promise baby, you’ll love me forevermore
I swear I’m keepin’ you satisfied
‘Cause you’re the one for me
The way you make me feel (The way you make me
feel)
You really turn me on (You really turn me on)
You knock me off of my feet
Now baby
(You knock me off of my feet)
My lonely days are gone, (My lonely days
are gone)
Go on girl! Go on! Hee! Hee! Aaow!
Go on girl! I never felt so in
love before
Promise baby, you’ll love me forevermore
I swear I’m keepin’ you
satisfied ‘Cause you’re the one for me
The way you make me feel (The way you
make me feel)
You really turn me on (You really turn me on)
You knock me off of
my feet Now baby (You knock me off of my feet)
My lonely days are gone (My
lonely days are gone)
The way you make me feel (The way you make me feel)
You
really turn me on (You really turn me on)
You knock me off of my feet Now baby
(You knock me off of my feet)
My lonely days are gone
(My lonely days are gone)
Ain’t nobody’s business, Ain’t nobody’s business
(The way you make me fell)
Ain’t nobody’s business, Ain’t nobody’s business but
Mine and my baby
(You
really turn me on)
(You knock me off of my feet) Oh!
(My lonely days are gone)
Give it to me, give me some time
(The way you make me feel)
Come on be my girl,
I want to Be with mine
(You really turn me on)
Ain’t nobody’s business
(You
knock me off of my feet)
Ain’t nobody’s business but
Mine and my baby’s Go on
girl! Aaow!
(My lonely days are gone)
Hee hee! Aaow! Chika, chika Chika, chika,
chika
Go on girl!, Hee hee!
(The way you make me feel)
Hee hee hee!
(You really
turn me on)
(You knock me off of my feet)
(My lonely days are gone)
