Hey (what?)
Turn it off (dad, this is the best part)
Turn it off (no)
It's too late for this, turn it off
(Dad, this is the best part, come on)
No, turn it off now
(No, this is, I wanna listen to it okay?)
'Cause it's too loud and disturbs the neighbors, turn it off now
Yeah right, too late? Sure, eat this
I took my baby on a Saturday bang
Boy, is that girl with you?
We're one and the same
Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle has happened tonight
But if you're thinking about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white
They print my message in the Saturday Sun
I had to tell them, I ain't second to none
And I told 'em 'bout equality
And it's true, either you're wrong or you're right
But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white
I'm tired of this devil
I'm tired of this stuff
I'm tired of this business
Oh, when the going gets rough
I ain't scared of your brother
I ain't scared of no sheets
I ain't scare of nobody
Go, when you're gonna get mean
Protection for gangs, clubs and nations
Causing grief in human relations
It's a turf war on a global scale
I'd rather hear both sides of the tale
See, it's not about races
Just places, faces
Where your blood comes from is where your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not gonna spend my life being a color
Do you agree with me
When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye?
But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white
I said, if you're thinkin' of being my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white
I said, if you're thinkin' of being my brother
It don't matter if you're black or white
Alright, alright (ooh, ooh)
Alright (yeah, yeah, yeah now)
Alright, alright (ooh, ooh)
Shamone (yeah, yeah, yeah now)
Alright
It's black, it's white
It's tough for you to be black (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's black, it's white (woo!)
It's black, it's white
It's tough for you to be black (yeah, yeah, yeah)
It's black, it's white (woo!)
About This Song
"Black or White" is Michael Jackson's bold declaration against racial prejudice, wrapped in an infectious rock-pop hybrid that challenged both musical and social boundaries. The song confronts racism head-on with defiant lyrics that assert love transcends color, while Jackson positions himself as someone who refuses to be diminished by bigotry or treated as "second to none." Musically, the track marked a departure from Jackson's typical sound, featuring heavy guitar riffs courtesy of Slash from Guns N' Roses, creating a harder edge that matched the song's confrontational message. The production brilliantly fuses rock aggression with Jackson's signature pop sensibilities and gospel-influenced vocals, particularly in the soaring bridge sections. Beyond its surface message of racial harmony, the song operates as Jackson's personal manifesto about his own racial identity and his refusal to be categorized or limited by society's expectations. The track's power lies in its directness-unlike many songs that approach social issues obliquely, Jackson delivers his message with unwavering clarity and conviction. The song resonated globally because it arrived at a time when discussions about race were intensifying, and Jackson's massive platform allowed him to broadcast a message of unity to millions. Its accompanying music video, featuring groundbreaking morphing technology that transformed faces of different races and genders, became a visual metaphor for the song's central theme that human differences are ultimately superficial.
Comments (11)