Have you ever wondered what Michael Jackson was really trying to say in his iconic hit song Billie Jean?
If you think it’s just a catchy tune about a woman who claims he is the father of her child, you might be missing out on some deeper meanings and hidden messages that reveal a lot about the King of Pop’s life and career.
In this article, we will explore the symbolism and significance of Billie Jean lyrics and how they reflect Michael’s personal struggles and artistic genius. You can also find the full Billie Jean lyrics below.
Billie Jean was released in 1983 as the second single from Michael’s sixth solo album Thriller, which went on to become the best-selling album of all time.
The song was written by Michael himself and produced by Quincy Jones, who also worked with him on Off the Wall and Bad.
The song was a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and breaking the colour barrier on MTV, where it was one of the first videos by a black artist to receive heavy rotation.
The song also won two Grammy Awards and an American Music Award.
But what is the story behind Billie Jean lyrics? According to Michael, the song was inspired by his experience with groupies and false accusers who claimed he fathered their children.
In his autobiography Moonwalk, he wrote:
“There never was a real Billie Jean. The girl in the song is a composite of people my brothers have been plagued with over the years. I could never understand how these girls could say they were carrying someone’s child when it wasn’t true.”
However, some biographers have suggested that there was a specific woman who stalked Michael and sent him letters and a gun, threatening to kill him and herself if he didn’t acknowledge her twins as his own.
Whether this is true or not, it is clear that Billie Jean lyrics express Michael’s frustration and anger at being falsely accused and exploited by women who wanted to take advantage of his fame and fortune.
The name Billie Jean itself is a symbol of a generic groupie or a false accuser.
It is not a common name for a woman, and it sounds like a combination of two male names: Billie and Jean.
This could imply that the woman in the song is not feminine or trustworthy, but rather manipulative and deceptive.
She is also not Michael’s lover, as he repeatedly states in the chorus: “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.”
Another symbol in Billie Jean lyrics is the lighted sidewalk that Michael walks on in the video.
It represents fame, temptation, and danger. As Michael steps on each tile, it lights up, creating a dazzling effect that attracts attention.
However, this also exposes him to scrutiny and judgement from others, especially Billie Jean, who follows him and tries to trap him.
The lighted sidewalk also suggests that fame is fleeting and unstable, as each tile goes dark after Michael steps off it.
The chorus of Billie Jean is one of the most memorable parts of the song, as it features Michael’s signature vocal hiccups and emphatic delivery.
The chorus also reveals Michael’s denial, guilt, and defiance. He denies that he is the father of Billie Jean’s son, even though he admits that they had a one-night stand:
“She says I am the one / But the kid is not my son.” He also feels guilty for breaking her heart and falling for her lies: “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.”
He also defies her attempts to ruin his reputation and career: “So take my strong advice / Just remember to always think twice / Don’t think twice.”
The contrast between the verses and the bridge of Billie Jean shows Michael’s inner conflict and confusion.
In the verses, he speaks in a calm and rational tone, telling his side of the story and warning others not to fall for Billie Jean’s schemes.
He also mentions his mother’s advice: “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.”
However, in the bridge, he sings in a high-pitched and emotional voice, expressing his fear and doubt:
“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.”
He also realises that the child looks like him: “She showed me a photo / My baby cried / His eyes looked like mine.” This suggests that he is not completely sure of his innocence or his ability to resist Billie Jean’s allure.
Billie Jean is a powerful and influential song that shows Michael Jackson’s personal struggles and artistic genius.
It is not only a catchy and danceable tune, but also a complex and layered story that explores the themes of fame, self-serving and greedy relationships, revenge, and injustice.
It also showcases Michael’s vocal range, musical style, and iconic dance moves.
Billie Jean lyrics deserve to be listened to carefully and appreciated for their depth and meaning.
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Do you have any other interpretations or insights? Let us know your thoughts and opinions. And don’t forget to check out our other articles on music and lyrics.
See the full Billie Jean lyrics below.
Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean lyrics
Verse 1
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 bein’ the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
Pre-Chorus 1
People always told me, “Be careful of what you do
Don’t go around breakin’ young girls’ hearts” (Hee-hee)
And mother always told me, “Be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do (Oh-oh)
‘Cause the lie becomes the truth” (Oh-oh), hey-ey
Chorus
Billie Jean is not my lover, uh
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one (Oh, baby)
But the kid is not my son (Hoo)
She says I am the one (Oh, baby)
But the kid is not my son (Hee-hee-hee, no-no, hee-hee-hee, hoo)
Verse 2
For forty days and for 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 (Hee)
So take my strong advice
Just remember to always think twice
(Don’t think twice) Do think twice! (A-hoo!)
She told my baby we’d danced ’til three, then she looked at me
Then showed a photo of a baby cryin’, his eyes were like mine (Oh, no)
‘Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby (Ooh, hee-hee-hee)
Pre-Chorus 2
People always told me, “Be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breakin’ young girls’ hearts” (Don’t break no hearts; hee-hee)
But she came and stood right by me
Just the smell of sweet perfume (Ha-oh)
This happened much too soon (Ha-oh, ha-ooh)
She called me to her room (Ha-oh, hoo), hey-ey
Chorus
Billie Jean is not my lover (Hoo)
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
No-no-no, no-no-no-no-no-no (Hoo)
Billie Jean is not my lover, uh
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one (Oh, baby)
But the kid is not my son (Oh, no, no)
She says I am the one (Oh, baby)
But the kid is not my son (No, hee-hee-hee, ah, hee-hee-hee)
Break
Hee, hoo
Chorus
She says I am the one, uh
But the kid is not my son (No-no-no, hoo, ohh)
Billie Jean is not my lover, uh
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one (You know what you did to me, baby)
But the kid is not my son
No-no-no (No-no-no, ah), no-no-no-no (No-no-no)
She says I am the one (No)
But the kid is not my son (No-no-no-no)
