"Gone Too Soon" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the thirteenth track from the Dangerous album. It was released as a single on December 1, 1993, serving as the ninth and final single from the album.
Background[]
The track was written by Buz Kohan and Larry Grossman in 1983 and debuted during a live performance done by Dionne Warwick during a TV special dedicated to many deceased music icons, including Elvis Presley, John Lennon or Jimi Hendrix. Michael called Kohan to tell him he cried after watching the performance and that he'd like to record "Gone Too Soon" some day.
He finally got to do it in June 1990. Jackson's version was produced by himself and Bruce Swedien. Jackson had recorded "Gone Too Soon" in memory of one of his friend, Ryan White, a haemophiliac who was diagnosed with the AIDS virus aged eleven years, and who died just after turning eighteen in April 1990.[1][2]
Music video[]
The clip features footage of Jackson and White and Ryan's funeral in 1993.
Live performance[]
Michael would only perform the song once, during the Bill Clinton inauguration in 1993.[3]
Audio[]
A different version of the track leaked online at an unknown time in the 2000's. It featured a different vocal take. At one point, Jackson messes up the lyrics, saying "like a perfect sunflower" instead of "like a perfect flower". He seems to have realized his mistake pretty quick, as he had to pause for a second before continuing.
- Demo - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
[Verse 2]
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
[Chorus]
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
[Verse 3]
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
[Verse 4]
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
[Verse 5]
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
[Chorus]
Born to amuse
To inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
[Verse 6]
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon
[Outro]
Gone too soon
![Vinyl back cover[4]](/wiki/File:Gonetoosoonbackcover.jpg "Gonetoosoonbackcover.jpg (106 KB)")
![Vinyl[4]](/wiki/File:Gonetoosoonvinyl.jpg "Gonetoosoonvinyl.jpg (66 KB)")