"They Don't Care About Us" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the second track on the second disc of the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album. It was released as a single on April 16, 1996, serving as the fifth single from the album.
Its themes revolve around bringing awareness to racism and human rights and its message holds up to this day.
Background[]
Initially, Jackson wrote and recorded the track in June 1989.[1] It was going to be featured on the Dangerous album, although it didn't make the cut. He returned to working on it in 1994.
Music videos[]
The song recieved three music videos, all directed by Spike Lee.
Brazil Version[]
The more known first clip was released in March 1996, often titled "Brazil Version". It features Jackson dancing around Rio de Janeiro with a Brazilian drumming group, Olodum, surrounded by crowds and police.
Prison Version[]
The second version was released a month later and is dubbed the "Prison Version". In it, Michael dances and sings in a prison while surrounded by footage of violence committed by governments against their own people.
2020 Version[]
On Michael Jackson's birthday, August 29, 2020 a new music video for "They Don't Care About Us" was released, directed by Spike Lee. It featured scenes from the "Prison" and "Brazil" versions, mixed with footage of the "Black Lives Matter" protests from around that time.
Live performances[]
Jackson performed "They Don't Care About Us" between 1996 and 1997 during the HIStory World Tour. It was a part of a medley opening the tour, alongside "Scream" and "In the Closet". For all three songs he'd wear a shiny golden costume.
The artist was going to perform it during the cancelled This Is It tour, although it never came to fruition. Footage of rehearsals was featured in the Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary.[2]
Controversy[]
The possibility that the lyrics to "They Don't Care About Us" contained antisemitism was first raised publicly by The New York Times on June 15, 1995, one day before the album's release. The publication highlighted the lyrics, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" and labeled them "slurs". Jackson responded directly to the publication, stating:
- "The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song in fact is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking. It is about the injustices to young people and how the system can wrongfully accuse them. I am angry and outraged that I could be so misinterpreted."
- — Michael Jackson for New York Times, 1995[3]
When questioned further about the lyrics, Jackson denied that "They Don't Care About Us" was antisemitic, commenting "It's not anti-Semitic because I'm not a racist person ... I could never be a racist. I love all races." That same day, Jackson received support from his manager and record label, who described the lyrics as "brilliant", that they were about opposition to prejudice and taken out of context.
On June 17, Jackson issued another public apology to anyone offended by his choice of words and promised that future copies of the album would include an apology, Jackson concluded, "I just want you all to know how strongly I am committed to tolerance, peace and love, and I apologize to anyone who might have been hurt". The next day, in his review of HIStory, Jon Pareles of The New York Timesalleged, "In ... 'They Don't Care About Us', he gives the lie to his entire catalogue of brotherhood anthems with a burst of anti-Semitism: 'Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me'".
On June 23, Jackson decided, despite the cost incurred, he would return to the studio and alter the offending wording on future copies of the album; "Jew me" and "Kike me" would be substituted with "do me" and "strike me".
Audio[]
- Uncensored Version - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
All I want to say is that they don't really care about us
(Don't worry what people say, we know the truth)
All I want to say is that they don't really care about us
(Enough is enough of this garbage!)
(Okay, okay, alright)
All I want to say is that they don't really care about us
[Overlapping voices]
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone mad
Situation, aggravation, everybody, allegation
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food
Bang-bang, shot dead, everybody's gone mad
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Pre-Chorus]
Beat me, hate me, you can never break me
Will me, thrill me, you can never kill me
Jew me, sue me, everybody do me
Kick me, kike me, don't you, "Black or white" me
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Verse 1]
And tell me, what has become of my life?
I have a wife and two children who love me
I am a victim of police brutality now
I'm tired of being the victim of hate
You're ripping me off my pride, oh, for God's sake
I look to Heaven to fulfill its prophecy, set me free
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone bad
Trepidation, speculation, everybody, allegation
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food
Black man, blackmail, throw the brother in jail
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Verse 2]
And tell me, what has become of my rights?
Am I invisible 'cause you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty now
I'm tired of being the victim of shame (Ooh)
They're throwing me in a class with a bad name (Ooh)
I can't believe this is the land from which I came (Ooh)
You know, I really do hate to say it
The government don't wanna see
But if Roosevelt was livin'
He wouldn't let this be, no, no
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone bad
Situation, speculation, everybody, litigation
Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me
Hit me, kick me, you can never get me
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Some things in life
They just don't wanna see
But if Martin Luther was livin'
He wouldn't let this be, no, no
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone mad
Situation, segregation, everybody, allegation (Hoo-hoo)
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food (Hoo-hoo)
Kick me, kike me, don't you wrong or right me
(We're deep in fire)
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(We're deep in the fire)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(I'm here to remind you)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(Don't you sit back and watch the beatin')
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about— (Hoo-hoo)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about— (Hoo-hoo)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(Hee-hee, hoo-hoo)
[Instrumental Outro]
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[4]](/wiki/File:Tdcauvinylback.jpg "Tdcauvinylback.jpg (64 KB)")
![Vinyl (Side A)[4]](/wiki/File:Tdcauvinyl1.jpg "Tdcauvinyl1.jpg (88 KB)")
![Vinyl (Side B)[4]](/wiki/File:Tdcauvinyl2.jpg "Tdcauvinyl2.jpg (88 KB)")
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