Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Single cover
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
9 May 1983 · Single Released
"Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’" is a song from 1983 by Michael Jackson, taken from the album Thriller. Released as a single in 1983.
- Lead Vocals
- Michael Jackson
- Songwriters
- Michael Jackson
- Producers
- Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson
- Track
- Thriller · 1 of 9
“Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'” is a song from 1982 by Michael Jackson, taken from the album Thriller. Released as a single on 9 May 1983.
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
I took my baby to the doctor with a fever but nothing he found
By the time this hit the street
They said she had a breakdown
Someone's always tryin' to start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
Sayin' you just wanna be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You love to pretend that you're good
When you're always up to no good
You really can't make him hate her
So your tongue became a razor
Someone's always tryin' to keep my baby cryin'
Treacherous, cunnin', declinin'
You got my baby cryin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
Still they hate you (still they hate you)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
You're just a buffet (you're just a buffet)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
They eat off of you (they eat off of you)
You're a vegetable
Billie Jean is always talkin' when nobody else is talkin'
Tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders
So they called her mouth a motor
Someone's always tryin' to start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', spyin'
Sayin' you just wanna be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
Still they hate you (still they hate you)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
You're just a buffet (you're just a buffet)
You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)
They eat off of you (they eat off of you)
You're a vegetable
If you can't feed your baby (yeah, yeah)
Then don't have a baby (yeah, yeah)
And don't think maybe (yeah, yeah)
If you can't feed your baby (yeah, yeah)
You'll be always tryin' to stop that child from cryin'
Hustlin', stealin', lyin', now baby's slowly dyin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
Lift your head up high and scream out to the world
I know I am someone, and let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me, so do believe in you
Help me sing it
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
(Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa)
17 people credited on this song.
-
Michael Jackson Lead Vocals · Producer · Songwriter -
Quincy Jones Producer -
Michael Boddicker Backing Vocals · Synthesizers -
Bunny Hull Backing Vocals -
James Ingram Backing Vocals -
B
Becky López Backing Vocals
-
J
Julia Waters Backing Vocals
-
M
Maxine Waters Backing Vocals
-
O
Oren Waters Backing Vocals
-
Paulinho da Costa Percussion -
D
David Williams Guitar
-
L
Larry Williams Saxophone / Flute
-
G
Gary Grant Trumpet / Flugelhorn
-
B
Bill Reichenbach Trombone
-
Jerry Hey Horn Arrangements / Trumpet -
Greg Phillinganes Fender Rhodes -
Bruce Swedien Engineer
| Territory | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| US | Billboard Hot 100 | #5 |
| US | Billboard R&B Singles | #3 |
| UK | Official Singles Chart | #8 |
| Canada | RPM Top Singles | #5 |
| Australia | Kent Music Report | #50 |
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