Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ by Michael Jackson Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Intensity Behind the Rhythm
Lyrics
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)
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)
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)
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
Still they hate you, you’re a vegetable
You’re just a buffet, you’re a vegetable
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
Still they hate you, you’re a vegetable
You’re just a buffet, you’re a vegetable
They eat off of you, you’re a vegetable
If you cant 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)
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)
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-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it, babe)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (yeah, sing it to the world)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it out loud)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it to the world)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it, babe)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (yeah)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it to the world)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it out loud)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
In the combustible landscape of the early ’80s pop scene, Michael Jackson’s ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin” burst onto the airwaves like a musical juggernaut, defying categorization. The fourth single from his album ‘Thriller’, this song carried more than just an infectious beat; it was laden with complex emotions and hidden depths.
This track wasn’t only a catalyst for dance but also a mirror reflecting the personal and societal tensions of the time. Let us pivot our lens to this masterpiece, dissecting its lyrical intricacies and the secret messages that Jackson encoded through his mesmerizing verses.
The Eternal Struggle: Stuck in Life’s Limbo
The anthem’s chorus reverberates with a notion of being caught in life’s insurmountable struggles — ‘too high to get over, too low to get under, you’re stuck in the middle, and the pain is thunder’. The catchiness of the beat belies the helplessness felt when one faces obstacles that seem too daunting to overcome or too deep to simply evade.
Jackson taps into a universally relatable sentiment of paralysis when confronted with endless cycles of pressure. It’s this sense of entrapment in the vigor of the melody that epitomizes the human experience with poignant elegance.
Fame’s Double-Edged Sword: The Weight of Notoriety
In verses like ‘They said she had a breakdown’, and ‘someone’s always tryin’ to start my baby cryin”, Jackson unveils the personal costs of fame. The stress induced by constant public scrutiny and the voracity of the media can trigger unimaginable emotional turmoil.
The song speaks to the destructive nature of rumors and false accusations that public figures often endure. Jackson, then at the zenith of his fame, was quite possibly preaching from a personal pulpit, harrowed by the downside of his celestial stardom.
A Razor Tongue: The Destructiveness of Gossip
When Jackson sings, ‘You love to pretend that you’re good when you’re always up to no good’, he is lashing out at the purveyors of deceit. He places the spotlight on individuals who wield words as weapons, using lies and manipulation to erode the spirit of others.
The razor-like words are a metaphor for the enduring pain that can result from malicious gossip. In this way, the King of Pop serves as the voice of those who have suffered from the sharp edge of slander.
Vegetative State of Being: Deeper Connotations
One of the song’s most enigmatic lines is the repeated assertion, ‘You’re a vegetable’. This harsh metaphor could be indicative of how people are reduced to objects of consumption by society—exploited, chewed up, and left feeling empty, devoid of their agency or vitality.
This acrimonious allegory about celebrity life hints at the cruel treatment that can consume someone’s existence until there’s nothing left but an image—a hollowed-out shadow of their true self.
Anthem of Self-Affirmation: ‘I Know I Am Someone’
The final bridge of the song shifts tone dramatically. It’s there where Jackson implores, ‘Lift your head up high and scream out to the world, I know I am someone, and let the truth unfurl’. In stark contrast to the conflicts detailed previously, these lines undulate with self-empowerment and the assertion of identity.
This evocative cry for self-affirmation and belief is a therapeutic denouement for the raw emotion of the lyrics. It preaches a gospel of self-worth and resilience that resonates deeply, offering an uplifting conclusion to the tempest of experiences charted in the song.
