Music Monday (80s Edition): “Beat It” by Michael Jackson

Music Monday is a meme that was created by Drew @The Tattooed Book Geek. All you have to do is pick a favorite song or video and share it on Mondays.

“Beat It” has a special place in the soundtrack of my life. When I was a young child, I didn’t know that there were separate genres of music. For me, music was simply whatever I heard on the radio, or the albums I would listen to with my mom. It was almost always country music, although we also listened to albums by Elvis Presley (whose music my mom adored) and The Beatles. I gave no thought to how different their music sounded compared to what I heard on the radio, because it didn’t strike me as significant—not then, at least.

Fast forward to Spring, 1983. I was in the fourth grade, and I loved going to music class—even more so on one particular day, because my teacher said we could take turns bringing records to class, listening to music instead of doing assignments until school let out for the summer. So I sat in my little chair that day, thinking hard about which record I might bring, and not paying attention when the teacher told us what we were about to hear. I was closing in on what my choice would be as he lowered the needle onto the record, vaguely aware of the initial crackles and pops… and then the music started.

I remember so clearly how my head jerked up at the sound, eyes opened wide and my mouth hanging slightly open in surprise. What was this?! I’ve never heard anything like THIS before! The first guitar riff gave me goosebumps, and by the time it reached the chorus, I was already in love with the song. I couldn’t wait to get home from school that day so I could find more music like it on the radio!

This was a life-changing moment for me. In time, I came to discover the music that spoke to my soul, and found songs that were deeply meaningful to me… and it all started when I heard “Beat It” in music class one day.

Enjoy!

Lyrics:
They told him, “Don’t you ever come around here.
Don’t wanna see your face. You better disappear.”
The fire’s in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it

You better run, you better do what you can
Don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

[Chorus]
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it [4x]

They’re out to get you, better leave while you can
Don’t wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it

You have to show them that you’re really not scared
You’re playin’ with your life, this ain’t no truth or dare
They’ll kick you, then they beat you, then they’ll tell you it’s fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

[Chorus 2x]
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it

Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right

[Chorus 3x]
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it

Thriller album cover