Beat It

Michael Jackson * Track #5 On Thriller

Download "Beat It"

Album Thriller

ALBUM

Michael Jackson

1982

Beat It by Michael Jackson

Release Date

Fri Feb 18 1983

About

Released as the third single from Thriller, “Beat It"—along with the second single "Billie Jean"—helped propel the album to the top of the charts and into the record books as the biggest-selling album of all time. Jackson stepped outside of his R&B box and created a rock track highlighted by a g...

Beat It Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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 (Ooh!)
You better run, you better do what you can (Ooh!)
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man (Ooh!)
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 and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it (Beat it, uh)

[Verse 2]
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 (Ooh!)
You have to show them that you're really not scared (Ooh!)
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare (Ooh!)
They'll kick you, then they'll beat you, then they'll tell you it's fair
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 and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and 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, ha, ha, ha, ha)
Beat it (Beat it, beat it)
Beat it (Beat it, beat it)

[Guitar Solo]

[Chorus]
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right (Who's right)
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it (Hoo-hoo!)
No one wants to be defeated (Oh, lord)
Showin' how funky (Hee-hee!) and strong is your fight (Hee-hee-hee!)
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it (Beat it!)
No one wants to be defeated (Oh-no!)
Showin' how funky (Hoo-hoo!) and strong is your fight (Hee-hee! Hoo!)
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right (Who's right)
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it (Hoo-hoo!)
No one wants to be defeated

Beat It Q&A

Who wrote Beat It's ?

Beat It was written by Michael Jackson.

Who produced Beat It's ?

Beat It was produced by Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson.

When did Michael Jackson release Beat It?

Michael Jackson released Beat It on Fri Feb 18 1983.

What did Michael Jackson say about "Beat It"?

I wanted to write the type of rock song that I would go out and buy, but also something totally different from the rock music I was hearing on Top 40 radio

— Michael Jackson in Rolling Stone

Also, according to Songfacts, Eddie Van Halen, invited to play electric guitar, declared to Q magazine:

Ev...

How was the song used to bring about social change?

In 1984, Michael Jackson donated the song, “Beat It” to be used for anti-drunk driving PSA’s on TV and radio.

In recognition of MJ’s philanthropy, then-President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Presidential Public Safety Commendation upon him on 14 May 1985.

What inspired Michael to write this song?

Michael said in 1995:

Quincy Jones, for the album Thriller, asked me to write a song with a rock edge to it. I said yes, I can do that. So the very same day, I went to the recording studio, and I literally just started to sing that song. It literally came that fast. Every song is different. The ges...