Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame after forming the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, "Fantastic" (1983) and "Make It Big" (1984), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. They had commercial success with singles "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", "Young Guns (Go for It)", "Bad Boys", "Club Tropicana", "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Last Christmas", "Everything She Wants", “Freedom”, and “I'm Your Man”. Their 1985 tour in China was the first by a Western popular music act and generated worldwide media coverage. Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and performed at the following year's Live Aid concert.
Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK and US. The second solo single, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. After Wham! disbanded that year, Michael released the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". His debut solo album, "Faith" (1987), stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became the best-selling music artist of 1988, and "Faith" was awarded Album of the Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" (1990), was also a number one in the UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the worldwide hit "Freedom! '90". Michael went on to release a series of multimillion-selling albums, including "Older" (1996), "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (1998), "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), "Patience" (2004), and "Twenty Five" (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Easier Affair".
Michael came out as gay in 1998 and was an active LGBT rights campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal life, drug use, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for public lewdness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offenses. The 2005 documentary "A Different Story" covered his career and personal life. Michael's "25 Live" tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. Michael fell into a coma in 2011 during a bout with pneumonia but later recovered. He performed his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael died of heart disease on Christmas Day in 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michael
Solo discography
Faith (1987)
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)
Older (1996)
Songs from the Last Century (1999)
Patience (2004)
Wham! discography
Fantastic (1983)
Make It Big (1984)
Music from the Edge of Heaven (1986)
Outside
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Let's go outside)
Back to nature, just human nature
Getting on back to
I think I'm done with the sofa
I think I'm done with the hall
I think I'm done with the kitchen table, baby
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
In the sunshine
I know you want to, but you can't say yes
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
In the moonshine
Take me to the places that I love best
So my angel she says "don't you worry"
About the things they're saying, yeah
Got no friends in high places
And the game that you gave away
Wasn't worth playing
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
In the sunshine
I know you want to, but you can't say yes
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
In the meantime
Take me to the places that I love best
And yes I've been bad
Doctor won't you do with me what you can
You see I think about it all the time
Twenty four seven (twenty four, twenty four seven)
You say you want it, you got it
I never really said it before
There's nothing here but flesh and bone
There's nothing more, nothing more
There's nothing more
Back to nature, it's human nature
Getting on back to
I think I'm done with the sofa
I think I'm done with the hall
I think I'm done with the kitchen table, baby
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
In the sunshine
I know you want to, but you can't say yes
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
In the moonshine
Take me to the places that I love best
And yes I've been bad
Doctor won't you do with me what you can
You see I think about it all the time
I'd service the community (but I already have you see!)
I never really said it before
There's nothing here but flesh and bone
There's nothing more, nothing more
There's nothing more
Let's go outside
Dancing on the d-train baby
When the moon is high
And the grass is jumpin'
Come on, just keep on funkin'
Keep on funkin', just keep on funkin'
The song "Outside" is George Michael's response to his arrest in a public toilet for "engaging in a lewd act" with an undercover police officer. The song is an anthem for sexual liberation and freedom. The lyrics urge the listener to cast off societal constraints, move out of their comfort zone, and embrace natural desires. Michael mocks the societal values that view sex as taboo by using the phrase "getting on back to" as an allusion to the phrase "getting back to basics." Through the "Back to nature" refrain, Michael refers to the naturalness of sexual expression and the absurdity that it could be deemed "shameful" or "dirty."
The lyrics, "I think I'm done with the sofa, I think I'm done with the hall, I think I'm done with the kitchen table, baby, let's go outside," emphasize the need to move beyond the domestic space that represents normative expectations of society. Michael refers to himself as "bad" and further says that he has been thinking about sex all the time. He begs a doctor to do whatever he can to help him, signifying the pain of living in a society that oppresses basic human desires.
Line by Line Meaning
(Let's go outside, let's go outside)
Encouraging a companion to join the singer on an outdoor excursion.
(Let's go outside)
Continuing to invite a companion to explore the natural world with the singer.
Back to nature, just human nature
Reflecting on humanity's innate connection to the outdoors.
Getting on back to
Returning or reverting to something previously known or experienced.
I think I'm done with the sofa
Expressing dissatisfaction with indoor living or monotony.
I think I'm done with the hall
Expressing dissatisfaction with indoor living or monotony.
I think I'm done with the kitchen table, baby
Expressing dissatisfaction with indoor living or monotony.
Let's go outside (let's go outside)
Repeating the invitation to venture outdoors with the artist.
In the sunshine
Describing a desirable outdoor setting with fair weather.
I know you want to, but you can't say yes
Assuming that the companion is hesitant to go outside, but would want to if it were more socially acceptable.
In the moonshine
Describing a desirable outdoor setting with night-time illumination.
Take me to the places that I love best
Expressing a desire to visit familiar, beloved outdoor locations.
So my angel she says "don't you worry"
Relaying advice from the singer's romantic partner or significant other.
About the things they're saying, yeah
Implying that outside parties are gossipping or spreading rumors about the singer.
Got no friends in high places
Acknowledging a lack of social influence or connections.
And the game that you gave away
Alluding to a past misstep, loss, or disappointment.
Wasn't worth playing
Reflecting on the consequences of the aforementioned mistake or regret.
And yes I've been bad
Confessing to some form of wrongdoing or misconduct.
Doctor won't you do with me what you can
Suggesting that the singer is struggling with personal issues or desires some form of therapy.
You see I think about it all the time
Implying that the issue or desire occupies a great deal of the artist's thoughts or focus.
Twenty four seven (twenty four, twenty four seven)
Emphasizing the constant nature of the aforementioned thoughts or desires.
You say you want it, you got it
Addressing a companion and implying that they should take the invitation to join the artist outside.
I never really said it before
Admitting that the singer has been holding back or not being fully truthful with the companion.
There's nothing here but flesh and bone
Reflecting on the material nature of humanity and suggesting that in nature we are all the same.
There's nothing more, nothing more
Asserting that we don't need much to be content, and the simple pleasures of life are enough.
Let's go outside
Restating the plea to explore the outdoors with another person.
Dancing on the d-train baby
Suggesting that the singer and companion should dance on a train or some other unconventional location.
When the moon is high
Designating a specific time or place to visit outdoors.
And the grass is jumpin'
Describing the lively, buoyant atmosphere during the proposed outdoor excursion.
Come on, just keep on funkin'
Encouraging the companion to enjoy themselves and be spontaneous on this outdoor adventure.
Keep on funkin', just keep on funkin'
Repeating the invitation to relax, have fun, and enjoy the present moment with the singer.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE MICHAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind