Just Good Friends
Michael Jackson/Stevie Wonder/Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoo hoo!
Dancin' hee!
Doggone lover!
C'mon boy
Cheek to cheek
She's getting to you
You didn't see her eyes on
Me no
She looked right through you
(Before you make)
Before you make
(A big mistake)
Remember
That looks can fool you
Babe hee!
There's something I would
Sure appreciate
(If you can keep a secret)
Baby loves me
But she never shows
She cares
(No, you won't see her kiss
And hug me)
Baby loves me
No she acts like I'm
Not there
(That doesn't mean she
Doesn't love me-ooo)
If they ask her
Tell 'em that we're just
Good friends
Dah! Chika-chika-chika-ah!
Just good friends
Ah! Chika-chika-ah!
Ooo
(Doot-do-do-doo)
Hee! Aaow!
Just good friends
You better take advice
Never trust-first impressions
I tried to hide this affair
From their suspicions
So even if she's asking you
To stay
You better know where
You stand
(You better know where
You stand)
Baby loves me
Though she never shows
She cares
(No, you won't see her kiss
And hug me)
My baby loves me
Though she acts like I'm
Not there
(That doesn't mean she
Doesn't love me-ooo)
Now if they ask you
Jus' tell 'em that we're just
Good friends
Yes, just good friends
(Just good friends)
Root-do-do-do
(Doot-do-do-do)
Just good friends
Listen up, hee
We've got a
Problem here
I can see the signs
I guess the lady
Is still making up her mind
(Mind)
(Say we're just good friends)
Baby loves me
Though she never shows
She cares
(Never shows she cares)
No you won't see her kiss
And hug me
(Just good friends)
(My baby loves me)
Though she acts like I'm not
There
You doggone lover, hee
Aaow!
(Doot-do-do-doo)
Don't you want to know? My
Baby loves me
Though she never shows
She cares
(Never shows she cares)
Hee! Hee!
She doesn't kiss and hug me
(Just good friends)
My baby loves me
She love me, she love me,
(Never shows she cares)
The lyrics to Michael Jackson's song, "Just Good Friends" depict a love triangle between Jackson, his crush, and her current boyfriend. Jackson is encouraging his crush to be honest with her boyfriend and to tell him they are "just good friends." Jackson believes that looks can often be deceiving, and that her boyfriend must stay alert and not trust first impressions. Jackson assures his crush that he loves her and he understands that she cannot show her emotions publicly. Jackson respects her privacy, making sure to tell her, "If you can keep a secret." But the crux of the song's message is the importance of being honest with oneself and others about one’s emotions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Na na na na na na na nah!
Excited expression to start the song
Hoo hoo!
Another expression of excitement
Dancin' hee!
Encouragement to dance
Doggone lover!
Addressing the person being spoken to as a lover
C'mon boy
Encouragement to take action
I watched you on the floor
The singer was watching the addressed person dance
Cheek to cheek
The addressed person was dancing in close contact with someone else
She's getting to you
The person the addressed person is dancing with is affecting them
You didn't see her eyes on
The addressed person was unaware of the other person's attention
Me no
The addressed person didn't notice the artist
She looked right through you
The other person was only interested in the addressed person
(Before you make)
Advice to think before acting or making a decision
Before you make
Repeating the advice to think before acting
(A big mistake)
Emphasising the potential consequences if the advice isn't followed
Remember
Reminder to keep something in mind
That looks can fool you
Looks can deceive you
Babe hee!
Endearment towards the addressed person
There's something I would
The singer wants to say something
Sure appreciate
The singer wants the addressed person to understand what they're saying
(If you can keep a secret)
The artist wants this information to be kept a secret
Baby loves me
The artist's lover loves them
But she never shows
The lover doesn't express their love physically
She cares
The lover does care for the singer
(No, you won't see her kiss
The lover won't show public displays of affection
And hug me)
Emphasising a lack of physical affection from the lover
No she acts like I'm
The lover acts like the singer doesn't exist
Not there
The lover ignores the singer
(That doesn't mean she
Clarification that this behaviour doesn't mean the lover doesn't love the artist
Doesn't love me-ooo)
Emotional emphasis of the lover's feelings
If they ask her
The singer is anticipating being asked about their relationship status
Tell 'em that we're just
Advice not to reveal the true nature of the relationship
Good friends
Emphasising that the two people are only friends
Dah! Chika-chika-chika-ah!
Musical interlude
Ah! Chika-chika-ah!
Another musical interlude
Ooo
Expression of sound
(Doot-do-do-doo)
Musical interlude
Hee! Aaow!
Excited expression with sound effects
You better take advice
Giving advice to the addressed person
Never trust-first impressions
Advising that first impressions can be misleading
I tried to hide this affair
The relationship has been hidden
From their suspicions
They're hiding it from other people
So even if she's asking you
Even if the lover is asking the addressed person
To stay
Asking the addressed person to stay
You better know where
Advice to have clarity about the relationship before making a decision
You stand
Clarifying the current state of the relationship
(Baby loves me)
Reaffirming the lover's feelings
Though she never shows
Emphasising that the lover doesn't show their love physically
She cares
Reaffirming that the lover cares for the artist
(No, you won't see her kiss
Emphasising that the lover won't show public displays of affection
And hug me)
Emphasising a lack of physical affection from the lover
My baby loves me
Reaffirming the lover's feelings
Though she acts like I'm
The lover ignores the artist
Not there
Emphasising that the lover ignores the artist
(That doesn't mean she
Clarification that this behaviour doesn't mean the lover doesn't love the singer
Doesn't love me-ooo)
Emotional emphasis of the lover's feelings
Now if they ask you
Anticipating being questioned by other people
Jus' tell 'em that we're just
Advice to not reveal the true nature of the relationship
Good friends
Emphasising that the two people are only friends
Yes, just good friends
Reaffirming that the two people are only friends
(Just good friends)
Repeating that the two people are only friends
(Root-do-do-do)
Musical interlude
(Doot-do-do-do)
Musical interlude
(Listen up, hee)
Getting the addressed person's attention
We've got a
Implication that there's a problem
Problem here
Statement that there's a problem
I can see the signs
The singer can see evidence of the problem
I guess the lady
Referring to the lover
Is still making up her mind
The lover is unsure of their feelings or the relationship
(Mind)
Emphasising the lover's mental state
(Say we're just good friends)
Repeating the advice to not reveal the true nature of the relationship
(Never shows she cares)
Emphasising that the lover doesn't show physical affection
(Just good friends)
Clarifying that the two people are only friends
(My baby loves me)
Reaffirming the lover's feelings
(Never shows she cares)
Emphasising that the lover doesn't show physical affection
(Hee! Hee!)
Emotional expression
(She doesn't kiss and hug me)
Emphasising a lack of physical affection from the lover
(Just good friends)
Repeating that the two people are only friends
(My baby loves me)
Reaffirming the lover's feelings
She love me, she love me,
Emphasising that the lover loves the singer
(Never shows she cares)
Emphasising that the lover doesn't show physical affection
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Graham Hamilton Lyle, Terry Britten
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@virginiahnjogu1774
I watched you on the floor
Cheek to cheek
She's getting to you
You didn't see
Her eyes on me, no
She looked right through you
Before you make
A big mistake remember
That looks can fool you, baby
There's somethin' I would sure appreciate
If you can keep a secret
Baby loves me but she never shows she cares
No, you won't see her kiss and hug me
Baby loves me though she acts like I'm not there
That doesn't mean she doesn't love me ooo
If they ask her tell 'em that we're just good friends
Just good friends
Doot do doo doo
Just good friends
You better take advice
Never trust, first impressions
I tried to hide this affair
From their suspicions
So even if she's askin' you to stay
You better know where you stand
Baby loves me though she never shows she cares
No, you won't see her kiss and hug me
My baby loves me though she acts like I'm not there
That doesn't mean she doesn't love me ooo
Now if they ask you jus' tell 'em that we're just good friends
Yes, just good friends
Root do do do do do doo doo
Just good friends
Listen up
We've got a problem here, I can see the signs
I guess the lady is still makin' up her mind
Say we're just good friends
Baby loves me though she never shows she cares
No you won't see her kiss and hug me
My baby loves me though she acts like I'm not there
You doggone lover
Don't you wanna know?
My Baby loves me though she never shows she cares
She doesn't kiss and hug me
My baby loves me she love me, she love me
[Incomprehensible]
Just good friends
Baby loves me she love me, she love me, she loves me
[Incomprehensible]
@mcdude9578
michael's filler songs are better than some artist's greatest hits.
@Landonio
Fax.
@haretztj4682
this a filler song? Its funny cuz I liked this song better than Bad
@may-music
@Haretz tj Just Good Friends wasn't a song the producers (including Michael) thought would have relevance;
Every album is worked with selected tracks... The problem is that BAD seems to break it, usually can't skip any music from here.
@paradoxmeld2937
@sweet mommy may The main issue is that this song doesn't fit the album sonically, it would've been amazing on a stevie wonder album.
@may-music
@Paradox Meld disagreed
@MugiwaraNoKazzy
Definitely the most underrated song on the album, I wish it was more appreciated!
@Zoey2233
Ikr, like this is a bop! I love it so much!❤️❤️❤️ #KingofPop #MJforever #LovemesomeMJ
@JustinBezzera915
I love you
@pantoanticomunistaa6242
This song it's a superduo with Stevie Wonder