Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California), was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He was also known for his philanthropy, charitable fundraising, and lifestyle, residing in a private amusement park he called Neverland Ranch and often becoming the focus of tabloid scrutiny. Jackson's contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Through his group, solo, and family work, he became one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Jackson's other achievements include 39 Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, 16 World Music Awards and the estimated sale of up 750 million units worldwide. Winning countless awards for his humanitarian endeavors, the singer has been honored by two Presidents of the United States. He has also been named as the artist of "the Decade", "Generation", "Century", and "Millennium" and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. Jackson has also won hundreds of other awards, making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He is also credited for popularizing many physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk, and has influenced and spawned a whole generation of a wide variety of artists including Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, and The Weeknd, among others.

Jackson's musical career began in 1967 as lead singer of The Jackson 5, when the group made their first recording with a local label before signing up with Motown Records in 1968. He made his first solo recordings in 1971 while still a member of the group. But it was Off the Wall (1979) which marked the start of his full-fledged solo career, and he formally parted with his siblings in 1984. In his solo career, Jackson recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller (with worldwide sales over 100 million), received thirteen Grammy awards and charted thirteen #1 singles in the U.S. Throughout his four-decade career, Michael Jackson has been awarded numerous honors, including the World Music Awards Best-selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium. He is also a double-inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997, and in 2002 as a solo artist. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the mid-1980s, TIME magazine described Jackson as "the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley". He has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world while also tearing down racial barriers and paving the way for modern pop music.

From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, on which he built an amusement park and private zoo for the enjoyment of economically disadvantaged and terminally ill children. In 1993 and 2003, separate accusations of child molestation that allegedly occurred in Neverland were made against Jackson, which drew intensely negative media coverage. While he was never charged for the first case, Jackson was tried and vindicated in 2005 of the latter allegation, but moved out of the US shortly thereafter. He later returned to Las Vegas in early 2007.

In the years following his acquittal, (2005-2009) Jackson made numerous public appearances including MTV Japan's VMA awards where he accepted the legends award; the World Music Awards where he accepted the Diamond Award for selling over 100 million records; James Brown's funeral where he paid tribute and delivered a sermon; and a fan appreciation event in Tokyo, Japan, where he greeted troops at US Army base Camp Zama. In early 2008, Jackson issued Thriller 25th Anniversary, a critical and commercial success that was the second-biggest selling album of 2008 with over 2.1 million copies sold worldwide.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death is currently believed to be cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. During a press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.

In the hours following Jackson's death, his record sales increased dramatically. His seminal album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, while another eight made it into the top 40. In the UK, where Jackson would have performed less than three weeks after his death, fifteen of his albums occupied the top 15 spots on the Amazon music chart. Social music network website Last.fm also saw a dramatic increase in Michael Jackson plays per hour after the announcement of his death.

On December 10, 2010, a compilation album of previously unreleased material, simply entitled Michael, was released posthumously. Featuring guest performances by Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz, the album was certified Platinum in 18 countries but received mixed reviews from most critics. This was followed in November 2011 by Immortal, a remix album; in September 2012 by Bad 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson's 1987 hit album Bad; and by Xscape, a second compilation album released in May 2014.

Official Website: http://www.michaeljackson.com

Childhood
Michael Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have you seen my childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things
It's been my fate to compensate
For the childhood
I've never known

Have you seen my childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates in adventurous dreams
Of conquest and kings on the throne

Before you judge me
Try hard to love me
Look within your heart then ask
Have you seen my childhood?

People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things
It's been my fate to compensate
For the childhood I've never known

Have you seen my childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like fantastical stories to share
The dreams I would dare, watch me fly

Before you judge me, try hard to love me
The painful youth I've had

Have you seen my childhood

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michael Jackson's song "Childhood" express the singer's longing and nostalgia for a lost innocence that was never properly experienced. Jackson begins the song by searching for the world that he comes from, looking for the fundamental wonder and joy of childhood that he feels he's lost. It's a lament for a lost youth, filled with dreams of adventure and conquest.

Jackson's lyrics convey his frustration with the way people view him, describing their lack of understanding and their dismissal of his "strange eccentricities." He keeps "kidding around like a child," but is constantly reminded that he needs to grow up and act his age. At the same time, he yearns for the simplicity of childhood and for the things that used to bring him joy. He's asking others to try and understand him and to love him, despite his unconventional ways.

The song is a reflection of Michael Jackson's own childhood, which was marred by abuse and neglect. It's a poignant and deeply personal expression of the pain he experienced growing up, and his longing for the kind of childhood that he was never able to have.

Line by Line Meaning

Have you seen my childhood?
Michael Jackson is asking if anyone has ever witnessed his childhood.

I'm searching for the world that I come from
Jackson is on a quest to find his home, his roots.

'Cause I've been looking around / In the lost and found of my heart
The search for his roots has left him feeling lost and confused inside.

No one understands me / They view it as such strange eccentricities
Jackson feels like no one understands him, and he is often perceived as weird and unusual.

'Cause I keep kidding around / Like a child, but pardon me
Jackson often jokes and acts like a child, but he is not doing it to be disrespectful or immature.

People say I'm not okay / 'Cause I love such elementary things
Jackson is aware that some people judge him for his childlike interests and hobbies.

It's been my fate to compensate / For the childhood /I've never known
Jackson feels it's his destiny to make up for the childhood he never had.

I'm searching for that wonder in my youth / Like pirates in adventurous dreams / Of conquest and kings on the throne
Jackson longs for the pure excitement and imagination of his childhood, where he could dream about pirate adventures and ruling kingdoms.

Before you judge me / Try hard to love me / Look within your heart then ask / Have you seen my childhood?
Jackson asks people not to judge him and instead attempt to understand him and his experiences.

People say I'm strange that way / 'Cause I love such elementary things / It's been my fate to compensate / For the childhood I've never known
Jackson acknowledges that some consider him strange for being interested in childish things, and he feels compelled to make up for his unfulfilled childhood.

Like fantastical stories to share / The dreams I would dare, watch me fly
Jackson loves to tell stories full of imagination and fantasy, and he invites anyone to observe his dreamlike world.

The painful youth I've had
Jackson reflects on the hardships and pain he experienced during his youth.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Jackson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS