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

Much Too Soon
Michael Jackson Lyrics

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She was there just sitting at the table
Thinking now that things won't be the same
And wouldn't you like to go with me?
And she answered, "No" to me
But I guess I learned my lesson much too soon

I never thought she'd leave me here forever
But who knows just what the future brings

And wouldn't you like to go with me?
And she answered, "No" to me
But I guess I learned my lesson much too soon

Take away this never ending sorrow
Take this lonely feeling from my soul
If only I knew what things bring tomorrow
She'd be sitting here beside me
And my heart would dimly go
"Da-da-da-da-da-uh"

I hope to make a change now for the better
Never letting fate control my soul
And I'm hoping that my prayers will see
The day that she'll come back to me
But I guess I learned my lesson much too soon

Yes, I guess I learned my lesson much too soon

Overall Meaning

In Michael Jackson's song "Much Too Soon," the lyrics express the deep regret and heartache of someone who has lost a loved one. The opening lines describe a woman who sits at the table, lost in her thoughts, and realizing that things will never be the same. The singer then asks her if she would like to go with him, but she answers with a resounding "no." The singer reflects on this rejection and seems to suggest that he has learned a valuable lesson from it.

As the song continues, the singer reveals that he never thought the woman he loved would leave him forever, but he acknowledges that the future is unpredictable. He wishes that he could undo the pain that he feels and have her sitting beside him once again. The refrain of the song repeats the phrase "But I guess I learned my lesson much too soon," underscoring the singer's sense of regret.

The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope that the singer will make changes for the better and not let fate control his soul. He prays for the day when his love will return to him. "Much Too Soon" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the universal feelings of grief, longing, and the realization that one can never turn back time.

Line by Line Meaning

She's there just sitting at the table
He's describing the woman who he lost, who is now absent from his life.

Thinking out that things won't be the same
She is reflecting on their past and is realizing that their future together will not be the same as before.

And wouldn't you like to go with me
He is asking her if she wants to join him in his future endeavors, hoping for a second chance with her.

And she answered 'no' to me
Unfortunately, she denies his proposal, leading to his broken heart.

But I guess I learned my lesson much too soon
He has came to the realization that he should have learned his lesson sooner, regarding his relationships.

I never thought she'd leave me here forever
He never considered the idea of losing her forever, and is now faced with the harsh reality of it.

But who knows just what the future brings
He admits that no one truly knows what the future has in store for them.

Take away this never ending sorrow
He wants to be rid of the constant sadness that plagues him.

Take this lonely feeling from my soul
His loneliness is also causing him great pain, which he wishes to be removed from his heart.

If only I knew what things bring tomorrow
He ponders how different his life could be if he knew what fate had in store for him and the woman he loves.

She'd be sitting here beside me
He imagines that if the future was different, she would be sitting next to him at that moment.

And my heart would dimly go
The hue of his heart would dim to reflect the dimness of the physical environment.

I hope to make a change now for the better
He intends to make a positive change in his life that will hopefully bring her back to him.

Never letting fate control my soul
He will not let fate dictate his life and will take control of his own fate.

And I'm hoping that my prayers will see
He has faith that his prayers will be heard and answered, leading to a reunion with his lost love.

The day that she'll come back to me
He yearns for the day when she will return to his life.

But I guess I learned my lesson much too soon
He once again acknowledges that he should have learned from past experiences and not taken his love for granted.

Yes, I guess I learned my lesson much too soon.
He concludes the song by reiterating his regret for not realizing the importance of the relationship sooner.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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