"Scream" remains as one of Michael's most well-received music videos. Directed by Mark Romanek the video has a heavy sci-fi theme with features of anime and pop culture (such as Andy Warhol's self-portrait). At $7,000,000 in expense, the video remains as the most expensive music video of all time. The "Scream" video went on to win several MTV VMA Awards and a Grammy for Best Music Video.
Scream / Little Susie
Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson Lyrics
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The girl with the tune
Who sings in the daytime at noon
She was there screaming
Beating her voice in her doom
But nobody came too soon
A fall down the stairs
Oh, the blood in her hair
A mystery so sullen in air
She lie there so tenderly
Fashioned so slenderly
Lift her with care
Oh, the blood in her hair
Everyone came to see
The girl that now is dead
So blind stare the eyes in her head
And suddenly a voice from the crowd said
This girl lived in vain
Her face bears such agony, such strain
But only the man from next door
Knew Little Susie and how he cried
As he reached down
To close Susie's eyes
She lied there so tenderly
Fashioned so slenderly
Lift her with care
Oh, the blood in her hair
It was all for God's sake
For her singing the tune
For someone to feel her despair
To be damned to know hoping is dead and you're doomed
Then to scream out
And nobody's there
She knew no one cared
Father left home, poor mother died
Leaving Susie alone
Grandfather's soul too had flown
No one to care
Just to love her
How much can one bear?
Rejecting the needs in her prayers
Neglection can kill
Like a knife in your soul
Oh, it will
Little Susie fought so hard to live
She lie there so tenderly
Fashioned so slenderly
Lift her with care
So young and so fair
The lyrics to Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's song Scream / Little Susie tell a haunting story about a young girl named Susie who was tragically killed. The song opens with the line, "Somebody killed little Susie, the girl with the tune," setting a dark tone for the rest of the song. Susie was known for singing during the day, but one day when she was screaming in distress, no one came to her aid. The imagery of her "beating her voice in her doom" is a powerful and distressing image of her desperate situation.
The song describes how Susie's body was found at the bottom of the stairs, her dress torn and blood in her hair. The lyrics suggest that there was some sort of foul play involved in her death, and that there may have been witnesses who knew what happened. The lyrics reference the people who came to see her body, but it was only the man from next door who knew and cared for her. The song leaves the listener with the sense that Susie's life was tragic and that she was neglected by those around her.
Overall, the lyrics to Scream / Little Susie are a powerful commentary on neglect and the tragic effects it can have. Susie's story is one of pain and loneliness, and the lyrics suggest that there are many people like her in the world who suffer silently with no one to turn to.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody killed little Susie
Little Susie was murdered
The girl with the tune
Little Susie was known for singing
Who sings in the daytime at noon
Little Susie would sing during the day
She was there screaming
Little Susie was calling for help
Beating her voice in her doom
Little Susie cried out until her death
But nobody came too soon
Nobody arrived in time to save her
A fall down the stairs
Little Susie fell down the stairs
Her dress torn
Her clothing was ripped apart
Oh, the blood in her hair
Little Susie's hair was covered in blood
A mystery so sullen in air
The circumstances surrounding her death were unknown and depressing
She lie there so tenderly
Little Susie's body was fragile and delicate
Fashioned so slenderly
Little Susie was small and thin
Lift her with care
Her body needed to be lifted gently
Everyone came to see
People came to see the dead body
The girl that now is dead
Little Susie was now deceased
So blind stare the eyes in her head
Her eyes were open and staring blankly
And suddenly a voice from the crowd said
Someone from the crowd spoke up
This girl lived in vain
Little Susie's life was meaningless
Her face bears such agony, such strain
Little Susie's face expressed pain and distress
But only the man from next door
The only person who knew her was her neighbor
Knew Little Susie and how he cried
He knew Little Susie and was grieving for her
As he reached down
He bent down
To close Susie's eyes
He closed Little Susie's eyes
It was all for God's sake
Little Susie's death had a divine purpose
For her singing the tune
Little Susie was killed for singing
For someone to feel her despair
Little Susie wanted someone to understand her pain
To be damned to know hoping is dead and you're doomed
Little Susie felt helpless and hopeless
Then to scream out
Little Susie cried out for help
And nobody's there
There was no one to help her
She knew no one cared
Little Susie believed that no one cared about her
Father left home, poor mother died
Little Susie's parents were absent or deceased
Leaving Susie alone
Little Susie was left by herself
Grandfather's soul too had flown
Even her grandfather had passed away
No one to care
There was no one to take care of Little Susie
Just to love her
Little Susie needed love and affection
How much can one bear?
Little Susie experienced a lot of pain and suffering
Rejecting the needs in her prayers
Her prayers went unanswered
Neglection can kill
Neglect can have fatal consequences
Like a knife in your soul
Neglect can cause emotional and psychological pain
Oh, it will
Neglect will cause harm
Little Susie fought so hard to live
Despite everything, Little Susie tried to survive
So young and so fair
Little Susie was young and beautiful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Joe Jackson, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind