The primary members of the group were all the sons of Katherine and Joseph Jackson: Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Randy Jackson. Joseph Jackson formed the band in 1964 and served as its manager, with Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and unrelated youths Reynaud Jones and Milton Hite comprising its original lineup. Within a year, Michael and Marlon joined the band, and Michael became lead singer as the group developed a following in the eastern and midwestern United States during the mid-1960s. Signed to the Motown label from 1969 to 1975, and to CBS Records (as "The Jacksons") from 1975 until their disbanding in 1990, the Jackson 5 were one of the most popular groups of the era and became the first recording act to have their first four major label singles (I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There) reach the top of the American charts. Several future singles, among them "Mama's Pearl", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Dancing Machine", were Top 5 pop hits and number-one hits on the R&B singles chart. Most of the early hits were written and produced by a specialized songwriting team known as The Corporation™; later Jackson 5 hits were crafted chiefly by Hal Davis.
While not the first act considered a "boy band", The Jackson 5 is one of the earliest examples of the type as it is defined today: five adolescents specifically packaged and marketed by a record label for crossover pop success. Upon their departure from Motown for CBS in 1975, the Jacksons, were forced to change their name and trade Jermaine (who remained at Motown) for Randy. The group took control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and "State of Shock", and a highly successful 1984 Victory tour. The Jacksons officially disbanded in 1990.
History
Early works
The Jacksons were a working-class family from Gary, Indiana. Katherine, being a Jehovah's Witness, raised the children as such, while their father, Joe, was not of that faith. Their father, a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called "The Falcons" with his brother Luther, was a strict disciplinarian. Many of the Jackson children recall being severely beaten by Joe for misbehaving.
The children found an outlet in music, with elder brothers Jackie (born Sigmund Esco Jackson, 1951), Tito (born Toriano Jackson, 1953), and Jermaine (b. 1954) borrowing their father's guitar without his permission and playing along to the radio. Younger brothers Marlon (b. 1957) and Michael (b. 1958) were allowed to watch as long as they did not tell. Joseph eventually discovered that the older three boys were playing his guitar when one of the strings broke[2]. Although he was furious at first, Joseph realized the boys had talent and began making plans to create a musical act for them.
In 1965, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine began performing around the Gary area with two neighborhood children, Milford Hite (on drums) and Reynaud Jones (on keyboards), in a group called The Jackson Brothers. Joe Jackson served as the manager, at first only part-time, and then eventually quitting his job at the steel mill. Jermaine sang lead and played bass, and Tito played guitar.
In 1966, younger brothers Marlon and Michael, joined the group as its tambourine and bongo players. Already showing talent as a singer and dancer[3], Michael replaced Jermaine as lead vocalist by mid-1967. Shirley Cartman, Tito's junior high orchestra teacher, noticed the group's talents and served as an early mentor to the group, by then calling itself The Jackson Five.
During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago, Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", and the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts in order to earn money.
Shirley Cartman got the Jackson Five a record deal with Gordon Keith's local Steeltown label, and the group began making their first recordings in 1967. Their first single, "Big Boy", became a regional hit. During this period, Johnny Jackson (no relation) on drums and Ronnie Rancifer on keys replaced Milford Hite and Reynaud Jones.
The Jackson Five had a number of admirers in their early days, including Sam & Dave, who helped the group secure a spot in the famous Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group won the August 13, 1967 competition during the Amateur Night showdown at the Apollo, impressing Motown Records artist Gladys Knight of The Pips. Knight recommended the group to Motown chief Berry Gordy, but Gordy, who already had teenager Stevie Wonder on his roster, was hesitant to take on another child act because of the child labor laws and other problems involved.
The Jackson Five's sound was influenced by many of the biggest stars of the 1960s, especially including family funk bands Sly & the Family Stone and The Isley Brothers, soul pioneer Marvin Gaye, doo-wop boy band Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, and soul shouters like Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder and James Brown [4]. At the time of their early success, soul and funk stars, especially coming from Motown Records, were among the most popular musicians; Motown had launched the careers of dozens of the decade's biggest stars, most notably Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Diana Ross & the Supremes.
Influences
From these sources, The Jackson Five developed many of their vocal arrangement styles and dance movements. The group's multi-lead vocal style was inspired by that of The Family Stone, while young Michael adapted Jackie Wilson and James Brown's impassioned singing and dancing styles into his own.
Joining Motown
By 1968, the Jackson 5 were a headlining act for the All Star Floor Show at Chicago's The Guys' and Gals' Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant. From July 12 - 27, 1968, the Jackson 5 opened for Motown group Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers at Chicago's Regal Theater. Taylor was also very impressed with the boys, and he decided to make the commitment to bring them to Detroit and Motown. Joseph and the Jackson Five stayed on the floor of Bobby Taylor's Detroit apartment the night of July 22, while Taylor and Motown executive Suzanne de Passe arranged for the Jackson Five to audition for the label.
On July 23, the Jackson Five had their Motown audition, for which they performed James Brown’s then current hit "I Got the Feelin’". Berry Gordy was not in attendance, but the audition was videotaped and sent to him in Los Angeles. Gordy's initial reluctance to sign the group disappeared when he finally saw the boys perform. Gordy decided to sign the Jackson Five to Motown, and hosted a party at his Detroit mansion on November 25, 1968 to introduce them to the Motown staff and stars.
Motown began negotiations to buy out the Jackson Five's Steeltown contract, completing the deal in March 1969. By the summer, Bobby Taylor began producing the group's first recordings at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit. The early Taylor-produced Jackson Five records were all covers of both contemporary hits and Motown-standards, including Sly & the Family Stone's "Stand!" and their famous rendition of The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", written by Smokey Robinson.
In mid-August 1969, Gordy moved the Jackson Five and Joseph to California, and he and Suzanne de Passe began the process of grooming them as the label's next big act, while the rest of the family remained in Gary. While looking for a house in California, Joseph, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie lived with Berry Gordy, while Michael and Marlon lived with Motown star Diana Ross.
Just My Imagination
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say to myself you're such a lucky guy,
To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true
Out of all the fellows in the world she belongs to me.
But it was just my imagination,
Runnin' away with me.
It was just my imagination runnin' away with me
A cozy little home out in the country with two children maybe three.
I tell you I can visualize it all
This couldn't be a dream for too real it all seems;
But it was just my imagination once again runnin' way with me.
Tell you it was just my imagination runnin' away with me.
Every night on my knees I pray, Dear Lord, Hear my plea;
Don't ever let another take her love from me or I would surely die.
Her love is heavenly, when her arms enfold me,
I hear a tender rhapsody, but in reality she doesn't even know me.
Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me.
Tell you it was just my imagination runnin' away with me.
No, no, I can't forget her
Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me.
Just my imagination runnin' away with me.
The lyrics to The Jackson 5’s song "Just My Imagination" tell a story of unrequited love and hopeful dreams. The singer sees a girl passing by his window every day and feels grateful to have her as his own, but the reality is that it is all in his head. He imagines a life together, getting married, and starting a family, but in truth, she doesn't even know him. The chorus, "It was just my imagination, runnin' away with me," repeats throughout the song as a reminder that what he is dreaming of is not real.
The singer's desperation becomes evident in the second verse when he prays to the Lord to keep his love safe because he cannot bear the thought of losing her. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is deeply in love but can only live in his fantasies, hoping that one day they will come true.
Overall, "Just My Imagination" is a poignant tale of romantic longing and unfulfilled desires. It captures the essence of daydreaming and fantasies and how they can serve as an escape from reality. The song's relatable lyrics and catchy melody have made it a timeless classic and one of The Jackson 5's most beloved hits.
Line by Line Meaning
Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by
I see her every day from my window as she walks by
I say to myself you're such a lucky guy,
I feel fortunate to have her in my life
To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true
I cannot believe that someone like her is in my life - it's like a dream come true
Out of all the fellows in the world she belongs to me.
I know that she is meant to be with me, out of all the other men in the world
But it was just my imagination,
I realize that what I'm imagining isn't real
Runnin' away with me.
It's like my imagination is taking control of me
Soon we'll be married and raise a family (Oh yeah)
I imagine that we will get married and have children together in the future
A cozy little home out in the country with two children maybe three.
I see us living in a comfortable home in a rural area with two or three children
I tell you I can visualize it all
I can clearly see this future in my mind
This couldn't be a dream for too real it all seems;
It feels so vivid and real that it couldn't possibly be a dream
But it was just my imagination once again runnin' way with me.
Once again, my mind is taking control and imagining things that aren't real
Tell you it was just my imagination runnin' away with me.
I need to remind myself that it's all in my head
Every night on my knees I pray, Dear Lord, Hear my plea;
Every night, I pray to God to keep her love for me strong
Don't ever let another take her love from me or I would surely die.
I couldn't bear the thought of losing her to someone else
Her love is heavenly, when her arms enfold me,
When she holds me, I feel like I'm in heaven
I hear a tender rhapsody, but in reality she doesn't even know me.
In my imagination, I can hear her saying loving things to me, but in reality, she doesn't even know who I am
No, no, I can't forget her
I can't stop thinking about her
Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me.
My mind is wandering and imagining things that aren't real
Just my imagination runnin' away with me.
I need to remind myself that it's not real
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimora Reaves
Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by
I say to myself you're such a lucky guy
To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true
Out of all the fellows in the world she belongs to me
But it was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
It was just my imagination runnin' away with me
Soon we'll be married and raise a family (oh yeah)
A cozy little home out in the country with two children maybe three
I tell you I can visualize it all
This couldn't be a dream for too real it all seems
But it was just my imagination once again runnin' way with me
Tell you it was just my imagination runnin' away with me
Every night on my knees I pray, dear Lord, hear my plea
Don't ever let another take her love from me or I would surely die
Her love is heavenly, when her arms enfold me
I hear a tender rhapsody, but in reality she doesn't even know me
Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me
Tell you it was just my imagination runnin' away with me
No, no, I can't forget her
Just my imagination once again runnin' way with me
Just my imagination runnin' away with me
Lovie Waters
Ooh
Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by
I say to myself, "You're such a lucky guy"
To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true
Out of all the fellows in the world, she belongs to me
But it was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
It was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
Ooh (soon)
Soon we'll be married and raise a family (oh yeah)
A cozy little home out in the country with two children, maybe three
I tell you I can visualize it all
This couldn't be a dream, far too real it all seems
But it was just my imagination, once again
Runnin' away with me
Tell you, it was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
Every night on my knees I pray
Dear Lord, hear my plea
Don't ever let another take her love from me
Or I would surely die, hmm
(Her love is) Heavenly, when her arms enfold me
I hear a tender rhapsody
But in reality, she doesn't even know me
Once again
Runnin' away with me, oh
Tell you it was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
I've never met her but I can't forget her
(Just my imagination) Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Runnin' away with me, ooh
Just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barrett Strong / Norman Whitfield
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Telacy Lindsey
such a classic song ain't gonna never gets old by the temptations I love this song I know this song its older than me but I love it
D
“But in reality… she doesn’t even know me”
Hits me so different every time🥺
HoneyHoneyBaby
In my opinion, Just My Imagination is Eddie Kendricks most beautiful vocal ever recorded... Nothing tops this one. It's the longing, vulnerability, purity, and beauty of his voice expressed here so perfectly 💖 To me, it's his best song and one of The Temptations best ever and no one can forget about Paul Williams: his voice...so soulful and perfect, just so full of feeling 🌟 Eddie and Paul, always a winning combination 🌠 Pure class from the greatest male group of all time 👑🎙️The Temptations
BigHomieMac34
@M Nah, I don't even think Jackson 5 is ahead of Boyz II Men or New Edition
M
Jackson 5 is the best male group
BigHomieMac34
Yep 💯
Gary Mayfield
You're my everything,no.1hands down
Ellen Pearl Jackson
Amen
M Samson
Paul singing "Every night, on my knees I pray " kills me every single time. RIP Paul 🙏
Dawn Swain
🙏♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏😘