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 Corporationโข; 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 Brownโs then current hit "I Got the Feelinโ". 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.
Someday at Christmas
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playin' with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December, our hearts will see
A world where men are free, mmh (someday, someday)
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmas time (someday, someday)
Someday at Christmas, we'll see a land (someday at Christmas)
With no hungry children, no empty hand (someday at Christmas)
One happy morning, people will share
A world where people care, whoa (someday, someday)
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no tears (someday at Christmas)
When all men are equal and no man has fears (someday at Christmas)
One shining moment, one prayer away
From our world today, whoa (someday, someday)
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmas time (someday, someday)
Someday at Christmas, men will not have failed
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart, whoa (someday, someday)
Someday at Christmas, hmm-hmm-hmm, mhm, hmm-hmm
Mhm-hmm, mhm-hmm
But someday at Christmas time
Someday at Christmas time
The Jackson 5's song "Someday at Christmas" is a meaningful, thought-provoking Christmas tune that speaks to the hope for a better world. The song envisions a world where wars, hunger, and discrimination are eradicated, and where people care for and share with each other. It looks forward to a time when men will no longer be boys who play with bombs like toys, but rather will have matured to a place where they understand the true meaning of Christmas and the inherent value of life. The song expresses a hope that someday we will find a world where our dreams can come true, and where love will prevail over hate.
The lyrics encourage listeners to envision the potential for a better future, and to work towards achieving that vision. The song serves as a reminder that the holiday season is not just about exchanging gifts or indulging in food and drink, but also about considering our place in the world and striving to make it a more peaceful and equitable place for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday at Christmas, men won't be boys
In the future, men will have matured and stopped engaging in dangerous actions like children playing with toys
Playin' with bombs like kids play with toys
Men will have ceased using weapons of war like they're toys with which to play
One warm December, our hearts will see
At some point in December, humanity's hearts will collectively witness the realization of a shared goal
A world where men are free, mmh (someday, someday)
This desired future reality will be one where all men have the freedom to live their lives
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no wars
One day on Christmas, there will no longer be any wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When humanity understands the true meaning and significance of Christmas
When we have found what life's really worth
When humans have discovered the true worth and value of life
There'll be peace on Earth (someday, someday)
As a result of these learnings, peace will be realized globally
Someday all our dreams will come to be
At some point in the future, all our wishes will be fulfilled
Someday in a world where men are free
This idyllic future world will be one where all the men of the world will live freely
Maybe not in time for you and me
This reality may not come to pass in our own lifetimes
But someday at Christmas time (someday, someday)
However, at some future point during the Christmas season, this goal might be achieved
Someday at Christmas, we'll see a land (someday at Christmas)
Future Christmas mornings will reveal a place where hunger has been eradicated and no one goes without their basic needs being met
With no hungry children, no empty hand (someday at Christmas)
This land will have no hungry or homeless people, especially children
One happy morning, people will share
One Christmas morning, people will come together and share
A world where people care, whoa (someday, someday)
The world on this future Christmas day will have selfless individuals who truly care for one another
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no tears (someday at Christmas)
This future Christmas will hold no sorrow or tears
When all men are equal and no man has fears (someday at Christmas)
Equality and fairness will reign supreme, and no one will be afraid or anxious
One shining moment, one prayer away
Only a single positive occurrence and one collective desire are needed to make this a reality
From our world today, whoa (someday, someday)
This desired future reality will be a vast improvement upon today's world
Someday at Christmas, men will not have failed
In the future, men will have succeeded in creating the kind of world they believe is possible
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
All hate and negativity will be eradicated, and love will be the prevailing sentiment
Someday a new world that we can start
A brand new world, unburdened by past mistakes, can be created
With hope in every heart, whoa (someday, someday)
Everyone will have optimism and hope for the future, making this desired reality more likely to manifest
Someday at Christmas, hmm-hmm-hmm, mhm, hmm-hmm
This desired future reality will occur at some point during the Christmas holidays
Mhm-hmm, mhm-hmm
This idyllic future is something worth striving for and dreaming about
But someday at Christmas time
This desired reality may only come to pass on a future Christmas day
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bryan Wells, Ronald Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Rowland
Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on earth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas we'll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
Our world where people care
Whoa, someday at Christmas there'll be no tears
When all men are equal and no man has fears
One shinning moment one prayer away
From our world today
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart, yeah
whoa, yeah
(Someday in a world where men are free)
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime
Patrick Stocks
Someday at Christmas ๐
Men wonโt be boys
Playing with bombs ๐ฃ
Like kids play with toys ๐งธ
One December our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas ๐
Thereโll be no war
When we have learned
What Christmas is for
When we have found
What lifeโs really worth
Thereโll be peace on Earth ๐
Someday all our dreams
Will come to be
Someday in a world ๐
Where men are free
Maybe not in time
For you and me
But someday at Christmas time
Someday at Christmas ๐
Weโll see a land
With no hungry children ๐ถ
No empty hands ๐
One happy morning
People will share
A world where people care
Someday at Christmas ๐
Thereโll be no tears ๐ญ
When all men are equal
And no men have fears
One shining moment
One prayer away
From our own world today
Someday all our dreams
Will come to be
Someday a new world ๐
Where men are free
For you and me
But someday at Christmas time
Someday at Christmas ๐
Men will not have failed
Hate will be gone
And live will prevail
Someday in a world ๐บ
That we can start
With hope in every heart ๐
Someday at Christmas ๐
Hmmm-hmmm hmmm ๐ค
Hmmm-hmmm hmmm ๐ค
Hmmm-hmmm hmmm ๐ค
Hmmm-hmmm hmmm ๐ค
Hmmm-hmmm hmmm ๐ค
But someday at Christmas time
Someday at Christmas time
h.๐งธ
โก Lyrics :
Someday at Christmas, men won't be boys
Playin' with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December, our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on Earth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas, we'll see a land (someday at Christmas)
With no hungry children, no empty hand (someday at Christmas)
One happy morning people will share
A world where people care (ooh, whoa, whoa)
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no tears (someday at Christmas)
Where all men are equal and no man have fears (someday at Christmas)
One shining moment, one prayer away
From our world today (whoa-oh-oh)
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas men would not have failed
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday in a world that we can all start
With hope in every heart
Whoa, whoa
Someday at Christmas
Hmm-mmm
Someday at Christmas
Hmm-mmm-hmm
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime
Paula Eduarda
Someday at Christmas, men won't be boys
Playin' with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December, our hearts will see
A world where men are free
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no wars
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on Earth
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas, we'll see a land (someday at Christmas)
With no hungry children, no empty hand (someday at Christmas)
One happy morning people will share
A world where people care (ooh, whoa, whoa)
Someday at Christmas, there'll be no tears (someday at Christmas)
Where all men are equal and no man have fears (someday at Christmas)
One shining moment, one prayer away
From our world today (whoa-oh-oh)
Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmas men would not have failed
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday in a world that we can all start
With hope in every heart
Whoa, whoa
Someday at Christmas
Hmm-mmm
Someday at Christmas
Hmm-mmm-hmm
But someday at Christmastime
Someday at Christmastime
Robert Smith
How could this kid have this much vocal control at his age?? Truly gifted. ๐ง๐พโ๐
JustNette
I love his voice
ScrimbloCoded
Simon was right.
This song's highkey a jam.
Reeanna S
ree
JustNette
Ree
Howard Nash
All props to Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, and Marlon as well โค๏ธโ๐ฉน.
Lety 04
There are SO MANY STUNNING basslines in their albums!!!๐โค
Carlos Jones
I can't imagine a voice more pure and sweet than Michael's - it went straight to your heart. Miss you bro! Thanks for all the sweet memories you gave us like this.
๊ฟํฐ์์ด
ํฅ์ผ๊ฑฐ๋ฆฌ๊ฒ ๋ง๋๋ ์ด ๊ท์ฌ์ด ์ณ ๋ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ๊ฐ ํ์ ํฉ์ ๋ง์ดํด์ ์จ์ ๋ชฉ์๋ฆฌ์๋ค๋....!!
๊ทธ๊ฒ๋ ์ด๋ฆฐ์์ ...ใทใท ๐ฑ ์ง๊ธ์ ๊ณ ์ธ์ด ๋์ จ์ง๋ง ๋ ธ๋ซ์์์๋ ์์ํ ์ด์๊ณ์๋๊ฑธ ๋๋ ์๊ฐ ๋๋ ๋๋ฌผ์ด ๋งบํ๋ ๊ธฐ๋ถ์ด์๋ค
Saone Grant
This is my Favorite song on the Jackson 5ive's Christmas Album. I love Jermaine & Michael lead Vocals...always loved how they both accommodated one another while leading together. GREATNESS!