They Don’t Care About Us
Producer
They Don’t Care About Us Lyrics
"All I want to say is that
They don't really care about us"
("Don't worry what people say, we know the truth")
"All I want to say is that
They don't really care about us"
("Enough is enough of this garbage!")
("Okay, alright, alright, alright")
"All I want to say is that
They don't really care about us"
*overlapping voices*
[Verse 1]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone mad
Situation, aggravation, everybody, allegation
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food
Bang, bang, shot dead, everybody's gone mad
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
[Verse 2]
Beat me, hate me, you can never break me
Will me, thrill me, you can never kill me
**** me, sue me, everybody do me
Kick me, **** me, don't you, "Black or white" me
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
[Post-Chorus]
And tell me, what has become of my life?
I have a wife and two children who love me
I am a victim of police brutality now
I'm tired of being the victim of hate
You're ripping me off my pride, oh, for God's sake
I look to Heaven to fulfill its prophecy, set me free
[Verse 3]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone bad
Trepidation, speculation, everybody, allegation
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food
Black man, blackmail, throw the brother in jail
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
And tell me, what has become of my rights?
Am I invisible 'cause you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty now
I'm tired of being the victim of shame (Ooh)
They're throwing me in a class with a bad name (Ooh)
I can't believe this is the land from which I came (Ooh)
[Bridge]
You know, I really do hate to say it
The government don't wanna see
But if Roosevelt was livin'
He wouldn't let this be, no, no
[Verse 4]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone bad
Situation, speculation, everybody, litigation
Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me
Hit me, kick me, you can never get me
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
[Bridge]
Some things in life
They just don't wanna see
But if Martin Luther was livin'
He wouldn't let this be
No, no, no, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 5]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone mad
Situation, segregation, everybody, allegation (Hoo-hoo)
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food (Hoo-hoo)
Kick me, **** me, don't you wrong or right me (We're deep in fire)
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
We're deep in the fire (Hoo-hoo)
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
I'm here to remind you (Hoo-hoo)
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us (Hee)
Don't you sit back and watch the beatin'
[Outro]
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about—, hoo-hoo
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about—, hoo-hoo
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us, hee-hee-hee
Hee-hee, hoo-hoo
[Instrumental Outro]
About
The fourth single off Jackson’s album HIStory, this is one of Michael’s most controversial songs of all time and was accused of being anti-Semitic. The song is a plea against racism and a call for powerful people to stop ignoring human rights. However, some interpreted these lyrics to have the absolute opposite meaning of Jackson’s intent. Jackson denied this later, and was offended his lyrics could be interpreted that way.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Yes. On August 29, 2020, in the spike of the 2020 George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests, the Michael Jackson Estate released an update video with added footage involving civil rights and vocals from Michael.
This song was written to bring awareness to racism and human rights.
Michael Jackson, after being oppressed on what he claimed to be, false allegations, wanted to shed light on the continuous racism he underwent. As a black male himself, he can also connect with other people in the world being oppressed and persecuted for the same reasons or only because of their orientation. He wishes to expose how painful it is to cope with this cruel behavior, and he hopes to impose action against it.
This song actually had two music videos. One was set in Santa Marta, Brazil, and the other in a prison in Queens, New York.
- 1.Billie Jean
- 6.Bad
- 9.Thriller
- 10.Beat It
- 11.The Girl Is Mine
- 15.Heal the World
- 16.Scream
- 17.They Don’t Care About Us
- 19.This Time Around
- 20.Earth Song
- 21.D.S.
- 22.Money
- 23.Come Together
- 25.Childhood
- 26.Tabloid Junkie
- 27.2 Bad
- 28.HIStory
- 30.Smile