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Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Lyrics

[Chorus]
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)

[1st Verse]
I Took My Baby To The Doctor
With A Fever, But Nothing He Found
By The Time This Hit The Street
They Said She Had A Breakdown
Someone's Always Tryin' To Start My Baby Cryin'
Talkin', Squealin', Lyin'
Sayin' You Just Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

[Chorus]
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)

[2nd Verse]
You Love To Pretend That You're Good
When You're Always Up To No Good
You Really Can't Make Him Hate Her
So Your Tongue Became A Razor
Someone's Always Tryin' To Keep My Baby Cryin'
Treacherous, Cunnin', Declinin'
You Got My Baby Cryin'

[Chorus]
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
You're A Vegetable, You're A Vegetable
Still They Hate You, You're A Vegetable
You're Just A Buffet, You're A Vegetable
They Eat Off Of You, You're A Vegetable

[3rd Verse]
Billie Jean Is Always Talkin'
When Nobody Else Is Talkin'
Tellin' Lies And Rubbin' Shoulders
So They Called Her Mouth A Motor
Someone's Always Tryin' To Start My Baby Cryin'
Talkin', Squealin', Spyin'
Sayin' You Just Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

[Chorus]
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
You're A Vegetable, You're A Vegetable
Still They Hate You, You're A Vegetable
You're Just A Buffet, You're A Vegetable
They Eat Off Of You, You're A Vegetable

[Ad-Lib]
If You Cant Feed Your Baby (Yeah, Yeah)
Then Don't Have A Baby (Yeah, Yeah)
And Don't Think Maybe (Yeah, Yeah)
If You Can't Feed Your Baby (Yeah, Yeah)
You'll Be Always Tryin'
To Stop That Child From Cryin'
Hustlin', Stealin', Lyin'
Now Baby's Slowly Dyin'

[Chorus]
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
I Said You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
You Got To Be Startin' Somethin'
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)
It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah)
Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah)
You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah)
And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)

[Ad-Lib]
Lift Your Head Up High
And Scream Out To The World
I Know I Am Someone
And Let The Truth Unfurl
No One Can Hurt You Now
Because You Know What's True
Yes, I Believe In Me
So You Believe In You
Help Me Sing It, Ma Ma Se,
Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa
Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa,
Ma Ma Coo Sa
[Repeat/Fade-Out]
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc
Writer
Michael Jackson
Duration
6:03
Submitted by
ruben On Jul 11, 2002
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20 Meanings

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Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

In a broader sense it's the song about our inner child and how we can become a vegetable ("you're a vegetable"), if we don't pay attention to the child inside of us ("If you can't feed your baby - you'll be always trying to stop that child from crying").

"Someone's always trying to keep my baby crying" - people try to hurt him, so the inner child inside of him starts to "cry" and it's a pain. So "I took my baby to the doctor" means he tries to "cure" and get rid of his inner child and it's no fun and fortunately it didn't work out :) And and in the end he's dancing ("Ma makossa") as law4on mentioned.

Song Meaning
Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

The part about the vegetable and buffet is so bizarre to me. Also does anyone know what language they're chanting at the end? It's obviously African, but I wonder if what they're saying ties into the song.

@rickyr1983 It means: and some And so on, both coo and...

@rickyr1983 It means: and some And so on, both coo and...

whoops i replied twice LOL

Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

oh come on people. its mj... no comments? the lyrics don't touch me, but the music always gets me pumped. michael jackson is an amazing entertainer. give credit where credit is due.

MJ rocks!This is one of my favorite songs.I can't stop hearing Michael Jackson (MJ). I love this music of the song and it's words of course. Michael Jackson was surely one of the best artists (one of the best?THE BEST!) in the world.His music is invincible and heals some people in some way.This song is awesome like the most of MJ. R.I.P to the greatest artist.

Not Valid

Ever since I was a little girl.. I'd get all dancey.. when this song plays.. I never really cared to find out what the lyrics were.. until recently.. and the part on buffet and vegetable ... really cracks me up now.. what the hell is that about?!! did anyone ask michael about it? did he just make up lyrics.. when he came up with the melody of the song.. it seems like that.. it seems like just random lyrics.. being uttered ... but its an unbelievable super classic. The music is just.. out of this world. and I really dont...

Not Valid
Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

The best party song MJ has done! Such a good beat.

He's talking about gossip, how people always wanna be startin' somethin' and it gets people hurt.

@Sirene Yeah this is my joint right here.I figured that he was.I uses the titles every time I watch a tv show like Basketball Wives and say just that."You tryign to or wanna beStartign Something"HE still got sued from what I usderstand.As it was brought up in my African calls yesterday.When we listen to African music.But my teacher made it seem like he just stole that verse as it is.Michael did wind up paying him.But it was out of the courts.He also sued Rihanna for the same par to f her song in "Don't Stop"..my teacher made it seem like...

Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

If this song doesn't get you jumping, you're dead!!! It's so underrated!

I read somewhere that it was inspired by African music, and it does have that rotating, gyrating sound about it. I think the part about comparing the person to a vegetable is pretty funny ("they HATE you, they eat OFF you").

As to the words at the end, they are from a song called "Soul Makossa" that was popular in the late 60s. It was recorded by an African artist. The words he used are "Mamako, mamasa, mama makoosa," which as far as I can find out, means "I'm dancing." Michael just changed a few syllables, probably to avoid being sued for copyright infringement or something.

This song gathers so much force that by the end it practically explodes your speakers. Michael may be wack, but god damn the man can make a song!

The part about the vegetable/buffet I think he's implying that you are a vegetable meaning you're nothing, you have nothing to offer...like a doctor says someone brain dead is a vegetable... and a buffet like you always have the beef, you have all the beef the info always got stuff in circulation. It's like he's saying you always talking/starting beefs but you really aren't saying anything...you have nothing to offer.

Not Valid
Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

I heard this song was about his dad beating them. I took it to mean his dad was also starting fights with the kids and

It's Too High To Get Over (Yeah, Yeah) Too Low To Get Under (Yeah, Yeah) You're Stuck In The Middle (Yeah, Yeah) And The Pain Is Thunder (Yeah, Yeah)

might have been Michael being stuck as a middle child and not being old enough yet or young enough to escape the thunderously painful beatings.

You're A Vegetable, You're A Vegetable Still They Hate You, You're A Vegetable You're Just A Buffet, You're A Vegetable They Eat Off Of You, You're A Vegetable

Those lyrics could be the way the kids viewed their abusive dad, as a compassionless, inhumane psychotic who was no good for giving or receiving love from his children, only good enough to provide food on the table.

If You Cant Feed Your Baby (Yeah, Yeah) Then Don't Have A Baby (Yeah, Yeah) And Don't Think Maybe (Yeah, Yeah) If You Can't Feed Your Baby (Yeah, Yeah) You'll Be Always Tryin' To Stop That Child From Cryin' Hustlin', Stealin', Lyin' Now Baby's Slowly Dyin'

Just maybe shows Michael thought you shouldn't have kids if you can't take care of them.

Lift Your Head Up High And Scream Out To The World I Know I Am Someone And Let The Truth Unfurl No One Can Hurt You Now

Shows Michael finally escaped the physical abuse, but we all know the emotional abuse was harder to get away from.

Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

this is defenitely an awesome song

Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

In LaToya's book, she says that Michael wrote this song about her, that she's "his baby" that he's talking about. The press was supposively bugging her. Who knows if it's true.

Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

I love michael jackson. I would be his best friend.

Cover art for Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lyrics by Michael Jackson

LaToya's his "baby"? huh. the vegetable part is really funny, but I think it's relevant too since the press feeds off of his life, but I don't know why he chose a vegetable to symbolize that. at first I wondered if he was referring to someone in a coma, how they're referred to as a human vegetable--lmao.