Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
B-side	"I Can't Help It"
Released	July 10, 1979
Recorded	December 1978–June 1979
Studio	Allen Zentz Recording Studios (Hollywood, California) Westlake Recording Studios (West Hollywood, California) Cherokee Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Disco • funk • soul
Length	6:06 5:53 (US single version) 4:13 (short version with rap) 3:58 (short version without rap) 7:41 (recording session)
Album	Off the Wall
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones • Michael Jackson • Greg Phillinganes (disputed)
Singles chronology
Previous	"A Brand New Day"
Current	"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Next	"Rock with You"
Track list
Current	"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Next	"Rock with You"
Music video

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the first track from the Off the Wall album. It was released as a single on July 10, 1979, serving as the lead single from the album. The song is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most iconic disco songs of all time.

The demo was released on the Off the Wall: Special Edition reissue in 2001.

Background

Jackson sought out a producer who could at least help him fulfill his dreams of being a true solo artist; as a result, he called in Quincy Jones, who was the musical director of The Wiz. Jackson asked if he knew any producer who would help him, and Jones suggested that he be his producer, so they began to work on Off the Wall, starting on December 4, 1978. The two listened to hundreds of demos, but only a handful of them were considered for the upcoming record. These included "Workin' Day and Night", "Get on the Floor" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". The two worked on the latter at Allen Zentz Recording, Westlake Recording, and Cherokee Studios, all of which, were located in Los Angeles, California.

When the melody of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" came to Jackson's mind, he couldn't stop himself from humming and singing it while walking through his family's Encino home. Although Jackson was certainly capable of playing piano, he wasn't a keyboardist himself, so he brought in Randy to perform the melody on a piano in the family's recording studio.

When Katherine, who was a devout Jehovah's Witness, heard "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", she was appalled by the lyrical content and felt the title could be misunderstood as about sexual activity. Michael reassured her, however, that the song could mean whatever people wanted it to, and that it wasn't about sex. Upon playing "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" to Jones, the two agreed that it should be on Off the Wall.

“	“Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” had a spoken intro over bass, partly to build up tension and surprise people with the swirling strings and percussion. It was also unusual because of my vocal arrangement. On that cut I sing in overdubs as a kind of group. I wrote myself a high part, one that my solo voice couldn’t carry on its own, to fit in with the music I was hearing in my head, so I let the arrangement take over from the singing. Q’s fade at the end was amazing, with guitars chopping like kalimbas, the African thumb pianos. That song means a lot to me because it was the first song I wrote as a whole. “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” was my first big chance, and it went straight to number one. It was the song that won me my first Grammy. Quincy had the confidence in me to encourage me to go into the studio by myself, which I appreciated. Then he added strings, which put icing on the cake.	”
–Jackson in his book, Moonwalk

Music video

The music video for, directed and produced by Nick Saxton, made its world premiere in October 1979, becoming the first music video by Jackson as a solo artist. The music video shows a smiling Jackson in a black and white tuxedo with a black bow tie (resembling the Off the Wall album cover photo) dancing and singing the song while appearing chroma keyed over a background of abstract geometric figures. At one stage, Jackson is seen dancing in triplicate, which was considered innovative at the time.

Live performances

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" debuted during the second leg of The Jacksons' Destiny World Tour, with it being performed on the following tour.

A snippet was performed during the Bad World Tour, as part of the "Bad Groove" interlude. It was also performed on the HIStory World Tour as a part of the "Off the Wall Medley" (which had "Rock with You" and "Off the Wall").

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" would've been performed during the This Is It concerts as part of said medley, but they were ultimately canceled due to Jackson's passing.

Audio

• Demo - ( listen)

Lyrics

• Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough
• Demo

[Spoken Intro]
You know, I was
I was wondering, you know
If you could keep on
Because the force
It's got a lot of power
And it make me feel like ah
It make me feel like… ooh!

[Verse 1]
Lovely is the feelin' now
Fever, temperatures risin' now
Power (Oh, power) is the force, the vow
That makes it happen, it asks no questions why (Ooh)
So get closer (Closer now)
To my body now
Just love me
'Til you don't know how (Ooh)

[Chorus]
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough

[Verse 2]
Touch me and I feel on fire
Ain’t nothin' like a love desire (Ooh)
I'm melting (I'm melting)
Like hot candle wax
Sensation (Oh, sensation)
Lovely where we're at (Ooh!)
So let love take us through the hours
I won't be complainin' (Aah)
'Cause this is love power (Ooh)

[Chorus]
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough

[Instrumental Interlude]
Ooh!
Oh, baby
Keep on
Keep on

[Verse 3]
Heartbreak enemy despise
Eternal (Oh, eternal)
Love shines in my eyes (Ooh)
So let love take us through the hours (Oh, let love)
I won't be complainin' (No, no) (Hoo!)
'Cause your love is alright, alright (Ooh)

[Chorus]
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Don't stop, baby)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough (Oh, my baby)
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough

[Refrain]
Lovely is the feelin' now
I won't be complainin' (Ooh, ooh)
The force is love power

[Chorus / Outro]
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Don't stop, darlin')
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Don't, baby)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on, darlin')
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Love power, yeah)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on, darlin')
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Love power)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
(Keep on with the power, would ya, ooh)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
(Don't stop 'til you get enough, ooh)
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on, yeah)
Don't stop 'til you get enough (Ah, ah now)
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Yeah)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on, baby)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Don't 'til you get enough)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on, darlin')
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Alright, yeah)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Keep on, baby)
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the force, don't stop (Don't stop)

[Intro]
We're gonna be starting now, baby
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Don't stop 'til you get enough (Don't Stop)

[Verse 1]
Heartbreak is the feeling now
Lovely is your body now
I don't get this feeling now
Get closer
To your body now
I don't get this feeling now
I'm done, you know you won't [?]

[Chorus]
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough

[Verse 2]
Heartbreak is the feeling now
Lovely is your body now
I don't get this feeling now
People are standing now
(Vision)
I was saying now
I won't be complainin'
Our mother's love power

[Chorus]
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with ya heart don't...
(Don't stop...)

[Verse 3]
Heartbreak is the feeling now
Lovely is your body now
I don't get this feeling now
I won't be complainin'
Our Mother's love power
(Ooh, ooh)

[Chorus]
Keep on with the heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough
Keep on with the heart don't stop
Don't stop 'til you get enough

[Outro]
Keep on...
You know it's... love power, keep on... yeah...
(Don't stop 'til you get enough)
Shake out your best power
(Don't stop 'til you get enough)
Keep on 'til you get enough

Gallery

Vinyl back cover

Vinyl

Album acetate featuring the song under the title "Keep On Don't Stop"

Trivia

• An acetate for Off the Wall dated July 17, 1979, calls this song "Keep On Don't Stop" instead of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
• According to Greg Phillinganes at the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy, he claimed Jackson played an early demo of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" to him, and said "it needs another part," to which Phillinganes suggested that he add a bridge. The two ultimately agreed to rate Philliganes' contribution at 10%. Soon thereafter, however, he was informed that his contribution was decided to be just an arrangement. Nevertheless, many pressings list both Jackson and Phillinganes as composers. Jones has backed up the allegation made by Phillinganes.