Earth Song

This article is about Earth Song. You may have been looking for Earth Love.

"Earth Song"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Released	November 13, 1995 (single) May 20, 1997 (Hani's Club Experience)
Recorded	September 20, 1988 June 1989–August 1990 September 1994–March 1995
Studio	Toad Hall (Pasadena, California) Record One (Los Angeles, California) The Hit Factory (New York City, New York)
Genre	Blues • gospel • pop
Length	1:02 (1988 demo) 6:46 (1990 and 1995 versions) 5:02 (radio edit)
Album	HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	Michael Jackson • David Foster • Bill Bottrell
Singles chronology
Previous	"You Are Not Alone"
Current	"Earth Song"
Next	"They Don't Care About Us"
Track list
Previous	"This Time Around"
Current	"Earth Song"
Next	"D.S."
Music video

"Earth Song" (often referred to as "What About Us") is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the twentieth track (fifth track from the second disc) from the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I double album. It was released as a single on November 13, 1995, serving as the third single from the album. It became the #1 Christmas single in the UK that year, and is one of Jackson's signature songs, spreading awareness about our environment, and its message continues to hold up even to this day.

Although Jackson had previously released socially conscious songs such as "We Are the World", "Man in the Mirror", and "Heal the World", "Earth Song" was his first to overtly discuss the environment and animal welfare.

Background

Jackson wanted to create a song that was melodically simple, but lyrically deep with an emotional message so that the whole world (particularly non-English-speaking fans) could sing along. He went ahead and wrote "Earth Song" at the Vienna Marriott Hotel during the Bad World Tour on June 1, 1988.

Jackson recorded a demo version of "Earth Song" on September 20, 1988, and set his sights on the song to be included on Dangerous. He worked on "Earth Song" between June 1989–August 1990 at Toad Hall and Record One, with Bill Bottrell and himself behind the production. "Planet Earth", which was made in 1990, would originally serve as an intro to "Earth Song". By then, all parts of "Earth Song" (except for the final chorus) were complete, and it was ready to be released on Dangerous. However, the track was ultimately left off.

In September 1994, "Earth Song" was revisited by Jackson for the HIStory album at The Hit Factory, with David Foster now being behind production alongside Jackson. Some brass instruments and additional strings were added and Jackson’s vocals were re-recorded for the song’s breakdown. The outro also now featured gritty vocals, instead of a falsetto.

Music video

The accompanying music video, directed by Nick Brandt (who also directed "Stranger in Moscow"), was filmed on four different continents, the seven-minute short film portrays in various ways how man, technology, and greed are destroying the world. It gained the 1995 Doris Day Music Award at the Genesis Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form in 1997.

Live performances

Jackson performed "Earth Song" for the first time in November 1995 on the German celebrity game show, Wanna Bet?. It was later brought back for the Brit Awards in 1996.

Shortly afterward, "Earth Song" was performed during the HIStory World Tour. Jackson would perform most of it on a crane, with the song finishing with Jackson on the ground, stopping a tank. Additionally, he would ad-lib "tell me what about it," which wasn't present in the original recording.

The last time Jackson performed "Earth Song" was during the This Is It rehearsals on June 24, 2009, less than 24 hours before his passing. It was the last song Jackson sang during his lifetime. This performance was included in the Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary, although overdubbed with the falsetto vocals featured in the 1990 version.

Jarvis Cocker incident

While Jackson performed "Earth Song" during the February 19, 1996, Brit Awards, Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker ran onstage without permission, lifted his shirt, and pretended to break the wind, before giving Jackson the V sign. Police questioned him after, due to claims that he had harmed three of the child performers. The charges were dropped, however, after it turned out that it was someone from Jackson's crew who barged into the children.

In a formal statement, Jackson stated that he was "sickened, saddened, shocked, upset, cheated and angry" by Cocker's actions. Despite his anger at the protest, Jackson noted he was "immensely proud" that his cast of performers remained professional so the "show went on." He noted that while he "respected Pulp as artists," he found their lack of respect for fellow performers utterly incomprehensible. Cocker released his own statement shortly after, clarifying that his actions were a "form of protest" against Jackson’s "Christ-like" self-presentation. A public divide emerged between those who saw Cocker's act as a humorous critique and those who viewed it as a disrespectful assault on a global icon.

MJ & Friends incident

On June 27, 1999, during the "Earth Song" performance, for MJ & Friends, the middle section of the bridge collapsed while in the air. Jackson climbed out of it and continued to perform without missing a beat. However, after the show ended, he had to be rushed to the hospital due to severe back pain. The fall reportedly worsened his physical health until the last days of his life.

Hani's Club Experience

"Earth Song (Hani's Club Experience)" is a remix of "Earth Song" done by Hani and released as the eighth track from the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album.

Audio

The 1988 demo of "Earth Song" first leaked as a low-quality recording from Brad Sundberg's seminars, although on January 27, 2023, the first 59 seconds from the same version were leaked in HQ after Sundberg's laptop was stolen. A work-in-progress mix of the 1990 version leaked on July 7, 2002. On November 29, 2025, the multitrack for the 1990 version leaked in high quality with an extended outro, alongside an alternate version featuring electric drum kits.

• 1988 Demo - ( listen)
• 1990 Demo - ( listen)
  • 1990 Electric drum kit version - ( listen)

Lyrics

• Earth Song
• 1988 Demo
• 1990 Version
• Hani's Club Experience

[Verse 1]
What about sunrise? What about rain?
What about all the things that you said we were to gain?
What about killing fields? Is there a time?
What about all the things that you said was yours and mine?

[Pre-Chorus]
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, this weeping shore?

[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh

[Verse 2]
What have we've done to the world? Look what we've done
What about all the peace that you pledge your only son?
What about flowering fields? Is there a time?
What about all the dreams that you said was yours and mine?

[Pre-Chorus]
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, this weeping shore?

[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh

[Bridge]
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far

[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah-ah
Ooh, ooh-ooh (Hey!)

[Breakdown]
What about yesterday? (What about us?)
What about the seas? (What about us?)
Heavens are falling down (What about us?)
I can't even see (What about us?)
What about Africans? (What about us?)
I ain't even through (What about us?)
What about nature's worth? (Ooh)
It's our planet's womb (What about us?)
What about animals? (What about it?)
Turned kingdom to dust (What about us?)
What about elephants? (What about us?)
Have we lost their trust? (What about us?)
What about crying whales? (What about us?)
Ravaging the seas? (What about us?)
What about forest trails? (Ooh)
Burnt despite our pleas (What about us?)
What about the holy land? (What about it?)
Torn apart by greed? (What about us?)
What about the common man? (What about us?)
Can't we set him free? (What about us?)
What about children dying? (What about us?)
Can't you hear them cry? (What about us?)
Where did we go wrong? (Ooh)
Someone tell me why (What about us?)
What about baby boy? (What about it?)
What about the days? (What about us?)
What about all their joy? (What about us?)
What about the man? (What about us?)
What about the crying man? (What about us?)
What about Abraham? (What about us?)
What about death again? (Ooh)
Do we give a damn?

[Outro]
Ah, ah-ah (Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Ooh, ooh-ooh (Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Ah, ah-ah (Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)
Ooh, ooh-ooh

[Verse]
What about sunrise?
What about rain?
What about all the things that you said we'd come again?
What about wishing wells?
What about time?
What about all the things that you said was all mine?

[Pre-Chorus]
Did you ever stop to notice
All the things we've done before?
Did you ever stop to notice
How I'm walking out the door?

[Chorus]
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Interlude]

[Chorus]
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ahh-ahh, ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 1]
What about sunrise?
What about rain?
What about all the things that you said we were to gain?
What about killing fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the things that you said was yours and mine?

[Pre Chorus 1]
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores?

[Chorus]
Ah, ooh
Ah, ooh

[Verse 2]
What have we done to the world?
Look what we've done
What about all the peace that you pledge your only son?
What about wising dreams?
Is there a time?
What about all the dreams that you said was yours and mine?

[Pre Chorus 2]
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores?

[Chorus]
Ah, ooh
Ah, ooh

[Bridge]
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know
Gonna be-

[Chorus]
Ah, ooh
Ah, ooh
Ah, ooh
Ah, ooh

[Breakdown]
Hey, what about yesterday? (What about us?)
What about their lives? (What about us?)
What about yesterday? (What about us?)
All by my side (What about us?)
What about yesterday? (What about us?)
I can't even see (What about us?)
What about everything? (Ooh)
What about all the dam? (What about us?)
What about death again? (What about it?)
He can't even see (What about us?)
What about death again? (What about us?)
What about the kills? (What about us?)
What about death again? (What about us?)
I didn't even sign (What about us?)
What about death again? (Ooh)
What about all the dam? (What about us?)
What about death again? (What about it?)
I didn't even see (What about us?)
What about the common man? (What about us?)
What about the seas? (What about us?)
What about everything? (What about us?)
I didn't even say (What about us?)
What about everything? (Ooh)
What about all the dam? (What about us?)
What about everything? (What about it?)
What about the man? (What about us?)
What about death again? (What about us?)
He can't even see (What about us?)
What about the Africans? (What about us?)
What about dream? (What about us?)
What about death again? (Ooh)
What about all the dam?

[Outro]
Ah, hee-hee-hee, ooh
Ah, ooh

[Verse 1]
What about sunrise?
What about rain?
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain?
What about killing fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine?

[Pre-Chorus]
Did you ever stop to notice?
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice?
This crying earth, it's weeping shore

[Chorus]
Aah! Ooh!
Aah! Ooh!

[Verse 2]
What have we've done to the world?
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son?
What about flowering fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine?

[Pre-Chorus]
Did you ever stop to notice?
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice?
This crying earth, it's weeping shore?

[Chorus]
Ah! Ooh!
Aah! Ooh!

[Pre-Chorus]
Did you ever stop to notice?
All the blood we've shed before?
Did you ever stop to notice?
This crying earth, it's weeping shore?

[Chorus]
Aah! Ooh!
Aah! Ooh!

Gallery

CD back cover

CD

"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Earth Song gallery, click here.

Trivia

• Although the earliest versions of "Earth Song" are often referred to as "What About Us", Bottrell confirmed through his Twitter/X account that it was never actually called that title. He stated that he "can only guess that early on somebody in the studio wrote 'what about us' on a tape box or track sheet that was for 'Earth Song'".
• "Earth Song" was later re-released as a B-side to the promotional single, "This Time Around".