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 27, 1995 (single) May 20, 1997 (Hani's Club Experience)
Recorded	September 20, 1988 (original demo) July 1989-October 1991 (Dangerous version) Summer 1994-April 30, 1995 (HIStory version)
Studio	Toad Hall (Dangerous sessions) The Hit Factory (early HIStory sessions) Record One (later HIStory sessions)
Genre	Gospel/Blues/Opera/Pop
Length	1:02 (1989 version) 6:45 (1990 and 1995 versions)
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"
Next	"They Don't Care About Us"
Track list
Previous	"This Time Around"
Next	"D.S."
Music video

"Earth Song" (often referred to as "What About Us") is a song by Michael Jackson that was released as the fifth track of the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album. It was released as a single on November 27, 1995, serving as the third single from the album. It's one of Jackson's signature songs, spreading awareness about our environment, and its message continues to hold up even today.

Background

The song was first written and recorded by Jackson on September 20, 1988, initially starting as a vocal-and piano-only track. Jackson continued working on it from July 1989 until October 1991. Yet another recording was made during it's development in 1990, this time a spoken piece "Planet Earth", which would originally serve as an intro to "Earth Song". The track was mostly finished by then, with the final chorus vocals being the exception. Jackson intended it to be included on the Dangerous album, but it didn't make the final cut. In the summer of 1994, the track was picked up again for HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. Instead of a falsetto, the song's outro now featured gritty vocals, which became the most iconic part of the recording.

Music video

A music video was released alongside the song, directed by Nicholas Brandt (who also directed "Stranger in Moscow"). 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.

Afterward, it made an appearance on the HIStory World Tour setlist. The artist 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" would take place 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 Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary, although overdubbed with the falsetto vocals featured in the 1990 demo.

Jarvis Cocker incident

While Jackson performed "Earth Song" during the February 19, 1996, Brit Awards, 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 assaulted one of the child performers. The charges were dropped, however, after it turned out it was someone from the artist's crew who barged into the children.

MJ & Friends incident

During the June 27, 1999, MJ & Friends "Earth Song" performance, 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 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 on the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album.

Audio

The 1988 demo 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. The 1990 demo leaked on July 7, 2002.

• Demo 1 - ( listen)
• Demo 2 - ( listen)

Lyrics

• Earth Song
• 1988 Demo
• 1990 Demo
• 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 days? (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)
Do we give a damn?

[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", including DATs for 2001's Dangerous: Special Edition, Bill Bottrell confirmed through his X account, that it was never 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".
• The song was also shortly re-released as a B-side to the "This Time Around" promo single,