Michael Jackson's Final Rehearsal of They Don't Care About Us

by Amy Judd | July 3, 2009 at 08:52 am

4644 views | 33 Recommendations | 15 comments

Now that footage of Michael Jackson's final rehearsal has been released to the public, fans are starting to wonder about the song that he was singing 'They Don't Care About Us'.

Complete lyrics of They Don't Care About us

This single was the fourth single from Michael's album HIStory, and is still controversial today and Michael suffered from accusations of antisemitism when it was first released. After the song was released and the public and media backlash started, Michael issued numerous apologies and even re-recorded the album with altered lyrics for the song. Michael claimed he was very hurt by the claims that he was antisemitic and said that the reviews had misinterpreted the context of the song.

The possibility that the lyrics to "They Don't Care About Us" preached antisemitism was first raised publicly by The New York Times on June 15, just days before the album's release. The publication highlighted the lyrics, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" and labeled them "slurs".[1] Jackson responded directly to the publication, stating:

The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song in fact is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking. It is about the injustices to young people and how the system can wrongfully accuse them. I am angry and outraged that I could be so misinterpreted.[1]

Michael said he was not a racist as he loves all races and that some of his closest employees and friends were Jewish.
However, a few days after Jackson said this on ABC News Prime Time, two high-ranking members of the Jewish community said that the song was unsuitable for teenagers and asked for Jackson to write an explanation about the song in the album booklet. Even Steven Spielberg, a close friend of Jackson's said he disapproved of the song.

It is possible that Jackson's use of "Jew me" and "kike me" in the song lyrics was referencing to the 1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson where Chandler's description of Jackson's body included an inaccurate claim of circumcision. Circumcision is commonly practised in the Jewish and Islamic faiths, and hence the possible association.

Jackson again issued a public apology on June 17th, but two million copies of the album had already been shipped to retailers.

On June 21, Patrick Macdonald of The Seattle Times criticized Jackson, stating, "He may have lived a sheltered life, but there really is no excuse for using terms like 'Jew me' and 'kike' in a pop song, unless you make it clear you are denouncing such terms, and do so in an artful way".[6]

Then only two days later, Jackson decided he would return to the studio and re-record the song, replacing 'Jew me' and 'Kike me' with 'do me' and 'strike me'. This cost him a lot of money to do so.

There were two videos with the song directed by Spike Lee. One was shot in Brazil and the second in a prison with many references to human rights abuses.

The song was a hit in all European countries however, although in the U.S, radio stations were reluctant to play the song. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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Paschen

at 16:35 on July 3rd, 2009

It is a great song, and I would never have noticed any of this. Even after reading about it I had to really look hard to find it.

Those expressions are common use though and used in every days spoken languish, I do believe he meant nothing by it and yet he should have been advised on the matter before hand, since I am sure many proof read the text before it was recorded.

The song is great though and should be promoted since the issues he addresses are in much need to be exposed and talked about. We need Social Justice.

I have never been a fan of him, and most of his videos and songs I have never seen before. I have to admit though that he had real talent and was an artist of the highest calibre.

Some of his songs and video did touch and dealt with some very concerning social, political and environmental issues and this with great perspective.

He did some really good work and I wish I had seen some of those videos earlier.

Sadler Wells (not verified)

at 04:04 on July 4th, 2009

I don't know why people are surprised to find racist lyrics in his songs. Michael had the most extreme case of internalised racism we are ever likley to see. The ongoing effeorts to obliterate any physical trace of his black identity was the most obvious and external example of this problem.

Jayne Parks (not verified)

at 06:04 on July 18th, 2009

OK, I am going to go there.

First of all, let me say that I completely support the Jews and their right to their own land, and am outraged at the Holocaust and atrocities that have been leveled against them. But I must also say that I am tired of Jewish organizations and singular Jews alike acting as if they are the only ones who have been persecuted, martyred or been treatedly atrociously on the earth. I am of mixed descent, and just have to say that no one really knows why Michael chose the phrases "jew me" or "kike me". I did not even know that "kike me" was considered to be a slur (and will catalogue it for future reference). I believe that he was trying to make a statement that referred to ANYONE that treated in a way that was offensive and hurtful.

For crying out loud-give it a rest. I am of Christian descent also, and believe that it is equally offensive for Jewish people (or any religion or non-religion) to use the phrase "Jesus Christ" or more offensively "Jesus F-----g Christ" in their everday language. Why do Jews not speak out against ALL forms of offensive language, not just when it offends their feelings?

I also get tired of African Americans, Middle Easterners, Asians, etc., for always blaming their plight on someone else. We have ALL been through something. Stop allowing someone to control you by their opinons or ignorance.

And no I am not going to apologize for Michael's song or for everyone's expressing their feelings, whether right or wrong. We all make mistakes and offend one another; that is why God offers forgiveness; and we need to pick our battles.

Respectfully,

Jayne

158

at 07:06 on July 4th, 2009

Good report.

Giz (not verified)

at 11:11 on July 4th, 2009

I find it interesting that Jackson used the original words for his planned tour.

We, the public, do not know of all of Jackson's personal dealings, but I have heard of accounts that Jackson was upset how he was treated financially by some Jewish music moguls, and he felt he was being attacked by the media.

DollyandNiki

at 11:47 on July 4th, 2009

Shame how they are ripping up this mans life, I for one am tired of the media wanting every detail of this man's life, yes a legend is gone and will be missed, theres a memorial service coming up, but this story will go on for years, the media will keep digging and digging, the photographers will be a constant, the pictures sell tabloids. A month from now and on and off years to come Michael Jackson will still be news, wasn't Princess Di's death enough.

I think Sarah Palin could not stand all the news about Michael Jackson and now she's in the limelight again, will she ever go away.

Now the media is scaring people to death with OTC med's, I'm sure here in the U.S. govt is now looking into OTC drugs, what will we need to do now get a rx for Tylenol ? What one decides to do with their own body does not make the rest of us bad guys.

So one story makes another, there's better good news stories out there that are not heard, let the dead rest.

I for one will do something constructive today, I hope you watchers on CNN and MSNBC change the channel, watching the Twilight Zone marathon this weekend would be a better choice, we live in a Twilght Zone anyway.

mysteriousNY (not verified)

at 09:45 on July 6th, 2009

Itz a good song ... people need lives ..esp the ones that are always pickin on shyt! Leave it alone.... Makng something sooooooo big out of nothing ... to them people that always have something to say .... GET ANOTHER HOBBY!

Talk about something that needs work with .. AIDS,SEX ON TV,NAKED PEOPLE ON BILLBOARDS.... DRUGS ...... TALK ABOUT THE EFFECTS NOT THE SHOULDNT .. GOODNESS!!

miami (not verified)

at 15:39 on July 6th, 2009

I always said when you die somebody will alway have something BAD to say but can you guys think of all the good he has done for world . I also was sad to hear people calling him a pervert but the last time i checked he wasn't charged but again we need to mind our own and take a look at your self and see what you have done for the world and look if you were put in the same place people saying you did this and you did that SHUT UP

SADE (not verified)

at 15:56 on July 10th, 2009

I think there is something to be said about this song. MJ's final message to the people is that "they don't really care about us!". When in fact they don't.

The same entity that sought to destroy him (the media) are now spreading his message to many more. Take notes people!

Shestarr

at 07:35 on July 11th, 2009

It is obvious that the group of "intellectuals" [loosely] picked this song apart in efforts to divert MJ's true message. What better way to distract listeners from the message than to accuse him of the very same thing his message was against? *They really DON'T care about us. And *they DON'T care about him. And any reasonable level-headed thinker knows this.

I remember when a group of "intellectuals" pulled this very same stunt on Mel Gibson a few years back. ...A shame; when the only thing Mel was actually guilty of was displaying the truth; True characters and the events that occured at that time. He did not go out of his way to display the Jews as bad. Yes, some were bad in his film, but some were also good. And so were some of the Catholic Romans. Some of them were bad and some of them were good. Same with the other Gentiles. And I guess that's well ...I dunno..umm.... LIFE.

**Disclaimer** Whenever I state, "they", I am in no way referring to Jews. I am referring to any and all ignorant human beings; whether they be red, yellow, black, white or green.

patrish (not verified)

at 17:37 on July 11th, 2009

This is a GREAT song that I never heard before. Everything he says in it is true. I believe that he did NOT mean to slur anyone who is Jewish. They were the victims whose identities he took on in the song. So sad that he's gone.

wwmjd (not verified)

at 19:36 on July 13th, 2009

i'm with george carlin on this one. stereotypes exist for good reason- they're largely true for some percentage of the population. clearly mj had many jewish friends and acquaintences. clealry it wasn't intended to be a blanket statement about all jews. and, clearly some deserved to be disparaged. they know who they are.