Billie Jean
by Michael Jackson
1st Verse
She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said, I don’t mind, but what do you mean I am the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round?
She said, I am the one who will dance on the floor in the round
2nd Verse
She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene
Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one
Who will dance on the floor in the round
Bridge
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes the truth
Chorus
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
3rd Verse
For forty days and forty nights
The law was on her side
But who can stand when she’s in demand
Her schemes and plans
‘Cause we danced on the floor in the round
So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice
(Don’t think twice! Do think twice!)
4th Verse
She told my baby we’d danced til three, then she looked at me
Then showed a photo, my baby cried, his eyes were like mine (oh, no!)
‘Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby
Bridge
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
She came and stood right by me
Then the smell of sweet perfume
This happened much too soon
She called me to her room
Chorus
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, she says he is my son
She says I am the one
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is
Not my lover
Not my lover
Not my lover
Not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover (she is just a girl)
Billie Jean is not my lover (she is just a girl)
Billie Jean is not my lover (she is just a girl)
Billie Jean is not my lover (she is just a girl)
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is not my lover
Billie Jean is
Billie Jean is
(c) 1982 Mijac Music (BMI)
dancing with the elephant 
I am starting to focus on this song and try and find out as much as I can about it– both the lyrics and the visuals in the film. What I am finding is that you could write a whole book on Billy Jean!! There is so much there. There are some biblical referencees–for example, the forty days and forty nights ( I think 3 references, 2 in the Old Testament to do with the plagues of Egypt and Moses, and 1 in the New Testament, when Jesus went into the desert and was tempted by the devil). So the 40 days and 40 nights have to do with transformations–the escape of the Jews from captivity in Egypt, and the final testing of Jesus which then led to his emergence as the Messiah.
The other biblical reference has to do the the statement that God makes: ‘I am the one true God’ in the Old Testament. I am the one. This is repeated a lot and I think it is significant in a number of ways but I want to present one that I haven’t read yet–and that is that Michael was going solo at this point–he had fired his dad as his manager and was embarking on a series of solo albums with a new producer Quincy Jones. So he was in a transformation phase himself–separating from the group performances (although he did not go completely solo til after the Victory Tour was over in 1984.) Off the Wall was released in 1981, and BJ as a single (the 2nd single Thriller) in 1982. Michael also had a big struggle to get BJ on Thriller–hard to believe but Quincy Jones did not like it and wanted it off. Then when he did agree (b/c Michael went to CBS and begged), he wanted changes–that the song title be changed (to Not My Lover) and the intro shortened. Michael refused and stuck to what he knew–that the song would be a hit.
There is so much to say about the song. I am guessing that the decision to go solo–as a performer and as a songwriter/artist–was both exhilarating, liberating, and yet troubling, leading to anxiety and doubts and even guilt. I think we see these tensions in this song. I am hoping to go deeper into this and the film–this song and his performance of it at the Motown 25 in 1983 really made Michael the King of Pop. Some regard BJ as his best song.
I am a beginner with all that is Michael Jackson.
My concern for the lyrics of Billie Jean is that there are words in the song that may have been left out that are significant. When I listen to BJ and look at the lyrics it doesn’t match.
Toward the end he sings (you know what you did, she says he is my son) breaking my heart babe.
Hi, Susie, Those lines you mention are what is known as the “ad libs” and they sometimes are omitted from the lyrics. IMO the ad libs in Billie Jean (and other songs too) are VERY important–breakin’ my heart, baby! You know you did!
I actually ended up writing an ebook about Billie Jean b/c I got so into it: Thinking Twice About Billie Jean. You can read some pages for free on Amazon. 🙂
Welcome, and I know EXACTLY what you mean about others not understanding your love for MJ–one card short of a full deck–hahahaha–so very true!