Billie Jean: Spot the story

'Billie Jean' was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones (and co-produced by Jackson) for the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and Jackson had disagreements regarding it. There are contradictory claims to what the song's lyrics refer to. Some people believe that they are derived from a real-life experience, in which a mentally ill female fan claimed that Jackson had fathered one of her twins.

The lyric

[1st verse]

She was more like beauty queen from a movie scene
I said 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 what you do
Don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
And mother always told me be careful who you love
Be careful 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
(Do think twice)


[4th verse]

She told my baby we'd danced 'till three
Then she looked at me
Then showed a photo of a baby cryin'
His eyes were like mine
Come on dance on the floor in the round, baby


[Bridge]

People always told me be careful what you do
Don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
She came and stood right by me
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 not my lover

'Billie Jean' was based on the groupies that Jackson and his brothers encountered while part of The Jackson 5. 'Billie Jean' is kind of anonymous which represents a lot of girls. They would hang around backstage doors, and any band that would come to town they would have a relationship with. These are Jackson's experience with his brothers when he was little. There were a lot of Billie Jeans out there. Every girl claimed that their son was related to one of Jackson's brothers.

Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story, 1958-2009 written by John Randall Taraborrelli promoted the theory that "Billie Jean" was derived from a real life experience  in 1981. The book documents how a young woman wrote Jackson a letter, which informed the singer that he was the father of one of her twins.  Even Jackson, had never met the woman and ignored it, the woman in question continued to send him more letters. She wrote of how happy they would be if they raised the child together. She pondered how Jackson could ignore his own flesh and blood. The letters disturbed the singer to the extent that he suffered nightmares.

Following the letters, the fan sent Jackson a parcel loaded with her photograph, a letter and a gun. Jackson was horrified—the letter asked the singer to kill himself on a certain day and at a specific time. Later she would do the same once she had killed their baby. She wrote that if they could not be together in this life, then they would be in the next. To his mother's dismay, Jackson had the photograph of the woman framed and hung above the dining room table of their family home. Afterward, the Jacksons discovered that the female fan had been sent to a psychiatric hospital.

Bruce Swedien mixed the song ninety-one times, unusual for him as he usually only mixed a song once. After much discussion, Jackson and Swedien eventually chose to go with the second mix.


"'Billie Jean' is hot on every level. It's hot rhythmically. It's hot sonically, because the instrumentation is so minimal, you can really hear everything. It's hot melodically. It's hot lyrically. It's hot vocally. It affects you physically, emotionally, even spiritually".
~ Jackson.



Reads more on Bruce Swedien:
In the Studio with Michael Jackson (Book)
Make Mine Music (Book)