From HISTORY
Written by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson and David Foster go way back. First, the self-proclaimed “king of pop” sang Foster’s “It’s The Falling In Love” on his 1978 “Off The Wall” album. A few years later the Canadian wizard arranged and played “The Girl Is Mine” on Jackson’s mega-seller “Thriller.” In 1995 Jackson was trying to resurrect his career after maintaining a musical low profile while trying to rebuild his image from all the controversy surrounding his personal life. He and Sony pulled out all the stops and recorded a bunch of new songs that saw the singer collaborating with the hottest names in music at that time; Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, R. Kelly and Foster among them. The result of those recordings was “HIStory” a double disk album that included new songs as well as Jackson’s biggest hits. Among the new tunes was “Scream,” a pumped-up rock/soul duet with his sister Janet that was released as a single. It was paired with the tender, autobiographical ballad “Childhood” that was produced and arranged by Foster. Those songs reached #5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 while “You’re Not Alone,” a slow song produced by Kelly, soared to the top.
Foster also worked on a sweet remake of “Smile,” but really left his mark on “Earth Song.” This is an impressive bluesy rock ballad that crossed genres and captures the listener with a powerful and evocative refrain. The arrangement is brilliant with the usual smart use of various keyboards and guitars. Jackson gives a great performance here. He sings his words of concern about the world’s environment and poverty with passion. “Earth Song” became a smash hit all over the world. It reached the top of the charts in the UK, selling over one million copies there and over three millions worldwide. Surprisingly enough, it was never released as a single in the USA.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/earth_song.mp3|titles=Earth song|artists=James Ingram]
Lead Vocals: Michael Jackson
Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster
Guitar: Michael Thompson
Produced by Michael Jackson & David Foster
Co-Produced by Bill Bottrell
Lyrics
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…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we’ve shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?
Aaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah
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 flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores
Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah
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
Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaaah
Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can’t even breathe
(What about us)
What about the bleeding Earth
(What about us)
Can’t we feel its wounds
(What about us)
What about nature’s worth
(ooo,ooo)
It’s our planet’s womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We’ve turned kingdoms 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)
We’re ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(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
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(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 was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn