They Don't Care About Us

"They Don't Care About Us" is the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed. In the US, media scrutiny surrounding alleged anti-semitic lyrics were the catalyst for Jackson issuing multiple apologies and censoring of questionable lyrics. The singer countered allegations of antisemitism, arguing that reviews had misinterpreted the context of the song, either unintentionally or deliberately. Musically, it is an aggressive hip-hop production about social ills. The song was accompanied by two music videos directed by Spike Lee. The first was shot in a shantytown of Rio de Janeiro, where State authorities tried to ban all production over fears the video would damage their image, the area and prospects of staging the 2004 Olympics. Still, the residents of the area were happy to see the singer, hoping their problems would be made visible to a wider audience. The second video was shot in a prison and contained video footage of multiple references to human rights abuses. Commercially, the song became a top ten hit in all European countries. In the US, radio stations were reluctant to play the controversial composition; it, however, managed to peak at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[Intro] All I want to say is that they don't really care about us Don't worry what people say, we know the truth All I want to say is that they don't really care about us Enough is enough of this garbage All I want to say is that they don't really care about us (Overlapping voices) [Verse 1] Skin head, dead head, everybody gone bad Situation, aggravation, everybody, allegation In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food Bang bang, shot dead, everybody's gone mad [Chorus] All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us [Verse 2] Beat me, hate me, you can never break me Will me, thrill me, you can never kill me Jew me, sue me, everybody do me Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me [Chorus] All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us [Post-Chorus] Tell me, what has become of my life? I have a wife and two children who love me I am the victim of police brutality, now I'm tired of being the victim of hate You're ripping me of my pride, oh, for God's sake I look to heaven to fulfill its prophecy, set me free [Verse 3] Skin head, dead head, everybody's gone bad Trepidation, speculation, everybody, allegation In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food Black male, blackmail, throw the brother in jail [Chorus] All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us [Post-Chorus] Tell me, what has become of my rights? Am I invisible 'cause you ignore me? Your proclamation promised me free liberty, now I'm tired of being the victim of shame They're throwing me in a class with a bad name I can't believe this is the land from which I came You know, I really do hate to say it The government don't wanna see But if Roosevelt was livin' He wouldn't let this be, no, no [Verse 4] Skin head, dead head, everybody's gone bad Situation, speculation, everybody, litigation Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me Hit me, kick me, you can never get me [Chorus] All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us [Bridge] Some things in life They just don't wanna see But if Martin Luther was livin' He wouldn't let this be, no, no [Verse 5] Skin head, dead head, everybody's gone bad Situation, segregation, everybody, allegation In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food Kick me, kike me, don't you wrong or right me [Chorus] All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us