Billie Jean – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Thriller

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Michael Jackson's iconic "Billie Jean," a masterclass in rhythm, storytelling, and cultural impact. This song, with its distinct bassline and compelling narrative of accusation and denial, offers a unique opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to relationships, fame, and personal boundaries. Learn from its poignant lyrics and experience the unparalleled artistry that made it a global phenomenon and a cornerstone of pop music history.

[English]

(upbeat rock music)

♪ She was more like a 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ People always told me be careful of what you do ♪

♪ And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts ♪

♪ Hee ♪

♪ And mother always told me be careful of who you love ♪

♪ And be careful of what you do ♪

♪ 'Cause the lie becomes the truth, hey ♪

♪ Billie Jean is not my lover ♪

♪ She's just a girl who claims that I am the one ♪

♪ Oh babe ♪

♪ But the kid is not my son ♪

♪ Woo ♪

♪ She says I am the one ♪

♪ But the kid is not my son ♪

♪ Hee, hee, hee ♪

♪ Hee, hee, hee ♪

♪ For 40 days and 40 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ 'Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby ♪

♪ Hee, hee, hee ♪

♪ People always told me be careful of what you do ♪

♪ And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts ♪

♪ Don't break no hearts ♪

♪ She came and stood right by me ♪

♪ Just the smell of sweet perfume ♪

♪ This happened much too soon ♪

♪ She called me to her room, hey ♪

♪ Billie Jean is not my lover, woo ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ No, no ♪

♪ She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son ♪

♪ She, hee, hee ♪

♪ Hee ♪

♪ Hee ♪

(upbeat rock music continues)

♪ She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Woo ♪

♪ Billie Jean is not my lover ♪

♪ She's just a girl who claims that I am the one ♪

♪ No it can't be me, babe ♪

♪ But the kid is not my son ♪

♪ No, no, no ♪

♪ She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son ♪

♪ No, no, no ♪

♪ She says I am the one ♪

♪ You know what you did ♪

♪ She says he is my son ♪

♪ Breaking my heart, babe ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Don't Billie Jean ♪

♪ Billie Jean is not my lover ♪

♪ Billie Jean ♪

♪ Billie Jean ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ A2	noun - the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at
queen /kwiːn/ A2	noun - a female ruler of a country
movie /ˈmuːvi/ A2	noun - a film
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - an act of dancing
floor /flɔːr/ A1	noun - the bottom surface of a room
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or words by which someone or something is known verb - give a name to
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs used for seeing
careful /ˈkeərfəl/ A2	adjective - taking precautions
hearts /hɑːrts/ A2	noun - organs that pump blood
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person who is in love with someone
kid /kɪd/ A1	noun - a child
law /lɔː/ B1	noun - a system of rules enforced through a set of institutions
advice /ədˈvaɪs/ B1	noun - guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action
photo /ˈfoʊtoʊ/ A2	noun - a photograph
perfume /ˈpɜːrfjuːm/ B2	noun - a fragrant liquid typically made from essential oils or aroma compounds
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body

Key Grammar Structures

• She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene

  ➔ Comparative Adjective: "more like"

  ➔ Uses "more like" to compare the girl to a beauty queen, suggesting a resemblance but not an exact match. It's a way of saying she was similar to, but not exactly, a beauty queen.

• People always told me be careful of what you do

  ➔ Indirect Command/Reported Speech with subjunctive mood

  ➔ "told me be careful" is similar to "told me to be careful", but the omission of 'to' is common in informal speech and song lyrics. Implies an advice or warning.

• And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts

  ➔ Imperative sentence with continuous aspect ("don't go around breaking").

  ➔ "Don't go around breaking" emphasizes the repeated or habitual action of breaking hearts, adding intensity to the warning. "go around" suggests casual or indiscriminate behavior.

• Billie Jean is not my lover

  ➔ Simple Present Tense: "is not" (negation of the verb 'to be')

  ➔ This is a straightforward statement of fact using the simple present tense in its negative form. It emphasizes the speaker's denial of a romantic relationship with Billie Jean.

• She's just a girl who claims that I am the one

  ➔ Relative Clause: "who claims that I am the one"

  ➔ The relative clause "who claims that I am the one" modifies the noun "girl", providing additional information about her. "Claims" suggests an assertion that may not be true.

• But the kid is not my son

  ➔ Simple Present Tense: "is not" (negation of the verb 'to be')

  ➔ A direct and emphatic denial of paternity using the simple present tense. The repetition of this line reinforces the speaker's insistence that he is not the child's father.

• For 40 days and 40 nights, The law was on her side

  ➔ Past Simple Tense: "was" (of the verb 'to be')

  ➔ This line sets the scene by indicating that in the past, the legal system favored Billie Jean. "The law was on her side" indicates a legal advantage she had at the time. "40 days and 40 nights" adds a sense of extended duration and perhaps biblical allusion.