Black Or White – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Dangerous

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rhythmic world of Michael Jackson with 'Black Or White'! This song is a perfect tool for English learners to practice rhythmic phrasing and learn powerful vocabulary related to social equality, identity, and unity. Its infectious beat and clear articulation make it both an engaging and educational listening experience.

[English]

(loud rock music)

- Turn that noise off!

(loud rock music continues)

(rock music stops)

- I thought I told you to turn that thing off!

It is too late, and it's too loud!

- But Dad, this is the best part.

- You are wasting your time with this garbage!

Now go to bed!

(door slams)

(glass shatters)

- Okay.

(lock clicks)

- [Announcer] Batting in a 600 average all season.

(volume clicking)

(speakers feedbacks)

- Eat this.

(guitar strums loudly) (glass shatters)

(father screaming)

- I'm afraid your father's going to be very upset

when he gets back.

(pop music)

♪ Ow! ♪

(lion growls)

♪ Ow! ♪

(lions growling)

(father screaming)

(pop music continues)

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ Ow! ♪

♪ Ow! ♪

♪ I took my baby on a Saturday bang ♪

♪ Boy, is that girl with you? ♪

♪ Yes, we're one and the same ♪

♪ Now, I believe in miracles ♪

♪ And a miracle has happened tonight ♪

♪ Hee! ♪

♪ But, if you're thinking about my baby ♪

♪ It don't matter if you're black or white ♪

(pop music continues)

♪ Ooh! ♪

(horses galloping) (guns firing)

♪ They print my message in the Saturday sun ♪

♪ I had to tell 'em I ain't second to none ♪

♪ And I told about equality ♪

♪ And it's true, either you're wrong or you're right ♪

♪ Ooh! ♪

♪ But, if you're thinking about my baby ♪

♪ It don't matter if you're black or white ♪

♪ Ooh! ♪

♪ Don't look at that! ♪

♪ Hee-hee! ♪

(pop music continues)

♪ Hee-hee! ♪

♪ I am tired of this devil ♪

♪ I am tired of this stuff ♪

♪ I am tired of this business ♪

♪ Sew when the going gets rough ♪

♪ I ain't scared of your brother ♪

♪ I ain't scared of no sheets ♪

♪ I ain't scared of nobody ♪

♪ Girl, when the going gets mean ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ Protection for gangs, clubs, and nations ♪

♪ Causing grief in human relations ♪

♪ It's a turf war on a global scale ♪

♪ I'd rather hear both sides of the tale ♪

♪ See, it's not about races ♪

♪ Just places, faces ♪

♪ Where your blood comes from is where your space is ♪

♪ I've seen the bright get duller ♪

♪ I'm not going to spend my life being a color ♪

♪ Don't tell me you agree me ♪

♪ When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye ♪

♪ Hee-hee! ♪

♪ But, if you're thinking about my baby ♪

♪ It don't matter you're black or white ♪

♪ I said if you're thinking of being my baby ♪

♪ It don't matter if you're black or white ♪

♪ I said if you're thinking of being my brother ♪

♪ It don't matter if you're black or white ♪

♪ All right ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ It's black, it's white ♪

♪ It's tough for you get by ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ It's black, it's white, hoo! ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ It's black, it's white ♪

♪ It's tough for you get by ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ It's black ♪

♪ All right ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ It's black, it's white ♪

♪ It's tough for you get by ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ It's black, it's white, hoo! ♪

♪ It's black, it's white ♪

♪ It's tough for you get by ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ It's black ♪

♪ All right ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

♪ It's black, it's white ♪

♪ It's tough for you get by ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ It's black, it's white, hoo! ♪

♪ It's black, it's white ♪

♪ It's tough for you get by ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ It's black, it's white, hoo! ♪

- [Director] Cut!

That was perfect.

How are you doing that?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
noise /nɔɪz/ A2	noun - A sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant
loud /laʊd/ A2	adjective - Making a lot of noise
waste /weɪst/ B1	verb - Use or expend carelessly
garbage /ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ/ B1	noun - Trash or nonsense
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A1	adjective - Feeling fear or anxious
upset /ʌpˈsɛt/ B1	adjective - Unhappy, disappointed, or worried
miracle /ˈmɪrəkl/ B2	noun - An extraordinary and welcome event
matter /ˈmætə/ A2	verb - Be important
equality /iˈkwɒlɪti/ B2	noun - The state of being equal
tired /ˈtaɪəd/ A1	adjective - In need of sleep or rest; weary
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B2	noun - The supreme spirit of evil
business /ˈbɪznɪs/ A2	noun - A person's regular occupation or profession
rough /rʌf/ B1	adjective - Difficult or violent
scared /skɛəd/ A2	adjective - Fearful; frightened
protection /prəˈtɛkʃən/ B2	noun - The action of protecting or the state of being protected
global /ˈɡləʊbəl/ B1	adjective - Relating to the whole world
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - Emitting or reflecting a lot of light
tough /tʌf/ B1	adjective - Difficult