Heaven Can Wait – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Invincible

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Michael Jackson's soulful masterpiece, "Heaven Can Wait," a timeless R&B ballad from *Invincible*. The song's intense romantic lyrics, expressing a love so strong it delays the afterlife, offer a beautiful window into themes of unwavering devotion and the power of earthly connection. Exploring this track helps listeners appreciate the nuanced emotional depth Jackson conveyed through his signature vocal performance in the quiet storm genre.

[English]

Tell the angels, no!

I don't want to leave my baby alone

I don't want nobody else to hold you

That's a chance I'll take

Baby, I'll stay

Heaven can wait

No, if the angels took me from this earth

I would tell them bring me back to her

It's a chance I'll take

Maybe I'll stay

Heaven can wait

You're beautiful, you're wonderful!

Incredible, I love you so

You're beautiful!

Each moment spent with you is simple wonderful

This love I have for you, girl, it's incredible

And I don't know what I'd do

If I can't be with you

The world could not go on so every night I pray

If the Lord should come for me before I wake

I wouldn't want to go if I can't see your face

Can't hold you close

What good would Heaven be?

If the angels came for me I'd tell them no

I don't want to leave my baby alone

I don't want nobody else to hold you

That's a chance I'll take

Baby, I'll stay

Heaven can wait

No, if the angels took me from this earth

I would tell them bring me back to her

It's a chance I'll take

Maybe I'll stay

Heaven can wait

Unthinkable

Me sitting up in the clouds and you are all alone

The time might come around when you'd be moving on (moving on)

I'd turn it all around

And try to get back down to my baby girl

Can't stand to see nobody kissing, touching her

Couldn't take nobody loving you the way we were!

What good would Heaven be?

If the angels come for me I'd tell them no

No, I don't want to leave my baby alone

I don't want nobody else to hold you

That's a chance I'll take

Baby, I'll stay

Heaven can wait

No, if the angels took me from this earth

I would tell them bring me back to her

It's a chance I'll take

Maybe I'll stay

Heaven can wait

Oh no, can't be without my baby (I can't be without my baby)

Won't go, without her I'd go crazy

Oh no, guess Heaven will be waiting

Ooh!

Oh no, can't be without my baby

Won't go, without her I'd go crazy

Oh no, guess Heaven will be waiting

Ooh!

No, I don't want to leave my baby alone

I don't want nobody else to hold you

That's a chance I'll take

Baby, I'll stay

Heaven can wait

No, if the angels took me from this earth

I would tell them bring me back to her

It's a chance I'll take

Maybe I'll stay

Heaven can wait (no)

Just leave us alone

(You're beautiful, you're wonderful, incredible, I love you so)

Leave us alone

Please leave us alone (you're beautiful)

Please leave us alone

Oh, leave me alone

Please leave me alone

I said leave me alone

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
angels ˈeɪndʒəlz A1	noun - spiritual beings believed to act as attendants, agents, or messengers of God
wonderful ˈwʌndərfl A2	adjective - inspiring delight or admiration
incredible ɪnˈkrɛdəbəl B1	adjective - difficult to believe; extraordinary
pray preɪ A2	verb - to speak to God or a god, especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something
unthinkable ʌnˈθɪŋkəbəl B2	adjective - impossible to imagine or consider
touching ˈtʌtʃɪŋ A2	adjective - causing one to feel tender or sorrowful emotions
kissing ˈkɪsɪŋ A1	verb - to touch or caress with the lips as an expression of affection, greeting, respect, or amorousness
loving ˈlʌvɪŋ A2	adjective - feeling or showing love or great care
chance tʃæns A1	noun - a possibility of something happening
stay steɪ A1	verb - to remain in the same place
beautiful ˈbjuːtɪfəl A2	adjective - pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically
moment ˈmoʊmənt A1	noun - a very brief period of time
simple ˈsɪmpəl A1	adjective - easily understood or done; not complex
incredible ɪnˈkrɛdəbəl B1	adjective - difficult to believe; extraordinary
pray preɪ A2	verb - to speak to God or a god, especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something
crazy ˈkreɪzi A2	adjective - mentally deranged; insane

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't want to leave my baby alone

  ➔ Negative verb + infinitive (don't want to + verb)

  ➔ "don't want" is the negative form of "want" followed by the infinitive "to leave".

• If the Lord should come for me before I wake

  ➔ First conditional with modal "should"

  ➔ "If" introduces a possible future condition; "should" adds a formal, less‑certain tone.

• I would tell them bring me back to her

  ➔ Modal "would" + bare infinitive (verb without "to") after a reporting verb

  ➔ "would" expresses a conditional intention; the verb "bring" appears without "to" because it functions as a reported command.

• What good would Heaven be?

  ➔ Inversion in a question with modal "would"

  ➔ "Would" precedes the subject "Heaven" to form a polite, hypothetical question.

• I can't be without my baby

  ➔ Modal "can" + negative contraction "n't" + infinitive "be"

  ➔ "can't" = "cannot"; the speaker states inability to exist "without my baby".

• Each moment spent with you is simply wonderful

  ➔ Past participle used as adjective (spent) after a noun phrase

  ➔ "spent" describes "moment" and functions like an adjective: "moment that was spent" → "spent moment".

• I wouldn't want to go if I can't see your face

  ➔ Second conditional with "wouldn't" + infinitive; embedded first‑conditional clause

  ➔ "wouldn't want" expresses a hypothetical desire; the clause "if I can't see your face" is a real‑time condition.

• Heaven can wait

  ➔ Modal "can" + bare infinitive indicating possibility or permission

  ➔ "can" expresses that it is possible for "Heaven" to stay; the infinitive "wait" follows directly.

• Please leave us alone

  ➔ Polite request using modal "please" + base verb

  ➔ "Please" functions as a softener, turning the imperative "leave us alone" into a courteous request.