Beat It by Michael Jackson

Released as the third single from Thriller, “Beat It" — along with the second single "Billie Jean" — helped propel the album to the top of the charts and into the record books as the biggest-selling album of all time. Jackson stepped outside of his R&B box and created a rock track highlighted by a guitar solo courtesy of Eddie Van Halen, which he provided free of charge after initially thinking the request was a prank.

Producer Quincy Jones suggested Jackson should write a song like The Knack’s 1979 hit “My Sharona” and Michael explained his mentality in creating “Beat It”:

I wanted to write a song, the type of song that I would buy if I were to buy a rock song. That is how I approached it and I wanted the kids to really enjoy it—the school kids as well as the college kids.

“Beat It” is a song about the dichotomy of wanting to prove your toughness through fighting but also knowing when to have the strength to back down from a fight. This was highlighted by the popular music video, which Jackson paid $150,000 out of his own pocket to produce after Epic Records refused to finance it. Written and directed by Bob Giraldi, the video was shot in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles and featured real gang members from the Crips and Bloods preparing to rumble before breaking out into one of the most popular choreographed dance routines in music video history. The video premiered on MTV on March 31, 1983 and went on to win several awards, including two American Music Awards and seven Billboard Video Awards.

“Beat It” was an international hit, topping the pop charts and achieving multi-platinum status in multiple countries, as well as winning Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Record of the Year. Rolling Stone magazine ranked “Beat It” #185 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and the song was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

Lyrics

They told him, "Don't you ever come around here"
"Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear"
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it

You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it), just beat it (beat it)
Just beat it (beat it), just beat it (beat it, uh)

They're out to get you, better leave while you can
Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it (rrr)

You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they'll beat you, then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it (beat it, beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)

Beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right (who's right)

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated (no one)
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated (oh, no)
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Show them how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)

Songwriters: Michael Jackson.