Janet Jackson

Released: September 19, 1989

Songwriter: Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis

Producer: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

[Verse 1]
Children are called the future of an adult world
They are born with spirits so innocent
'Til we teach them how to hate
Add to the world's confusion
We teach our kids rules
That we don't adhere to ourselves
Right or wrong
What examples can they take?
The people we learn from
Forge the ideas we become

[Chorus]
Livin' in a world they didn't make
Livin' in a world that's filled with hate
Livin' in a world where grown-ups break the rules
(And they're just)
Livin' in a world they didn't make
Payin' for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take, our children?

[Verse 2]
Children grow to become our young adults
Problems of the world
They must learn how to confront
Doin' drugs, joinin' gangs to rebel
Colors show they belong
To the social override
Cause they're livin' in a space
They feel out of place

[Chorus]
Livin' in a world they didn't make
Livin' in a world that's filled with hate
Livin' in a world where grown-ups break the rules
(And they're just)
Livin' in a world they didn't make
Payin' for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take, our children?
(How much can they take?)
Livin' in a world they didn't make
Livin' in a world that's filled with hate
Livin' in a world where grown-ups break the rules
('Cause they're just)
Livin' in a world they didn't make (livin' in a world)
Payin' for a lot of adult mistakes (livin' in a world)
How much of this madness can they take, our children? (livin' in a world)

[Outro]
How much can they take?
Children of the world
They are born so innocent
How much can they take?
Save the babies
Save the babies

[Spoken Outro to Fade]
This just in, at least 5 people are dead, and 30 others wounded, after a gunman opened fire at a California school playground, and then killed himself. Apparently, the gunman, armed with an automatic rifle, shot the kids' door...

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an iconic R&B/pop artist who has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has amassed a number of awards in her illustrious music career.

Born in Gary, Indiana on May 16, 1966, Janet is the youngest of the Jackson family, who rose to prominence a few years after her birth when they signed with Motown Records. Janet joined the family business when she appeared on The Jacksons variety show in 1976, leading to her role as Penny Gordon in Season 5 of the CBS sitcom Good Times. She released two overlooked albums in the early 1980s—Janet Jackson (1982) and Dream Street (1984)—and continued to act during this time, appearing in Diff'rent Strokes and Fame.

The legend of Janet was created after she connected with the legendary Minneapolis production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to work on her seminal third album, Control. Control and her following album, 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814, featured several #1 pop hits and made her a worldwide superstar. The trio would go on work on Janet’s subsequent hit albums, including janet., The Velvet Rope, as well as her 2015 comeback album, Unbreakable.

more tracks from the album

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814

From the album

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)

Janet Jackson popular songs

Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make)Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814