The Jackson 5

Released: September 18, 2012

Songwriter: Ashford & Simpson Nick Ashford Valerie Simpson

Producer: Hal Davis

Keep an eye
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
On your close friend

Keep an eye
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
On your close friend

Cause what you got they'll make you lose
And then turn around and step in your shoes
I say they'll turn around
And step in your shoes

Like the day I stood there numb
Watchin' my friend walk away
With my love on his arm
And all he left me was
The memory of the moment when he said
"I'm sorry for what I have to do
But you see I love her just as much as you"

Keep an eye
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
On your close friend

Keep an eye
Keep an eye
You better watch out
For your close friend

The devil's workshop is a busy place
On top of evil he puts an innocent face
Oh, on top of evil he puts an innocent face
Cause like a spider only twice as smart

Kindness was the thread
He used to weave my world apart
It used to be three of us seen all over town
Now there's only two
Someone's missing guess who

Now I see how he schemed and finally
Worked his way in between
He planted seeds of mistrust here and there
Causin' us to fight unaware
His comforting way when I would cry
Shadowed the look of triumph in his eye
Just like a snake on a limb of a tree
A friend is an enemy you can see

Cause what you got they'll make you lose
And then turn around and step in your shoes
Oh I say then turn around
And step in your shoes

So you better keep an eye
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
On your close friend

I say your best friend, is an enemy
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
You better watch out for your close friend

Don't trust nobody
Oh, keep an eye
Keep an eye
You better watch out for your close friend

Don't trust nobody
Don't trust nobody
Don trust nobody (yeah yeah yeah)
Keep an eye

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

more tracks from the album

Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls

From the albums

Unreleased Songs
Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls (2012)

The Jackson 5 popular songs

Keep An EyeThe Jackson 5

The Jackson 5

Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls