Released: September 5, 1974

Songwriter: Nita Garfield Don Fletcher Charlotte O’Hare

Producer: Hal Davis

[Chorus: Michael]
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Fitting in the mirrors of my mind

[Verse 1: Jermaine]
Traveling through the mirrors of my mind
I see reflections of a sweet love left behind
Kaleidoscopes of memories turning gray
Why do I hold on to yesterday?

[Chorus: Michael]
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Fitting in the mirrors of my mind, oh

[Verse 2: Jermaine + Michael]
Reflecting off the mirrors of my mind
Questions that I've asked a million times
Why did it turn out this way?
Girl, why must we love always and yesterday?
I keep pretending, with memories never-ending, oh
I can't keep fooling myself

[Jackson 5 + Jermaine]
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Slipping through the hourglass of time
I keep pretending, I keep pretending
I keep pretending, I keep pretending
Slipping through the hourglass of time
I keep pretending, I keep pretending
I keep pretending...

[Outro: Jackson 5 + (Jermaine) + Michael]
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Slipping through the hourglass of time
(I keep pretending), with memories never-ending, oh
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Slipping through the hourglass of time
(I keep pretending), with memories never ending, oh
Slipping through the hourglass of time
Slipping through the hourglass of time
(I keep pretending), with memories never ending, oh

The Jackson 5

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.