The Jackson 5

Released: June 20, 1970

Songwriter: Berry Gordy Freddie Perren Fonce Mizell Deke Richards

Producer: The Corporation

[Spoken Intro: Michael Jackson & The Jacksons]
What I want you to do is say "ABC" one time in a row
You got it?
Hold it, hold it, ha ha, okay, here we go
A, B, C (One, two, three, four)
A-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum (A-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum)

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, (The Jacksons)]
You went to school to learn, girl
Things you never, never knew before
Like "I" before "E" except after "C"
And why 2 plus 2 makes 4
Now, now, now
I'm gonna teach you (Teach you, teach you)
All about love, girl (All about love)
Sit yourself down, take a seat
All you gotta do is repeat after me

[Chorus: The Jackson 5]
A B C
Easy as, 1 2 3
As simple as, do re mi
A B C, 1 2 3
Baby, you and me, girl
A B C
Easy as, 1 2 3
As simple as, do re mi
A B C, 1 2 3
Baby, you and me, girl

[Post-Chorus: The Jackson 5]
Come on and love me just a little bit
Come on and love me just a little bit
I'm gonna teach you how to sing it out
Come on, come on, come on
Let me show you what it's all about

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, (The Jacksons)]
Reading, writing, arithmetic
Are the branches of the learning tree
But listen without the roots of love every day, girl
Your education ain't complete
Tea-Tea-Teacher's gonna show you (Show you, show you)
How to get an "A" (Na-na-na-na-na-na)
How to spell "me", "you", add the two
Listen to me, baby
That's all you gotta do

[Chorus: The Jackson 5]
Oh, A B C
It's easy as, 1 2 3
As simple as, do re mi
A B C, 1 2 3
Baby, you and me, girl
A B C, it's easy
It's like counting up to 3
Sing a simple melody
That's how easy love can be
That's how easy love can be
Sing a simple melody
1 2 3
You and me

[Bridge: The Jacksons & Michael Jackson]
Sit down, girl
I think I love ya
No, get up, girl
Show me what you can do
Shake it, shake it, baby (Come on now)
Shake it, shake it, baby (Ooh, ooh)
Shake it, shake it, baby (Oh)
1 2 3, baby (Ooh ooh)
A B C, baby (Na, na)
Do re mi, baby (Oh)
That's how easy love can be

[Chorus: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, (The Jacksons)]
A B C, it's easy
It's like counting up to 3
Sing a simple melody
That's how easy love can be
I'm gonna teach you how to sing it out
Come-a, come-a, come-a, let me show you what's it's all about
(A B C) Uh-huh (1 2 3)
A B C
A B C it's easy
It's like counting up to 3
Sing a simple melody
That's how easy love can be
I'm gonna teach you how to sing it out
Come-a, come-a, come-a, let me show you what's it's all about
A B C, it's easy
It's like counting up to 3
Sing a simple melody
That's how easy love can be
I'm gonna teach you how to sing it out, sing it out
Oh, Sing it, oh, sing it oh baby
A B C, it's easy
It's like counting up to 3
Sing a simple melody

[Outro: Michael Jackson & (Jackie Jackson)]
Thank you very much
(How are you?)

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.

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