The Jackson 5

Released: September 30, 1972

Songwriter: Arthur “T-Boy” Ross Leon Ware

Producer: Hal Davis

[Spoken Intro: Announcer]
We came for '72 Save the Children
And we're all very serious about that
Because we're expecting the children to save us all
The five young men we're about to introduce
Are perfect examples of young people who have been saved
And who are willing to do everything they can to save others
Let's all stand and welcome Michael, Marlon, Jermaine, Tito, big Jackie
The mighty, mighty Jackson 5

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson]
Can it be I stayed away too long?
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
Well, it's not my thing trying to get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at

You don't have to worry 'cause I'm coming
Back to where I should have always stayed
And now I've learned the meaning to your story
And it's enough love for me to stay, yeah

Can it be I stayed away too long?
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not my thing trying to get back, you got it
Well, this time let me tell you where I'm at

[Chorus: Michael Jackson]
I wanna, wanna be where you are, hey
Everywhere you are, oh oh
I wanna, wanna be where you are, hey
Everywhere you are, hey

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson]
Please don't close the door to our future
There's so many things that we haven't tried
I'm gonna love you better than I used to
And give you all the love I have inside, girl

[Instrumental break]

[Chorus: Michael Jackson]
I wanna, wanna be where you are, hey
Everywhere you are, oh oh
I wanna, wanna be where you are, hey
Everywhere you are, now now now now now now baby now

[Outro: Michael Jackson & The Jacksons]
I wanna be, I wanna be, a now now now now baby now
I wanna be, I wanna be, now now now now baby now
I wanna be, I wanna be, hey
I wanna be, I wanna be, oh
I wanna be where you are
Get on down, man
Anywhere you are
Do your thing
Ooh hoo hoo, now now now now baby
Anywhere you are
Oh, hey
I wanna be, I wanna be, a now now now now baby now
I wanna be, now now now now now now baby now
I wanna be, I wanna be, a now now now now baby now
I wanna be, oh

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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