The Jackson 5

Released: June 20, 1970

Songwriter: Berry Gordy Freddie Perren Fonce Mizell Deke Richards

Producer: The Corporation

[Spoken Intro: Michael Jackson]
We're gonna do our latest recording, "Stop! The Love You Save"
(One, two, three, four)

[Intro: The Jackson 5]
Stop, nanana, you'd better save it
Stop, stop, stop, you'd better save it, woo
Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson]
When we played tag in grade school
You wanted to be It
But chasing boys was just a fad
You crossed your heart you'd quit
When we grew up you traded
Your promise for my ring
Now just like back to grade school
You're doing the same old thing

[Chorus: Michael Jackson]
Stop, the love you save may be your own
Darling, take it slow
Or some day you'll be all alone
You'd better stop the love you save may be your own
Darling, look both ways before you cross me
You're headed for the danger zone

[Post-Chorus: Michael Jackson & Jermaine Jackson]
I'm the one who loves you
I'm the one you need
Those other guys will put you down
As soon as they succeed
They'll ruin your reputation
They'll label you a flirt
The way they talk about you
They'll turn your name to dirt, oh

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson]
Isaac said he kissed you
Beneath the apple tree
When Benjie held your hand he felt
E-lec-tri-ci-ty
When Alexander called you
He said he rang your chimes
Christopher discovered
You're way ahead of your times

[Chorus: Michael Jackson & (The Jacksons)]
Stop, the love you save may be your own
Darling, take it slow
Or some day you'll be all alone
You'd better stop, the love you save may be your own
Darling, look both ways before you cross me
(You're headed for the danger zone)

[Bridge: The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson]
Slow down
Slow down
Everybody say, slow down
Slow down
S is for "Save it"
T is for "Take it slow"
O is for "Oh, no!"
P is for "Please, please, don't go!"
The love you save may be your own
Some day you may be all alone
Stop it
Save it, girl
Baby, ooh
You'd better stop, the love you save may be your own
Please, please
Or some day, some day baby
You'll be all alone
I'm the one who loves you
I'm the one you need
Those other guys will put you down
As soon as they succeed
Oh, stop, the love you save may be your own, baby
You better stop it, stop it, stop it, girl
Or one day you'll be all alone
The way they talk about you
They'll turn your name, turn your name to dirt
Stop, the love you save may be your own
Don't you know, don't you know, don't you, baby
Or you'll be all alone
Stop, the love you save may be your own

[Outro: Announcer]
Let's have it quiet
Let's sit down, let's sit down
Let's sit down, sit down
That means be seated

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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