The Jackson 5

Released: May 23, 1972

Songwriter: Jackson Browne

Producer: Hal Davis

Doctor, my eyes have seen the years
And the slow parade of fears without crying
Now I want to understand

I have done all that I could
To see the evil and the good without hiding
You must help me if you can

Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what is wrong
Was I unwise to leave them open for so long

'cause I have wandered through this world
And as each moment has unfurled
I've been waiting to awaken from these dreams
People go just where there will
I never noticed them until I got this feeling
That it's later than it seems

Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what you see
I hear their cries
Just say if it's too late for me

Doctor, my eyes
Cannot see the sky
Is this the prize for having learned how not to cry

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

Michael Jackson & Jackson 5: The Motown Years

From the albums

Lookin’ Through the Windows (1972)
18 Greatest Hits (1983)
Motown’s Greatest Hits (1992)
Soulsation! (1995)
Children of the Light (1999)
Anthology (2000 Edition) (2000)
Goin’ Back to Indiana / Lookin’ Through the Windows (2001)
The Best of Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five: The Motown Years (2001)
Anthology (2005 Gold Edition) (2005)
Anthology (2006 Edition) (2006)
Michael Jackson & Jackson 5: The Motown Years (2008)

The Jackson 5 popular songs

Doctor My EyesThe Jackson 5

The Jackson 5

Michael Jackson & Jackson 5: The Motown Years