Released: May 15, 1975

Songwriter: Harold Beatty Liz Shaw

Producer: Hal Davis The Corporation

[SIREN]

[Chorus: Michael + Jackson 5]
Ooh, ooh, moving violation
Moving violation, you been movin'...ah
You ran a stop sign, moving violation
Moving violation
When you gave him what was mine
Gave him what was mine
Moving Violation
Moving violation, you been movin'...
Ain't nothin' you can say (Ah)
Moving violation
Moving violation
Gave your love away

[Verse 1: Michael + Jermaine]
I put you behind the wheel
And you drove me out of my mind
You've been careless with my love
Hurt me a thousand times
And that's a moving violation

[Chorus 2: Jackson 5 + (Jermaine) + Michael]
Moving violation, you been movin', ah
(You ran a stop sign)
Moving Violation
Moving violation
(When you gave him what was mine)
Moving Violation
Moving violation, you been movin'
You ran a red light - Ah
Moving Violation
Moving violation
Let him hold you tight

[Post-Chorus: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
Girl, I'm a witness (Ah-ah)
Girl, I'm a witness (Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, Oh!)

[Bridge: Michael + Jermaine + (Jackson 5)]
Oh! I placed you high above the rest
I gave you my, my very best
But you played a game
It was just an act
And you gave your love when I turned my back
You pushed me past my limits
(Back back, pushing me back, pushing me back)
More than a heart can stand
(Back back, pushing me back, pushing me back)
But I saw you standing there
(Yes he did, now)
Giving him your hand
You gave him your hand
And that's a moving violation

[Outro: Jackson 5 + Michael]
Moving violation, you been movin'
You should have read the sign - Ah
Moving violation
When you gave him what was mine
Moving violation
Stop! Red light
You should have made him stop
Stop! Red light
Ooh, red light
Stop! Red light - moving violation
You should have made him stop
You been movin'. Stop! Red light - moving violation
Said, there’s a red light
You been movin'. Stop! Red light - moving violation
You should have made him put on the brakes
You been movin'. Stop!
Ooh, it’s Moving Violation. You should’ve read the signs...
Moving Violation. When you gave him what was mine. Oh!
Stop! Red light - moving violation
Should’ve read the signs
You been movin'. Stop! Red light - moving violation
You ran a red light!
You been movin'. Stop! Red light - moving violation
You been movin'. Stop! Red light - moving violation

[SIRENS]

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.

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