
Cover of Ludwig van Beethoven
This post comes from my other blog but is so apt for this one.
When Michael Jackson died in 2009 the song that was played most was Man in the Mirror. It spoke of his urge to bring people together, to look at oneself and change behaviour so you can help others, and talked of deprivation and discord. But it was not a Michael Jackson penned song. More appropriate would have been his sacred song ‘Will You Be There?’ from the Dangerous album.
Why so?
Firstly, it sounds like a negro spiritual. In fact, I was shocked to discover it was not an old tune but one written by MJ, though it was inspired by an Indian song, according to Wikipedia. Secondly, the lyrics, and especially the spoken part, speak, nay, shout out and resonate with the experience of his life, especially in the latter part of it. No matter what you think about his responsibility for some of the messes he got caught up in Michael Jackson himself must have felt very uncertain that the God he had always believed in and turned to was there for him. This is one of his least angry songs.
Thirdly, this is a “mature” song. There’s no talk of temptresses and vendettas or paranoia or dancing machines. It is a direct prayer, in song form.
The album version’s prelude is a lesser known segment from “Beethoven: Symphony No. 9; Fidelio Overture” Beethoven’s Ninth. Here is an original lyric from the symphony by Schiller with the translation below…
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such’ ihn über’m Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muss er wohnen
Do you bow down, millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the starry canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell.
Those last two lines are beautiful, aren’t they?
The way Jackson manages to meld this classical piece with the negro spiritual sound is masterful. Although the song, released in 1993, stayed on the UK charts for six weeks it never got the attention it deserved.
The full lyrics:
“Hold Me
Like The River Jordan
And I Will Then Say To Thee
You Are My Friend
Carry Me
Like You Are My Brother
Love Me Like A Mother
Will You Be There?
Weary
Tell Me Will You Hold Me
When Wrong, Will You Scold Me
When Lost Will You Find Me?
But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I’m Only Human
Everyone’s Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World’s
Got A Role For Me
I’m So Confused
Will You Show To Me
You’ll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me
(Hold Me) show me
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
told me
(Softly Then Boldly)
yeah
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human
(Lead Me)
hold me
(Love Me And Feed Me)
yea yeah
(Kiss Me And Free Me)
yeah
(I Will Feel Blessed)
I’m Only Human
(Carry)
Carry
(Carry Me Boldly)
Carry yeah
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human
(Save Me)
save me
(Heal Me And Bathe Me)
lift me up, lift me up
(Softly You Say To Me)
(I Will Be There)
I Will Be There
(Lift Me)
i’m gonna care
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me Boldly)
yeah
(Show Me You Care)
Show Me You Care
(Hold Me)
whoooo
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
i get lonely some times
(Softly Then Boldly)
i get lonely
(Carry Me There)
yeah yeah carry me there
yeah yeah yeah
[Spoken]
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tribulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I’ll Never Let You Part
For You’re Always In My Heart.
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