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Michael Jackson - Bad

Artist: Michael Jackson

Album: Michael Jackson - Bad

Generally appropriate content
Generally appropriate content

Minimum age: All ages

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Detailed Analysis

These are the lyrics to Michael Jackson's 'Bad' (1987). The song is essentially a bravado anthem about toughness and street credibility. The opening line 'your butt is mine' is mildly cheeky but is used in a confrontational, not sexual, context — meaning the speaker intends to defeat or outdo a rival. There is no explicit language, no sexual content or innuendo, no drug or alcohol references, and no genuinely disturbing imagery. Minor themes of confrontation and mild intimidation are present ('gonna hurt your mind,' 'lock you up before too long'), but these are clearly hyperbolic expressions of competitive bravado rather than genuine threats or violence. The overall message is one of self-confidence and personal empowerment. The song also includes a briefly idealistic line about changing the world for the better. This content is suitable for general audiences, including children, with perhaps a light note to parents about the confrontational posturing.

Themes
self-confidence
bravado
rivalry
competition
empowerment
confrontation

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Lyrics

Ah, your butt is mine, gon' tell you right, ah Just show your face in broad daylight, ah I'm tellin' you on who I feel, ah Gonna hurt your mind, don't shoot to kill Shamone, ah, shamone Lay it on me, ah, alright Ah, I'm givin' you on count to three, ah Just show your stuff or let it be, ah I'm tellin' you, just watch your mouth, ah I know your game, what you're about Well, they say the sky's the limit And to me that's really true, ah But, my friend, you have seen nothin' Just wait 'til I get through Because I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it (really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) Shamone, you know (really, really bad) And the whole world has to answer right now Just to tell you once again Who's bad? The word is out, you're doin' it wrong, ah Gon' lock you up before too long, ah Your lyin' eyes gon' tell you right, ah So listen up, don't make a fight, ah Your talk is cheap, you're not a man, ah You're throwin' stones to hide your hands Well, they say the sky's the limit And to me that's really true, ah But, my friend, you have seen nothin' Just wait 'til I get through Because I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it (really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it, you know (really, really bad) And the whole world has to answer right now Just to tell you once again Who's bad? We can change the world tomorrow This could be a better place, ah If you don't like what I'm sayin' Then won't you slap my face? Because I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it (really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it, you know (really, really bad) And the whole world has to answer right now (hoo, hoo) Just to tell you once again (hoo) You know I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it, you know it (really, really bad) You know, you know (bad, bad) You know, shamone (really, really bad) And the whole world has to answer right now Just to tell you once again You know I'm smooth, I'm bad, you know it (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know, you know, you know it, come on (bad, bad, really, really bad) And the whole world has to answer right now (hoo) Just to tell you once again (hoo) You know I'm bad, I'm bad, you know it (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, you know, woo (bad, bad, really, really bad) You know I'm bad, I'm bad (bad, bad) You know it, you know (really, really bad) And the whole world has to answer right now Just to tell you once again Who's bad?


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Analysis performed on August 11, 2026
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