Meaning

Black And White is a song about racism and that it doesn't matter where you're from or what colour you are, because we are all people!

These lyrics describe his opinion on racism and how they have affected him and the world around him.

Its michael jackson talking about how people always accusing him of changing his color but it really doesnt matter because in his eyes everyone is one and the same like martin luther king jr.`s i have a dream speech

The first lyrics that caught my attention were "They printed my message, In the Saturday Sun, I had to tell them, I ain't second to none." Here he states that he is not no one, that he is a person, with equalities. Next, Jackson wrote " I told about Equality , An It's True, Either You're Wrong or you're right ."

In these few lines Jackson is trying to say that everyone has their own opinion on what equality is. If someone has a different opinion on equality, each person is right.

Later in the song, Jackson states "I am tired of this devil, I am tired of this stuff, I am tired of this business, So when the going gets rough, I ain't scared of your brother, I ain't Scared of No sheets, I ain't scare of nobody, Girl when the goin' gets mean." Jackson is stating that he is tired of the racism, which is described as a Devil .

Also, he states that he is not scared of anyone when things get bad and will not let the racism, that another person has for a different ethnicity, affect him.

Lyrics

-Turn that noise off!
-I thought I told you to turn that thing off.
It is too late and it’s too loud.
-But dad, this is the best part!
-You are wasting your time with this garbage.
Now, go to bed!
-Ok.
-Eat this.
-I’m afraid your father
is going to be very upset when he gets back.

I took my baby on a saturday bang
Boy is that girl with you
Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle has happened tonight

But if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

They print my message in the saturday sun
I had to tell them I ain't second to none
And I told about equality
And it's true either you're wrong or you're right

But if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

I’m tired of this devil
I’m tired of this stuff
I’m tired of this business
I ain't scared of your brother
I ain't scared of no sheets
I ain't scared of nobody
Girl, when the goin' gets mean

Protection for gangs, clubs, and nations
Causing grief in human relations
It's a turf war on a global scale
I'd rather hear both sides of the tale
See, it's not about races just places, faces
Where your blood comes from
Is where your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not gonna spend my life being a color

Don't tell me you agree with me
When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye

But if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

I said if you're thinkin' of being my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white
I said if you're thinkin' of being my brother
It don't matter if you're black or white

Alright
It's black, it's white
It's tough for you to get by
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It's black, it's white

It's black, it's white
It's tough for you to get by
Yeah, yeah, yeah

It's black,

Alright. That was perfect.
How d’you do that?
Play with the song, fill the gaps
Legend
  • The video player plays from the time specified
  • Chorus
  • People Talking

Vocabulary

Saturday bang

saturday bang means take it to clubs or pubs where people drink and dance on saturday night

one and the same

the very same person or thing
John Jones and J. Jones are one and the same
The villain and hero look like different actors, but they're really one and the same

second to none

better than everything else
This is an excellent car—second to none
Her suggestion was second to none, and the manager accepted it eagerly.

Saturday Sun

The newspaper in which Michael's message was printed

sheets

bed linen sometime "sheets" refer to the garb worn by the KKK. KKK wear "sheets." As a black or non-white person, it is typical to be afraid of KKK and their "sheets"

when the going gets rough

when a situation becomes difficult or unpleasant
I run the farm on my own but a local boy helps me out when the going gets tough.

grief

sorrow
After the fire the whole town was gripped by grief and sorrow.
We have to deal with the kind of misogyny that leads to this suffering and grief.

turf war

A dispute between criminals or gangs over the right to operate within a particular area. Any dispute in which one party seeks to obtain increased rights or influence
A turf war erupted between street gangs
The president's resignation was the result of a turf war with the board of directors

get duller

not bright, intense, or clear; dim:
A dull day
A dull sound

kicking dirt in my eye

Kicking dirt in my eye could be explained as teasing, offending, or insulting one’s uniqueness.

tough

person: strong
The football player was so tough that he played with a fractured rib.

To get by

To be able to live or deal with a situation with difficulty, usually by having just enough of something you need, such as money
She just need a little money to get by