By Michael Baginski/ With the news this week that G Adventures has enlisted The Jacksons to perform at the company’s epic GX tourism event in Jordan in September, the time seems right to recall a group that is one of the top-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide since bursting on the scene with four straight No. 1 hits on the Motown label in 1969.
Going on to score a total of 17 top 40 singles in just five years, the original Jackson 5 – Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael – were more importantly one of the first black groups to garner cross-over appeal.
Of course, tiny Michael grew up to eclipse the popularity of the family band to become “The King of Pop” (amongst other things).
At any rate, The Jacksons remain pop royalty, their songs still a soundtrack of an era (such as “I Want You Back” appearing in the recent Guardians of the Galaxy film series). Here is a performance of that song from the Ed Sullivan Show on Dec. 14, 1969.
Lyrics
Uh-huh huh huh huh
Let me tell ya now
Uh-huh
When I had you to myself, I didn’t want you around
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took
Now, it’s much too late for me to take a second look
Oh, baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Won’t you please let me (Back in your heart)
Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go (Let you go, baby)
But now, since I see you in his arms (I want you back)
Yes, I do now (I want you back)
Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back)
Na, na, na, na
Trying to live without your love is one long sleepless night
Let me show you, girl, that I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl, I didn’t even want around
Let me tell you now
Oh, baby, all I need is one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Won’t you please let me (Back in your heart)
Oh, darling, I was blind to let you go (Let you go, baby)
But now, since I see you in his arms, uh-huh
Oh, just one more chance
To show you that I love you
Baby! Baby!
Baby! Baby!
Baby! Baby!
I want you back
Forget what happened then
I want you back
Let me live again
Oh, baby, I was blind to let you go
But now, since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Spare me of this ’cause
Give me back what I lost
Oh, baby, I need one more chance, ha
I tell ya that I love you
(Baby!) Oh! (Baby!) Oh! (Baby!) Oh!
I want you back!
Forget what happened then
I want you back!
And let me live again
Oh, I want you back! Ha!
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