This is a new series of irregular blog entries that focus on the depth of Michael's lyrics. As much as they speak for themselves they deserve thorough attention everytime you listen.
Michael shared his wisdom in his lyrics and in combination with the music and his voice, a song becomes a universe.
My song of today is "On The Line". It is written by MJ (unlike stated in the "Ghosts" single*) and produced by Babyface and opened Spike Lee’s 1996 movie "Get on the Bus" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWmvleHLIaM). It was left off of the official soundtrack because of a label dispute, but you can buy the song on MJ's Ultimate Collection, which was released in 2004.
"On The Line" to me is part of Michael's many "affirmative" songs. His main message is encouragement. The kind of encouragement that we all need in our lives. It reaches you exactly at the point where you stand. Michael has this uncomparable ability to lift your spirits but includes a reminder that nothing comes for free. Whatever it is, it might not be easy and you might have to try harder. But the price is endless.
"Hard times just don't go away." How many of us have had this thought? Complaining and wallowing in self-pity is sucking you into a vicious circle of negativity ("that chip on your shoulder").
"It's time you open up, Have some faith" indicates change. Change of mind, change of thought. Collecting strength from believing.
"Don't you think it's time you go for a change?" Well, yeah. We want the negativity to go away. We want to like what we see in the mirror. Thank you Michael for reminding us, that the (wo)man in the mirror is the only one that can make a change to their very own situation! No more complaining, no more blaming situations, others... Me? YES!
"Gotta put your heart on the line, If you wanna make it right. You've got to reach out and try!" Ok, I hear you. The change needs my own input. And my energy, it isn't for free. But I am in the driver's seat.
"If you wanna do it now, You gotta learn to try. You can make it right somehow!" Ok, trial. There might be error but trying is a requirement for change. And "YES, you can!". Can I?
"Let love come free and that's just so easy now." So easy? Really Michael? It didn't seem that easy while I was busy complaining. But I forgot about the love... oh.
"You gotta go for what you want, You gotta do what you got to do" Oh dear, YES!!! I want! I want a change. I want to make it right! So, why waiting? Hesitation? Compromise? No! Go for what you want!
"Don't waste your time on the past, no, no
It's time you look to the future
It's all right there if you ask
This time if you try much harder
You'll be the best that you can be!"
YES, I will. Thank you Michael for guiding me through!!!
No sense pretending its over
Hard times just don't go away
You gotta take that chip off your shoulder
It's time you open up
Have some faith
Nothing good ever comes easy
All good things come in due time
Yes it does
You gotta have something to believe in
I'm telling you to open your mind
Gotta put your heart on the line
If you wanna make it right
You've got to reach out and try
Gotta put your heart on the line
If you wanna make it right
Gotta put it all on the line
You see yourself in the mirror
And you don't like what you see
And things aren't getting much clearer
Don't you think it's time you go for a change
Don't waste your time on the past, no, no
It's time you look to the future
It's all right there if you ask
This time if you try much harder
You'll be the best that you can be
Gotta put your heart on the line
If you wanna make it right
You've got to reach out and try
Gotta put your heart on the line
If you wanna make it right
If you wanna do it now
You gotta learn to try
You can make it right somehow
Let love come free
And that's just so easy now
You gotta go for what you want
You gotta do what you got to do
Gotta put your heart on the line
If you wanna make it right
You've got to reach out and try
Gotta put your heart on the line
If you wanna make it right
[Repeat and fade out]
* the official BMI listing proves MJ to be the songwriter and composer of "On The Line"
http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=7344098&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID
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