They Don't Care About Us - Lyrics Analysis

In the first verse, Michael Jackson informs the audience about how the world is becoming as he says 'Skin head', which is a term used to describe racists who were around during the 1980's in the UK and America, and 'Dead head' refers to the ways people die in today's world. 'Everybody gone bad' is the direction the world is turning which Michael then says 'Situation', how anything is turned into a situation such as the allegations made against him, 'Aggravation', how the media has made Michael feel aggravated and 'Everybody allegation' again with reference to the bad allegations made against him. He also says 'In the suite on the news' as everything bad said against him is put in the suite and on the news for the world, and his fans to see. 'Everybody dog food' means how people such as himself are treated as waste. Michael also talks about the rise in gun crime statistics 'Bang bang shot dead' as well as legends such as Martin Luther King, Tupac, and Notorious B.I.G, who were all shot dead. The final line in the verse 'Everybody gone mad' is how the world has became a mad world to live in.

The chorus 'all i wanna say is that they don't really care about us' refers to the title of the song how indirectly the government don't care about them.

'Beat me, hate me, you can never break me' is Michael telling the media that as much as they try to attack him, it doesn't affect him 'Will me, thrill me, you can never kill me'. 'Jew me, sew me, everybody do me, kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me' is Michael as the Jewish man, the black man, and the white man being abused.

The next verse is Michael pleading to the media and the government to help save his face for the sake of his family and fans 'Tell me what has become of my life, I have a wife and two children who love me, I am a victim of police brutality' in which he also says 'I'm tired of bein' a victim of hate, you're rapin me of my pride oh for God's sake' and 'I look to heaven to fulfil this prophecy set me free' is Michael asking for God's help, as he feels the media are asking him for too much.

The following verse is similar to the first verse however the word 'Trepidation' is used to emphasize Michael Jackson's fear towards the news about him in the media. 'Black men, black mail, throw your brother in jail' is Michael as the black man, being blackmailed by his brothers and being thrown in jail as the victim.

Michael again pleads to the media, asking them to stop damaging his reputation and invading his privacy 'Tell me what has become of my rights, am I invisible cause you ignore me, your proclamation promised me free liberty', and how he is now seen 'I'm tired of being a victim of shame, your throwin' me in a class with a bad name, I can't believe this is the land from which I came'. The next line is one of the most powerful lines in the song as he says 'You know I really do hate to say it, the government don't wanna see, but if Roosevelt was livin, he wouldn't let this be, no no'.

This next verse is similar to the first again however says 'Litigation' as he has been held in trial for many allegations including the infringement of copyright as well as child abuse allegations which he has never been found guilty to any of them. He brings up the abuse he's received again 'Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me, hit me, kick me, you can never get me' again insisting he won't be beaten by the media.

In this verse the phrase is repeated however the person is changed 'Some things in life they just don't wanna see, but if Martin Luther was livin, he wouldn't let this be, no no', again using a powerful person, which emphasizes the power and meaning to the song.

The last verse again is almost equivalent to the first, however 'Segregation is' used to show how the world is segregated in many different ways and 'Kick me, kike me, don't you wrong or right me' is Michael playing the victim again, which he is tired of being told whats right and whats wrong.

The voiceovers towards the end of the song illustrate how the world has turned out as he repeats the lines 'We're deeply in fire' and 'I'm her to remind you'. Also as Michael Jackson is famous for his voice overs with expressions such as 'hee hee', at this point of the song, Michael is the instrument by expressing his anger and fustration.