Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney - The Girl Is Mine

Written by Michael and recorded as a duet with Paul McCartney, for Michael's album, Thriller, issued in December 1982.

Released as the first single from Jackson's biggest selling album, the song was about two men fighting over the love of one woman, each claiming that he can love the woman better than the other. It leads into a spoken debate near the end of the song by the two singers with Jackson giving his now famous line: "Paul, I think I told you, I'm a lover, not a fighter."

McCartney spent three days at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, working on the song with Michael from 14th-16th April 1982 - the year after the pair first worked on Say Say Say and The Man, although it was the first Jackson/McCartney duet to gain a release.

Michael is on record as saying the duet is one of his most enjoyable recording moments:

"One of my favourite songs to record, of all my recordings as a solo artist, is probably The Girl Is Mine, because working with Paul McCartney was pretty exciting and we just literally had fun... it was like lots of kibitzing and playing and throwing stuff at each other and making jokes... and we actually recorded the track and the vocals pretty much live at the same time, and we do have footage of it, but it's never been shown - maybe one day we'll give you a sneak preview of it."

Footage of Michael and Paul in the studio was screened at some venues during Paul's world tour in 1990.

Several demo versions are known to exist, including a solo version by Michael, and others of him working on different keys for the melody of the song - some of these were played at the court disposition hearing in Mexico in 1993.

It is the lead single from Thriller, hitting no.1 on the R&B singles chart and no.2 on the Hot 100 in the US, and no.8 in the UK. The cover photograph of Michael and Paul was taken by McCartney's late wife, Linda.

It is the subject of two lawsuits, first Michael testified in a Chicago court on 6th December 1984, when Fred Sandforf claimed it was the same as his song, Please Love Me Now. Secondly, in Mexico 1993, after Rober Smith (aka Robert Austin), Reynauld Jones and Clifford Rubin claimed it infringed two of their songs, Don't Let The Sunshine Catch You Crying and Happy Go Lucky Girl. In both cases, the judgement found in favour of Michael and his record company.

It was sampled by Stevie Wonder - without credit - on Fun Day, from his 1991 album, Music From The Movie Jungle Fever.


Credits

* Written and composed by Michael Jackson
* Produced by Quincy Jones
* Rhodes: Greg Phillinganes
* Piano: David Paich
* Synthesizer: David Foster
* Synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro
* Guitar: David Parks and Steve Lukather
* Bass: Louis Johnson
* Drums: Jeff Porcaro
* Vocal: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
* Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones
* Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones and David Paich
* Synthesizer arrangement by David Foster
* Strings arranged and conducted by Jerry Hey
* Concertmaster: Jerry Vinci


The Girl Is Mine - Lyrics

[1st Verse (Michael)]
Every Night She Walks Right In My Dreams
Since I Met Her From The Start
I'm So Proud I Am The Only One
Who Is Special In Her Heart

[Chorus]
The Girl Is Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
I Know She's Mine
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

[2nd Verse (Paul)]
I Don't Understand The Way You Think
Saying That She's Yours Not Mine
Sending Roses And Your Silly Dreams
Really Just A Waste Of Time

[Chorus]
Because She's Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

[Bridge (Paul)]
I Love You More Than He
(Take You Anywhere)

[Michael]
But I Love You Endlessly
(Loving We Will Share)

[Michael & Paul]
So Come And Go With Me
To One Town

[Michael]
But We Both Cannot Have Her
So It's One Or The Other
And One Day You'll Discover
That She's My Girl Forever And Ever

[3rd Verse (Paul)]
I Don't Build Your Hopes To Be Let Down
'Cause I Really Feel It's Time

[Michael]
I Know She'll Tell You I'm The One For Her
'Cause She Said I Blow Her Mind
Chorus (Michael)
The Girl Is Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

[Michael & Paul]
She's Mine, She's Mine
No, No, No, She's Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine

[Paul]
The Girl Is Mine, (Yep) She's Mine
The Girl Is Mine, (Yep) She's Mine

[Michael]
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine

[Paul]
Michael, We're Not Going To Fight About This, Okay

[Michael]
Paul, I Think I Told You, I'm A Lover Not A Fighter

[Paul]
I've Heard It All Before, Michael
She Told Me That I'm Her Forever Lover, You Know, Don't You Remember

[Michael]
Well, After Loving Me, She Said She Couldn't Love Another

[Paul]
Is That What She Said

[Michael]
Yes, She Said It, You Keep Dreaming

[Paul]
I Don't Believe It

[Michael & Paul]
The Girl Is Mine (Mine, Mine, Mine)

[Fade-Out/Repeat]