Michael Jackson – Human Nature

Written by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis. Porcaro recorded a rough demo on a cassette, which fellow Toto band member David Paitch put three songs on for Quincy Jones to listen to, as possibles for Thriller. Quincy didn’t like Paitch’s songs, but he did like a rough demo of Human Nature at the end of the tape, and asked if he could use it.

It was the last song chosen for Thriller, issued in December 1982 – it ousted ‘Carousel’ from the final track listing.

Released as a single in most countries, but not the UK, where it was the B-side of Leave Me Alone. It charted at no.7 in the Hot 100 and no.27 on the R&B singles chart in the US.

An alternate version, with a slight difference in the short instrumental segment mid-way through the song, featured on the Japanese 3" CD single, Thriller.

Credits
* Written and composed by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis
* Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: David Paich
* Guitar: Steve Lukather
* Drums: Jeff Porcaro
* Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
* Emulator: Michael Boddicker
* Arrangement by David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather

human Nature – Lyrics

Looking out
Across the night-time
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs

Get me out
Into the night-time
Four walls won’t hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite

If they say –
Why, why, tell ’em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say –
Why, why, tell ’em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way

Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are everywhere
See that girl
She knows I’m watching
She likes the way I stare

If they say –
Why, why, tell ’em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say –
Why, why, tell ’em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin’ this way
I like lovin’ this way

Looking out
Across the morning
The city’s heart begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I’m dreaming of the street

If they say –
Why, why, tell ’em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say –
Why, why, tell ’em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin’ this way