Michael Jackson – Ghosts (Extended Version)

Written by Michael with Teddy Riley, and developed after Michael was asked to write the theme to a new Addams Family film. He ultimately declined, and instead wrote his own short film (which became known as Ghosts), including the song, Is It Scary, he originally wrote for the Addams Family film.

Failed to make the final selection for Michael’s HIStory album, and first heard in Michael’s mini-movie Ghosts, which cost an estimated $7-9 million and premiered in Beverly Hills on 24th October 1996. The 40-minute film was directed by Stan Winston and written by Michael and horror-novels legend Stephen King.

"We wrote it on the telephone, Stephen and I," said Michael. "He’s a lovely guy – he’s amazing. We wrote it on the phone , just talking together."

It is one of five previously unreleased songs featured on Michael’s remix album, Blood On The Dance Floor, issued in April 1997.

Demo versions with different backing vocals, sound effects and bass, leaked after they were used during the production of the final credits of the Ghosts short film (the final version of the song wasn’t ready in time).

Credits
* Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
* Produced by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
* Engineered by Teddy Riley and Eddie DeLena
* Mixed by Dave Way

Ghosts – Lyrics

There’s a ghost down in the hall
There’s a ghoul upon the bed
There’s something in the walls
There’s blood up on the stairs
And it’s floating through the room
And there’s nothing I can see
And I know that that’s the truth
Because now it’s haunting me

I don’t understand it
Hey
I don’t understand it!
…Aaow

There’s a thumpin’ in the floor
There’s a creak behind the door
There’s a rocking in the chair
But there’s no-one sitting there
There’s a ghostly smell around
But nobody to be found
And a coughin’ and a yawnin’
Where a restless soul is going

Don’t understand it!
Hey
Don’t understand it!
…Ha-Hey!

And who gave you the right to shame my family?
And who gave you the right to shake my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shame my family tree?
You put a knife in my back
Shot an arrow in me!
Tell me are you the ghost of jealousy?
The ghost of jealousy

There’s a thumpin’ in the floor
There’s a creak behind the door
There’s a rocking in the chair
But nobody’s sitting there
There’s a ghostly smell around
But nobody to be found
And a coughin’ and a yawnin’
Where a restless soul is going

Don’t understand it!
Yeah Yeah!
Don’t understand it!
You’re just a dog gone!
Aaow!

And who gave you the right to scare my family?
And who gave you the right to scare my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shame my family tree?
And who gave you the right to take intrusion, to see me?
And who gave you the right to shame my family?
And who gave you the right to hurt my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shame my family tree?
You put a knife in my back,
Shot an arrow in me!
Tell me are you the ghost of jealousy
A suckin’ ghost of jealousy
…Aaow!

And who gave you the right to shame my family?
And who gave you the right to shake my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shame my family tree?
And who gave you the right to take intrusion, to see me?
And who gave you the right to hurt my family?
And who gave you the right hurt my baby, she needs me
And who gave you the right to shame my family tree?
You put a knife in my back
Shot an arrow in me!
Tell me are you the ghost of jealousy
The ghost of jealousy,
Aaow!

Aaow
Dog gone
But there’s no doubt about it, piece of mind

Tell me are you the ghost of jealousy