The Jacksons – That’s What You Get

Written by Michael with brother Randy, and recorded by the Jacksons for their album, Destiny, issued in December 1978.

"That’s What You Get (For Being Polite) was my way of letting on that I knew I wasn’t living in an ivory tower," said Michael, "and that I had insecurities and doubts, just as all other teenagers do. I was worried that the world and all it had to offer could be passing me by, even as I tried to get on top of my field."

It was issued as the B-sides of Destiny in the UK, and Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) in the USA.

It was mentioned by Michael at the beginning of his deposition hearing in Mexico in 1993 – he mentioned ‘Jack Still’, part of the song’s lyric, separately, leading some fans to believe another song with this title existed.

That’s What You Get – Lyrics

Jack still cries day and night
Jack’s not happy with his life
He wanna do this
He wanna do that
He wanna be kind
But ends up flat
For love, for love

He tries so hard to give a lot
He wants to be what he is not
Love’s not harsh
Love’s not bad
And what he’s doing
For love is so sad
(He wants to be so bad)
(He wants to be so bad)

All the time getting in
Things he can’t get out
Something’s deep inside of him
Eating up the pride of him
That makes him buy
Things for the girls

(That’s what you get)
(For being polite)
(For being polite)

Jack still sits all alone
He lives the world that is his own
He’s lost in thoughts of who to be
I wish to God that he would see
Just love
Give him love

He tries so hard to give a lot
He wants to be what he is not
Love’s not harsh
Love’s not bad
And what he’s doing
For love is so sad
(He wants to be so bad)
(He wants to be so bad)

All the time getting in
Things he can’t get out
Something’s deep inside of him
Eating up the pride of him
That makes him buy
Things for the girls

(That’s what you get)
(For being polite)
(For being polite)

Jack’s still trying to make you happy
But
Jack’s still trying to make you happy
But
Jack’s sill trying to make you happy
But it’s love
But it’s love

Jack’s still trying to make
Don’t you know he cries
(Jack’s still)
Don’t you know he’s, yeah
(Jack’s still)
His often though was for love
His funk is love
Don’t you know he often cries about you
He cries about me
He cries about you
(You)
And me
(Me)
And every little thing that’s in his way
He cries about me
He cries about you
(You)
And me
(Me)
Know that he just had to cry
(Jack’s still)
Don’t you know he cries
(Jack’s still)
Don’t you know he’s, yeah
(Jack’s still)
His often thought was for love
Yeah, yeah
Don’t you know, don’t you know
Don’t you know, don’t you know
Don’t you know, don’t you know
Don’t you know, don’t you know he cries
He cries because there is a lack of love
Don’t you know he often
Don’t you know
Don’t you know, yeah
Don’t you know, yeah
He often cries because there is no love