Beat It (1982), a song by Michael Jackson.
The music video is very well done. It is directed Bob Giraldi. (b1939)
This song describes the situation of power struggle, among male human animals.
Title: Beat It Singer: Michael Jackson Lyrics: Michael Jackson Music: Michael Jackson Date: 1982
They told him don't you ever come around here Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear So beat it, just beat it You better run, you better do what you can Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man You wanna be tough, better do what you can So beat it, but you wanna be bad Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just beat it, beat it … They're out to get you, better leave while you can Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man You wanna stay alive, better do what you can So beat it, just beat it
You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they beat you,
Then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin' how funky and strong is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
This is a great song. The lyrics sung the eternal struggle among males. In a superficial level, it applies to highschool boys, gangsters. But deeply, it is the same situation in corporate ladder climb, politics, and power struggle in general.
As George Bush said, “bring it on!”.
See also: Palpatine: The Portrait of a Perfect Sociopath and Master Politician.
It's funny that the Asian pop queen Teresa Deng, known for her beautiful voice and gentle, serene, yearning, songs, also have covered this song, on stage.
For more of Teresa songs, see: Teresa Deng Songs.
Asides from the ethology aspect of this song, of interest to to alt.usage.english readers, is whether the phrase “beat it” is proper.
What alternative, more correct, phrase would be?
“Get out of here” does not fully cover it. Because it's not about telling someone to leave.
“quit it” isn't right neither. Because it's not about quitting something. “quit it” lacks the context as conveyed by the word “beat” — to hit, batter, as in, be done with it.
Of course, we should remember that there is a literal interpretation of “beat it”, i.e. hit it, as a collision carried out by a baton intended to inflict injury, which, would be a foolish interpretation.
“leave it”, again lacks something to be desired. It lacks the meanness.
Ok, then what does “beat it” really mean? How can it be rephrased so that the result can be interpreted literally while still covers its meaning? I suppose it would be something like “stop getting involved”. Of course, such a plain phrase wouldn't fly. It lacks the colors, the ambiguousness, the sizzle.
Ok, stop getting involved, seems to be the meaning. Now, back to the ethology aspect. If it is simple matter of will and decision, then why do brawls and aggression between men, happen throughout human history?
When you look at two dogs fighting for a bitch for mate, can you tell the dogs to simply not get involved? When they do pissing fights, can you tell them that territory isn't that important? With territories, associated with is the quality and quantity of food. With mating, associated is procreation and offspring. Sure, you can stop doing power struggle all together, but your risk is survival and extinction. That, is the bottom of things.
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