Flashpants Song-In-Focus du jour:

If you’re like me, you never knew what this song was about. Please, read along…

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

Chorus
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

(instrumental section)


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

Chorus
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

Written & Composed by Steve Porcaro & John Bettis

First off, I mention- MJ did not write this song at all, according to the credits here. Yet, he knew it inside and out, as we see in THIS IS IT, he did for every song he ever performed. Amen AMEN how he owned it, and felt it, the quintessential performer.

Lyrics: So simple in premise- he’s inside, feels the buzz of the city outside. Hears a girl. Goes out, sees a girl- is she a prostitute? Likely. Either way, he goes for it, it’s Human Nature.
But it’s so tender and plaintive, his reasoning to the night, his self reckoning. “Why…” And that’s the only part anyone ever remembers from the song- the gut reaction, the visceral emotion.
He questions, bargains with himself, his own morals or place in the world, even though he talks about “they say”; it’s clearly his own projection. Then there is forgiveness and acceptance- almost won.

And a note to MJ:

You were sent here to set us in motion. Never of this world, from the start you were of another composition, another breed. You came, you loved us, you shared your light. I pray we can harness the momentum and spread the love and spread the love and spread the love.