About The Song
“The Girl Is Mine” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson and English singer and musician Paul McCartney for Jackson’s sixth solo album, Thriller. The track was written and co-produced by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The song was recorded at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, from April 14 to 16, 1982 and was released on October 18 of that same year as the album’s first single. The year before, Jackson and McCartney had recorded “Say Say Say” and “The Man” for the latter’s fifth solo album, Pipes of Peace (1983). Although “The Girl Is Mine” was released as a single, Jackson and McCartney never performed the song live.
“The Girl Is Mine” achieved success in the music charts. Aside from topping the R&B singles chart, the single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight in the UK. The song also reached number one in Spain. By 1985, it had sold 1.3 million copies, and was eventually certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of 1,000,000 units. Despite the song’s success, it received generally mixed reviews from critics who considered it to be the weakest song on Thriller.
“The Girl Is Mine” has been the subject of two plagiarism lawsuits, the first in 1984 and again in 1993. Both instances required Jackson to testify in court, and each lawsuit was decided in favor of the singer and his record label.
In 2008, for the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller, Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am remixed “The Girl Is Mine”. The remix received generally unfavorable reviews from music critics.
The writing of “The Girl Is Mine” was completed by Jackson as he watched cartoons with Paul McCartney. Producer Quincy Jones had initially told Jackson to write a song about two men fighting over a girl. Inspired, Jackson awoke during the night and sang the song into a tape recorder. He later said, “I sang exactly what I heard in my head, starting with the melody and the keyboard and the strings and everything. So, I just orally put it all on tape.” Jones also asked Jackson to add a rap verse. The song was then recorded by Jackson and McCartney at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, from April 14 to 16, 1982. A year earlier, the duo had recorded “Say Say Say” and “The Man,” which were released after “The Girl Is Mine” on McCartney’s fifth solo album, Pipes of Peace (1983).
Jackson said that the recording of “The Girl Is Mine” was one of his most enjoyable moments in the studio. He explained, “One of my favorite songs to record, of all my recordings as a solo artist, is probably “The Girl Is Mine”, because working with Paul McCartney was pretty exciting and we just literally had fun. It was like lots of kibitzing and playing, and throwing stuff at each other, and making jokes. We actually recorded the (instrumental) track and the vocals pretty much live at the same time, and we do have footage of it, but it’s never been shown.” He concluded, “Maybe one day we’ll give you a sneak preview of it.” The footage of the pair was later shown at The Paul McCartney World Tour.
Several members of the band Toto participated in the recording of this song, including David Paich (piano), Jeff Porcaro (drums), Steve Lukather (guitars) and Steve Porcaro (synthesizer programming).
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Lyrics
Every night she walks right in my dreams
Since I met her from the start
I’m so proud I am the only one
Who is special in her heart
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
I know she’s mine
Because the doggone girl is mine
I don’t understand the way you think
Saying that she’s yours not mine
Sending roses and your silly dreams
Really just a waste of time
Because she’s mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
I love you more than he
(Take you anywhere)
Well I love you endlessly
(Loving we will share)
So come and go with me
Two on the town
But we both cannot have her
So it’s one or the other
And one day you’ll discover
That she’s my girl forever and ever
I don’t build your hopes to be let down
‘Cause I really feel it’s time
I know she’ll tell you I’m the one for her
‘Cause she said I blow her mind
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
She’s mine, she’s mine
No, no, no, she’s mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, (yep) she’s mine
The girl is mine, (yep) she’s mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
Michael, we’re not going to fight about this, okay
Paul, I think I told you, I’m a lover not a fighter
I’ve heard it all before, Michael, she told me that I’m her forever lover
You know, don’t you remember?
Well, after loving me, she said she couldn’t love another
Is that what she said?
Yes, she said it, you keep dreaming
I don’t believe it
The girl is mine (mine, mine, mine)