The Mad Rook · Web viewAs they dance, she tells him her name is Billie Jean. She says that she was one of his groupies in the past. She says he made her pregnant and she had a baby

Billie JeanStory

This song tells the story of a groupie and a famous singer and dancer. A groupie is a very devoted fan, usually a female, who is so obsessed with a famous singer that she follows him around from show to show, from city to city. Her selfish goal is to “make him love her” by making love to him and hoping he will marry her and make her rich and famous. Of course, famous singers know this about groupies, and sometime take advantage of them for a quick fling, a one-night stand. Then they dump the groupie when a prettier one comes along. The groupies are naïve, and the singers are opportunistic and too cavalier in their attitudes towards women. Sometimes a girl can get pregnant during these one-night stands. And sometimes they lie about it and pretend to be pregnant, or they get pregnant by some poor loser of a guy and then devise a get-rich-quick scheme by falsely accusing a famous person of being the father in the hope of getting child support, blackmail money, or even a bribe to shut up, be quiet, and go away.In this song, a famous singer is dancing in a ballroom on a large, round dance floor (in the round) during some grand celebration or high-society social event when a beautiful woman walks up to him and says she wants to dance with him in the round. As they dance, she tells him her name is Billie Jean. She says that she was one of his groupies in the past. She says he made her pregnant and she had a baby boy – his son! He claims he doesn’t know her and loudly denies being the father of her child. She insists even more loudly that he IS the father of her child. Suddenly the music stops. Everyone in the ballroom looks and begins listening to what they are arguing about. She shows him a picture of her baby, and his eyes are just like the famous singer’s eyes. Circumstantial evidence only. Not yet proof. Not without a paternity test.He remembers what his momma told him about playing around and breaking young girls’ hearts. She warned him that a lie can easily “become the truth” in the eyes of onlookers, bystanders, and even jury members. He smells the woman’s perfume and perhaps recalls a faint memory of being seduced by her one night on the road (while traveling on a show tour) and going up to her room much too soon for his own good. Now comes the time when one must “pay the piper”.

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Billie JeanLyrics ( link )

01 She was more like a beauty queen02 From a movie scene.03 I said, "Don't mind, but what do you mean04 I am the one?”05 Who will dance on the floor in the round…06 She said I am the one07 Who will dance on the floor in the round…0809 She told me her name was Billie Jean10 As she caused a scene.11 Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one12 Who will dance on the floor in the round.1314 People always told me, "Be careful of what you do.15 And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts."16 And mother always told me, "A-be careful of who you love,17 And be careful of what you do18 'Cause the lie becomes the truth."1920 Billie Jean is not my lover.21 She's just a girl who claims that I am the one.22 But the kid is not my son.23 She says I am the one24 But the kid is not my son.2526 For forty days and for forty nights27 Law was on her side,28 But who can stand29 When she's in demand --30 Her schemes and plans --31 'Cause we danced on the floor in the round.32 So take my strong advice.33 Just remember to always think twice.34 (Do think twice, do think twice.)3536 She told, "My baby, we'd danced 'til three."37 Then she looked at me,

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Billie Jean38 Then showed a photo of a baby crying.39 His eyes looked like mine. “Oh, no.”40 Do a dance on the floor in the round, baby.4142 A-people always told me, "Be careful of what you do,43 And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts."44 (Don't break no heart.)45 A-but she came and stood right by me,46 And just the smell of sweet perfume,47 And this happened much too soon,48 And she called me to her room.4950 Billie Jean is not my lover.51 She's just a girl who claims that I am the one,52 But the kid is not my son.53 (No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.)54 Billie Jean is not my lover.55 She's just a girl who claims that I am the one,56 But the kid is not my son.57 She says I am the one,58 But the kid is not my son.5960 She says I am the one,61 But the kid is not my son.6263 No, no, no!6465 Billie Jean is not my lover.66 She's just a girl who claims that I am the one.67 (No, that's not me, baby.)68 But the kid is not my son.69 (No, no, no, no, no, no, no.)70 She says I am the one (No, babe.).71 But the kid is not my son, no, no, no!7273 She says I am the one.74 You know what you did!75 She says he is my son!76 Breaking my heart, babe.

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Billie Jean77 She says I am the one.7879 Billie Jean is not my lover.80 Billie Jean is not my lover.81 Billie Jean is not my lover.82 She is the one.83 Billie Jean is not my lover.84 She is the one.85 Don't call me, Billie Jean.86 She is the one.87 Billie Jean is not my lover.88 She is the one.89 Billie Jean is not my lover.

Questions for the Students

1. What is a groupie?

2. Have you ever been a groupie?

3. What do you think of groupies?

4. Do you think Billie Jean was telling the truth or a lie? Explain what makes you believe this.

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