Rhythm Nation
Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis
Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Lead Vocals: Janet Jackson
Background Vocals: Janet Jackson, Terry Lewis, Lisa Keith
Additional Vocals: John McClain, Rene Elizondo, James "Popeye" Greer, Jellybean Johnson, Randy Ran, and Anthony Thomas
 

With music by our side
To break the color lines
Let's work together
To improve our way of life
Join voices in protest
To social injustice
A generation full of courage
Come forth with me

People of the world today
Are we looking for a better way of life
We are a part of the rhythm nation
People of the world unite
Strength in numbers we can get it right
One time
We are a part of the rhythm nastion

This is the test
No struggle no progress
Lend a hand to help
Your brother do his best
 Things are getting worse
 We have to make them better
 It's time to give a damn
 Let's work together come on 

Five A.M. rise and shine
To feed the baby before he starts to cry
No rest, no time to play
15, the mother is a runaway
No time for dreams or goals
Pressure is so strong
Her body she has sold so her child can eat
What is happening to this world we live in
In our home and other lands

Chorus:
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the streets
People can't find enough to eat
Now our kids can't go out and play
That's the state of the world today

Lil' Johnny all alone
His only friend, the doll he carries with him
Goes to school each and every day
To be teased because he has no place to stay
This young homeless boy feels his life is
worthless
Instead of suicide he cries himself to sleep
And it's happening to this world we live in
There's got to be a better way

Bridge:
Can't give up hope now
Let's weather the storm together
 
Chorus  

Insight to what's goin' on
Information keeps us strong
What you don't know can hurt you bad
Take it from me you'll be walkin' around sad
Cryin' for a better day
Until you educate for a better way
So if you wanna be in control
Ya gotta get yourself in the know

Chorus:
Get the knowledge
That you really want
The knowledge
Do you really want
It's the knowledge
What you really want
The knowledge
That you really want

Spreading vise don't believe the hype
You don't find the knowledge in a pipe
Too many lives go up in smoke
It's nice to laugh but don't be the joke
To get over get better
Try to be the possessor
Of the one thing we all need in life
To succeed take my advice

Chorus

Prejudice No!
Ignorance No!
Bigotry No!
Illiteracy No!

Listen it's up to everyone
If we're gonna change the way the world is run
The way to start is to rid the children of
Prejudice & ignorance
We've gotta teach our kids to read & write
That's the only way to win this fight for life
Education is the goal so
If you wanna be in the know
Get the knowledge
It's the one thing we all need in life

Chorus  

Shot like an arrow through my heart
That's the pain I feel
I feel whenever we're apart
Not to say that I'm in love with you
But who's to say that I'm not
I just know that it feels wrong,
When I'm away too long
It makes my body hot, so let me tell ya baby

Chorus:
I'll tell your mama, I'll tell your friends
I'll tell anyone
Whose heart can comprehend
Send it in a letter baby
Tell you on the phone
I'm not the kind of girl
Who likes to be alone
I miss ya much (boy-oh-I miss you much)
I really miss you much (M-I-S-S you much)
I miss ya much (boy-oh-I miss you much)
Baby I really miss you much (M-I-S-S you much)

I'm rushing home
Just as soon as I can
I'm rushing home to see
Your smiling face
And feel your warm embrace
It makes me feel so g-g-g good
So I'll tell you baby

Chorus

Bridge:
I miss you much
I really really miss you
you much
I miss you much
I'm not ashamed
to tell the world
I miss you

Chorus  

Our friends think we're opposites
Falling in and out of love
They all said we'd never last
Still we managed to stay together

There's no easy explanation for it
But whenever there's a problem
We always work it out somehow
Work it out somehow

They said it wouldn't last
We had to prove them wrong
'cause I've learned in the past
That love will never do without you

Other guys have tried before
To replace you as my lover
Never did i have a doubt
Boy it's you i can't do without

I feel better when I have you near me
'cause no other love around
Has quite the same ooh ooh
Like you do do do do babe

They said it wouldn't last
We had to prove them wrong
'cause I've learned in the past
That love will never do without you  

Children are called the future of an adult world
They are born with spirits so innocent
'till we teach them how to hate

Add to the world's confusion
We teach our kids rules
That we don't adhere to ourselves
Right or wrong
What example can they take
The people they learn from
Forge the ideas we become

Livin' in a world they didn't make
Livin' in a world that's filled with hate
Livin' in a world where grown-ups break the
rules
Livin' in a world they didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can they take
Our children

Children grow to become our young adults
Problems of the world
They must learn how to confront
Doing drugs and joining gangs to rebel
Colors show they belong
To the social override
'cause they're living in a space
They feel out of place

Livin' in a world they didn't make
Livin' in a world that's filled with hate
Livin' in a world where all the grown-ups break the
rules
Livin' in a world we didn't make
Paying for a lot of adult mistakes
How much of this madness can we take
As children  

Seeing that your love's true
Never I'll doubt you
My heart belongs to you
That's alright with me

Worlds could end around me
So in love that I can't see
You and me were meant to be
That's alright with me

Friends may come and friends may go
My friend, you're real I know
True self you have shown
You're alright with me

Thru thick and thick to thin
I'll love you till the end
You know it's true my friend
You're alright with me

Catch a fallin' star that shines
Make a wish a clap 3 times
Dreams come true it's in the mind
That's alright with me

Your wish is my command
Never thought I'd fall in love again
Again with my best friend
That's alright with me

Friends come and friends may go
My friend, you're real I know
True self you have shown
You're alright with me

Thru thick and thick to thin
I'll love you till the end
You know it's true my friend
You're alright with me

Always and everlasting
This love is just not passing
We're happy as can be
Alright with me  

As I was walkin' by
Saw you standin' there
With a smile

Lookin' shy
You caught my eye
Thought you'd want to hang
For a while

Well I'd like to be with you
And you know it's Friday too
I hope you can find the time
This weekend to relax and unwind

My mind's tired
I've worked so hard all week
Cashed my check
I'm ready to go
I promise you
I'll show you such a good time

Chorus:
Come on baby let's get away
Let's save out troubles for another day
Come go with me we've got it made
Let me take you on an escapade (let's go)

Es-ca-pade we'll have a good time
Es-ca-pade leave your worries behind
Es-ca-pade you can be mine
Es-ca-pade an escapade

So don't hold back
Just have a good time
We'll make the rules up
As we go along
And break them all
If we're not havin' fun

Chorus

My mind's tired I've worked
So hard all
Worked so hard all week
I just got paid, we've got it made
Ready to go
I promise you I'll show you
Such a good time

Chorus  

All the lonely nights I spend alone
Never 'round to love me
You're always gone
'cause you're hangin' out
Breakin' the rules
Oh the man has come
Looking for you

You're a rebel now
Don't give a damn
Always carrying on
With the gang
I'm tryin' to tell you boy
It's a mistake
you won't realize
'til it's too late

Don't understand
Why you insist
On ways of living such a dangerous life
Time after time you stay away
And I just know that you're telling me lies

Chorus:
Black cat nine lives
Short days long nights
Livin' on the edge
Not afraid to die
Heart beat real strong
But not for long
Better watch your step
Or you're gonna die

You're so together boy
But just a glance
You'll do anything
If given a chance

Scheming, plannin' lies
To get what you need
So full of promises
That you never keep

Don't you tell yourself
That it's okay
Sick and tired of
All of your games
And you want me stay
Better change
Makes no sense to me
Your crazy ways

Chorus  

Feeling so alone and deserted
With people standing all around you
Should I trust someone
Should I stay off to myself
Alone with no one to talk to
It's such a helpless feeling

So any time you feel the need
Call me when you're lonely
Cause everybody needs a friend
To be there when they're lonely

So don't isolate yourself
Every time that I come around
A person all alone
Is an unhappy one
We need somebody near to love us

Someone who cares
Living life all by yourselves
Impossible to do and I'll be there for you

Anytime you feel the need
Call me when you're lonely
Cause everybody needs a friend
And I'll be yours if you are lonely

(And if you're all alone)

If you're all alone
And a friend you need
Like a river flows
You hurt, I'll bleed
If you trust in me
We can find away
Take away the pain
Time heals all things
Even a lonely state of mind
'cause happiness is oh so hard to find

If your lonely I will be there

So anytime you feel the need
Call me when you're lonely
Cause everybody needs a friend
To be there when they're lonely  

Looking through my old drawer
Came across the letter you wrote
Said you need time away
That was so long ago

All my life I've waited
To see your smile again
In my mind I've hated
Not able to let go

Chorus:
Come back to me
I'm beggin' you please
Come back to me
I want you to
Come back to me
I'm beggin' you please
Come back to me

Lord knows that I have tried
To live my life as one
Friends tell me to hold on
Tough times don't last for long

My abandoned heart
Just doesn't understand
My undying love for you
Won't let me wait

Chorus

Please come back to me
I miss you so much
Wherever you are I love you

All my life I've waited
To see your smile again
In my mind I've hated
Not able to let go