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I Want You Back

The Jackson 5 Cover | Speak Now: World Tour Live (2011)

“I Want You Back” is a song originally recorded by The Jackson 5. Taylor performed it during a 2011 concert at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and later released it as a bonus track on her live album Speak Now: World Tour Live. The record consists of songs and performances recorded on various tour dates around the world from her “Speak Now World Tour“.

Background and Lyrical Theme

“I Want You Back” was released on October 6, 1969 and was the first Jackson 5 single to be released by Motown and the first song written and produced by The Corporation, a team comprising Motown chief Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards. It also is the first of four Jackson 5 No. 1 singles released in a row.

An unusual aspect about “I Want You Back” was that its main lead vocal was performed by a tween, Michael Jackson. Originally considered for Gladys Knight & the Pips and later for Diana Ross, as “I Wanna Be Free”, “I Want You Back” explores the theme of a lover who decides that he was too hasty in dropping his partner.

Lyrics

Written by Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards & Berry Gordy Jr.

[Chorus]
Oh baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Oh won’t you please let me back in your heart?
Oh darling, I was blind to let you go (Let you go, baby)
Now that I see you back in his arms
I want you back, I want you back
I want you back, I want you back
Oh, oh, baby I want you back, I want you back
Oh oh oh oh
Oh baby, give me one more chance (To show you that I love you)
Won’t you please let me back in your heart?
Oh darling, I was blind to let you go (Let you go baby)
Now that I see you in her arms
I want you back
I want you back oh, oh baby