Today’s song of the day is the seventies mega-hit, “I’ll Be There,” performed by the Jackson 5.

Fun Facts

• The Jacksons lived on 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana.
• Michael Jackson has eight brothers and sisters.
• The band formed when Michael was six.
• The Jackson 5 won a local talent show in 1966.
• The band’s original name was Ripples & Waves Plus Michael.
• The Jackson 5 was one of Motown’s highest-grossing artists and eventually became the label’s primary focus. Unfortunately for Motown, the Jackson 5 left Motown for Epic Records in 1976
• While their first recorded album for Motown (1969) was Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, it was Gladys Knight who made a call to Motown after hearing the group perform.
• “I’ll Be There” was recorded when Michael Jackson was eleven years old, even though the song’s subject matter is hardly that of an eleven-year-old.
• The Jackson 5 had their first four singles reach #1 on the Hot 100 and R&B music charts.
• The band set a record for selling 10 million records in 10 months.
• The Jackson 5ive was the name of a Saturday morning cartoon that ran from 1971-1972.
• The Jackson kids and their mother were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Michael wore a disguise as he continued preaching door to door, even though he was already gaining fame.

Lyrics:

(LyricFind)

You and I must make a pact

We must bring salvation back

Where there is love, I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

I’ll reach out my hand to you

I’ll have faith in all you do

Just call my name and I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

And oh, I’ll be there to comfort you

Build my world of dreams around you

I’m so glad that I found you

I’ll be there with a love that’s strong

I’ll be your strength

I’ll keep holdin’ on (holdin’ on)

Yes I will, yes I will

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter

Togetherness, girl, is all I’m after

Whenever you need me, I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

I’ll be there to protect you (yeah baby)

With unselfish love that respects you

Just call my name and I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

And oh, I’ll be there to comfort you

Build my world of dreams around you

I’m so glad that I found you

I’ll be there with a love that’s strong

I’ll be your strength

I’ll keep holdin’ on

Ooh ooh ooh

Yes I will (holdin’ on, holdin’ on)

Yes I will

If you should ever find someone new

I know he better be good to you

‘Cause if he doesn’t

I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

Don’t you know, baby, yeah, yeah

I’ll be there, I’ll be there

Just call my name, I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

Just look over your shoulders honey, ooh

I’ll be there, I’ll be there

Whenever you need me, I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

Don’t you know, baby

I’ll be there, I’ll be there

Just call my name, I’ll be there (I’ll be there)

Oh, oh, oh, oh, I’ll be there