“Liberian Girl”, the 9th and final single released from the 1987 album ‘Bad’, (exclusively in the EU and Australia), was written and composed by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.
The song begins with South African singer Letta Mbulu speaking the Swahili phrase “Naku Penda pia, Naku Taka pia, Mpenziwe!” (I love you too, I want you too, my love!)
Michael Jackson: “I wrote that at my house in the game room. I guess I was playing some pinball or something, and the song just popped into my head. And I think I ran upstairs, put it on tape, and it became ‘Liberian Girl’…..I don’t think about it, it just comes.”
Engineer Bruce Swedien: “Liberian Girl’ is one of my absolute favorites of all the music that I’ve done with Michael. Who could think of a thing like that, except Michael Jackson? It’s astounding-the imagery and everything else in it. It’s just an amazing musical and sonic fantasy….Michael’s vocals on ‘Liberian Girl’ are absolutely stellar! The lead, and the big, block background harmonies. Wow!”
“Liberian Girl” was released as a CD single on July 4th, 1989 on Epic Records. It was the 9th single to be released from the ‘Bad’ album. The CD single of “Liberian Girl” is a 3:40 edit from the original 3:53 album version, and also includes the songs “Girlfriend” (3:06), “The Lady In My Life” (4:57), and “Get On The Floor” (4:46).
“Liberian Girl” was released as a 7” single on July 4th, 1989 on Epic Records. The 7” single of “Liberian Girl” is a 3:40 edit from the original 3:53 album version, and the ‘B’-side of the 7″ single is “Girlfriend” (3:04).
Written and Composed by Michael Jackson
(Naku penda piya – naku taka piya – mpenziwe)
(I love you too – I want you too – my love)
Liberian girl…
You came and you changed my world
A love so brand new
Liberian girl…
You came and you changed me girl
A feeling so true
Liberian girl
You know that you came
And you changed my world,
Just like in the movies
With two lovers in a scene
And she says…
“Do you love me”
And he says so endlessly…
“I love you, Liberian girl”
(Naku penda piya – naku taka piya – mpenziwe)
(I love you too – I want you too – my love)
Liberian girl…
More precious than any pearl
Your love so complete
Liberian girl…
You kiss me then,
Ooh, the world
You do this to me
Liberian girl
You know that you came
And you changed my world,
Just like in the movies,
With two lovers in a scene
And she says,
“Do you love me”
And he says so endlessly
“I love you, Liberian girl”
(Naku penda piya – naku taka piya – mpenziwe)
(I love you too – I want you too – my love)
Liberian girl
You know that you came
And you changed my world,
I wait for the day,
When you have to say
“I do,”
And I’ll smile and say it too,
And forever we’ll be true
I love you, Liberian girl, all the time
(Girl)
I love you Liberian girl, all the time
(Girl)
I love you Liberian girl, all the time
(Girl)
I love you Liberian girl, all the time
(Girl)
I love you
I love you baby
(Girl)
I want you
I love you baby
(Girl)
Ooh! I love you baby, I want you baby, ooh!
(Girl)
©1987 Mijac Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
CREDITS:
“Liberian Girl” - written and composed by Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals.
John Robinson: Drums.
Douglas Getschal: Drum programming.
Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion.
Christopher Currell: Synclavier.
John Barnes, Michael Boddicker, David Paich, Larry Williams: Synthesizers.
Steve Porcaro: Synthesizer programming.
Letta Mbulu: Swahili chant.
Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson, John Barnes and Quincy Jones.
Synthesizer arrangement by Jerry Hey, John Barnes and Quincy Jones.
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Barnes.
Swahili chant arrangement by Caiphus Semenya.
©1987 Mijac Music