“The Girl Is Mine” is the third track on “Thriller” and a duet with former Beatles sensation Paul McCartney. It became the debut single for the album. The idea for the song came from Quincy Jones, who told Michael to write a song about two men fighting over a girl. Inspired, Michael awoke during the night and sang the song into a tape recorder.
For “Thriller 25” in 2008, will.i.am remixed the song. He used Michael’s solo demo recording as the vocal track, eradicating Paul McCartney from the song. The full unreleased demo from Michael was released in January 2008 as a bonus track on the will.i.am remix single.
The song has had two plagiarism lawsuits associated with it, in 1984 and 1993. In both cases Michael testified and won them both.
On its release in 1982, a version omitting the spoken dialogue between Michael and Paul was released. This was used for promotional purposes only and was dubbed the “New Edited Version.”
The recording sessions for the “The Girls Is Mine” took place at Westlake Recording Studios in LA. It was captured on video though that film has never been released in full.
Below is the album version, as can be heard on “Thriller,” and the will.i.am remix from the 2008 “Thriller 25” album.
(Michael)
Every night she walks right in my dreams
Since I met her from the start
I’m so proud I am the only one
Who is special in her heart
The girl is mine
The dog-gone girl is mine
I know she’s mine
Because the doggone girl is mine
(Paul)
I don’t understand the way you think
Saying that she’s yours not mine
Sending roses and your sill dreams
Really just a waste of time
Because she’s mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
I love you more than he (Take you anywhere)
(Michael)
But I love you endlessly (Loving we will share)
(Michael & Paul)
So come and go with me
Two on the town
(Michael)
But we both cannot have her
So it’s one or the other
And one day you’ll discover
That she’s my girl forever and ever
(Paul)
Don’t build your hopes to be let down
‘Cause I really feel it’s time
(Michael)
I know she’ll tell you I’m the one for her
‘Cause she said I blow her mind
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
(Michael & Paul)
She’s mine, she’s mine
No, no, no, she’s mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
(Paul)
The girl is mine, (yep) she’s mine
The girl is mine, (yes) she’s mine (x2)
(Michael)
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
(Paul)
Michael, we’re not going to fight about this, okay
(Michael)
Paul, I think I told you, I’m a lover not a fighter
(Paul)
I’ve heard it all before, Michael, she told me that I’m her forever lover,
You know, don’t you remember
(Michael)
Well, after loving me, she said she couldn’t love another
(Paul)
Is that what she said
(Michael)
Yes, she said it, you keep dreaming
(Paul sings)
I don’t believe it
(Michael & Paul)
The girl is mine, (mine, mine, mine)
(Continue ’til fade)
(Michael)
Every night she walks right in my dreams
Since I met her from the start
I’m so proud I am the only one
Who is special in her heart
The girl is mine
The dog-gone girl is mine
I know she’s mine
Because the doggone girl is mine
(Paul)
I don’t understand the way you think
Saying that she’s yours not mine
Sending roses and your sill dreams
Really just a waste of time
Because she’s mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
I love you more than he (Take you anywhere)
(Michael)
But I love you endlessly (Loving we will share)
(Michael & Paul)
So come and go with me
Two on the town
(Michael)
But we both cannot have her
So it’s one or the other
And one day you’ll discover
That she’s my girl forever and ever
(Paul)
Don’t build your hopes to be let down
‘Cause I really feel it’s time
(Michael)
I know she’ll tell you I’m the one for her
‘Cause she said I blow her mind
The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
(Michael & Paul)
She’s mine, she’s mine
No, no, no, she’s mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
(Paul)
The girl is mine, (yep) she’s mine
The girl is mine, (yes) she’s mine (x2)
(Michael)
Don’t waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
(Paul)
Michael, we’re not going to fight about this, okay
(Michael)
Paul, I think I told you, I’m a lover not a fighter
(Paul)
I’ve heard it all before, Michael, she told me that I’m her forever lover,
You know, don’t you remember
(Michael)
Well, after loving me, she said she couldn’t love another
(Paul)
Is that what she said
(Michael)
Yes, she said it, you keep dreaming
(Paul sings)
I don’t believe it
(Michael & Paul)
The girl is mine, (mine, mine, mine)
(Continue ’til fade)
