- The Jackson 5 open the book of love in this Motown classic, where Michael Jackson sings about giving a young lady private lessons. He’s confident she’ll see it’s as simple as ABC, do re mi and 1-2-3… they should be together. The schoolyard theme was a good fit, as Michael was just 11 years old when it was released.
About This Song
- This song is packed with hooks that put Michael Jackson’s talents to good use. It opens with the call-and-response “buh buh buh buh buh buh” and has lots of little vocal interjections throughout (“Get up, girl!”). These vocal bits became one of Michael Jackson’s hallmarks, both The Jackson 5 and as a solo artist.
- In 1991, the rap group Naughty by Nature sampled “ABC” into “O.P.P.,” giving them a huge hit. What’s striking about it is how the sample forms the basis for the entire track – it’s essentially a loop with the raps built on top of it. Over the next few years, more rappers started lifting huge chunks of hits to craft their tracks – Puff Daddy was especially brazen.
- This song closes out the 2006 movie Clerks II in a scene where Rosario Dawson dances to it, then the who cast gets their groove on to the song
Video
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
You went to school to learn girlThings you never knew beforeLike “I” before “E” except after “C”And why 2 plus 2 makes 4Now, now, nowI’m gonna teach you, teach you, teach youAll about love girl, all about loveSit yourself down, take a seatAll you gotta do is repeat after me
A B C, It’s easy as1 2 3, as simple asDo re mi, A B C, 1 2 3Baby you and me girl
Come on and love me just a little bitI’m gonna teach you how to sing it outCome on, come on, come onLet me tell you what it’s all aboutReading, writing, arithmaticAre the branches of the learning treeBut without the roots of love everyday girlYour education ain’t completeTeacher’s gonna show you (she’s gonna show you)How to get an “A” (na, na, na, na, na, na)How to spell “me”, “you”, add the twoListen to me baby thats all you got to do
Oh,
A B C, It’s easy as1 2 3, as simple asDo re mi, A B C, 1 2 3Baby you and me girlA B C it’s easy, it’s like counting up to 3Singing simple melodiesThat’s how easy love can beSinging simple melodies1 2 3 baby you and me
Sit down girl, I think I love ya’No, get up girl, show me what you can doShake it, shake it baby, come on nowShake it, shake it baby, oooh, ooohShake it, shake it baby, yeah1 2 3 baby, oooh ooohA B C baby, ah, ahDo re mi baby, wowThats how easy love can beA B C it’s easy, it’s like counting up to 3Singing simple melodiesThat’s how easy love can beTeacher’s gonna teach you how toSing it out, sing it out, sing it out baby