Liberian Girl

Track 4 on Bad

Produced by

Liberian Girl is the ninth gem on the astonishing album Bad by Michael Jackson. It’s dedicated to Michael’s friend, Elizabeth Taylor. Not released in the United States… Read More

Jul. 4, 19891 viewer150.1K views

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Liberian Girl Lyrics

[Intro: Letta Mbulu]
Nakupenda pia
Nakutaka pia
Mpenzi we'

[Verse 1: Michael Jackson]
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

[Chorus: Michael Jackson]
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"

[Post-Chorus: Letta Mbulu & Michael Jackson]
Nakupenda pia
Nakutaka pia (Ooh-ooh, baby)
Mpenzi we'
Ah, ah, ah-ah-ah
Mmm, baby, alright

[Verse 2: Michael Jackson]
Liberian girl, more precious than any pearl
Your love's so complete
Liberian girl, you kiss me, then, ooh, the world
You do this to me

[Chorus: Michael Jackson]
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"

[Post-Chorus: Letta Mbulu & Michael Jackson]
Nakupenda pia
Nakutaka pia (Ooh-ooh, baby)
Mpenzi we'
Ah, ah, ah-ah-ah

[Chorus: Michael Jackson]
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 will be true

[Refrain: Michael Jackson]
I love you, Liberian girl all the time
I love you, Liberian girl all the time
I love you, Liberian girl all the time
I love you, Liberian girl all the time

[Outro: Michael Jackson]
I love you (Girl)
I love you, baby
I want you
I love you, baby, ooh (Girl)
I love you, baby
I want you, baby, ooh (Girl)

About

Liberian Girl is the ninth gem on the astonishing album Bad by Michael Jackson. It’s dedicated to Michael’s friend, Elizabeth Taylor.

Not released in the United States, Liberian Girl is still the ninth single released from MJ’s album in Europe and Australia. He was very fascinated with Africa, from the wild life to the culture. The song had a positive response, but it shine even brighter in Liberia. The following is a quote from an actual Liberian Girl, Margaret Carson.

When that music came out…the Liberian girls were so astonished to hear a great musician like Michael Jackson thinking about a little country in Africa. It gave us hope, especially when things went bad…It make us to feel that we are still part of the world.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What has Letta Mbulu said about "Liberian Girl"?

I was playing a concert in Senegal and I got a call from my husband saying Quincy was doing a song and wanted someone who could sing in Swahili. I don’t speak Swahili but I was his go to African voice and I had a friend from Kenya who was able to help me write the words. It went something like ‘Nakupenda’, meaning ‘I love you’. And I chanted ‘ah-ah-ah-ah’ at the end because I knew what Michael liked. He was very fascinated by me coming from Africa, but he was quite shy. It was an honor that he chose me, you couldn’t get bigger than that.

—Letta Mbulu, via interview with The Quietus

Who produced “Liberian Girl” by Michael Jackson?

When did Michael Jackson release “Liberian Girl”?

Who wrote “Liberian Girl” by Michael Jackson?