“Be Not Always” is a secret gem in the “Victory” album. With only Michael’s voice and no background vocals, it’s all but a solo song that could have been on “Thriller,” or even on the previous Jacksons album “Triumph.” Michael was working on this ballad around the time he wrote “Liberian Girl,” which eventually ended up on the “Bad” album. It started life in the late 1970s and took about five years to be finalized.
Always
Be not always
And if always
Bow our heads in shame
Always
Please be not always
And if always
Bow our heads in blame
‘Cause time has made promises
Just promises
Faces
Did you see their faces?
Did they touch you?
Have you felt such pain?
To have nothing
To dream something
Then lose hoping
Is not life but lame?
But time has made promises
Just promises
Mothers cry, babies die
Helplessly in arms
While rockets fly and research lies
In progress to become
But what of men of flesh and blood?
We turn our backs on life
How can we claim to stand for peace
When the race is armed in strife
Destroying life?
Always
Please be not always
But if always
Bow our heads in shame
Always
Please, please be not always
‘Cause if always
Bow our heads in blame
Always
Be not always
And if always
Bow our heads in shame
Always
Please be not always
And if always
Bow our heads in blame
‘Cause time has made promises
Just promises
Faces
Did you see their faces?
Did they touch you?
Have you felt such pain?
To have nothing
To dream something
Then lose hoping
Is not life but lame?
But time has made promises
Just promises
Mothers cry, babies die
Helplessly in arms
While rockets fly and research lies
In progress to become
But what of men of flesh and blood?
We turn our backs on life
How can we claim to stand for peace
When the race is armed in strife
Destroying life?
Always
Please be not always
But if always
Bow our heads in shame
Always
Please, please be not always
‘Cause if always
Bow our heads in blame
