Speed Demon
Michael Jackson - Bad album cover

“Speed Demon”, the third track on the ‘Bad’ album, was written and composed by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson: “‘Speed Demon’ is a machine song.”

Quincy Jones: “‘Speed Demon’ is amazing. I mean, Michael’s imagination is awesome, you know, it really is. He’s really unique, man….he stays out of the box, and I love that. Jerry Hey wrote a real great double bass line that I really like in there…it helped the tune a lot.”

Assistant Engineer Russ Ragsdale: “Michael’s vision [is] to start making a record by creating totally new fresh sounds that have never been heard before. For ‘Bad’ this was achieved by [musicians] Michael Boddicker and Greg Phillinganes, with synth stacks filling up the entire large tracking room taking up every available space, as well as the largest Synclavier in the world at the time operated by Chris Currell.”

“Speed Demon” was released as a special, limited-edition 7” promotional single in the United States on October 12th, 1989 on Epic records. The song “Speed Demon” (4:01) appears on both sides of the 7″ single.

Written and Composed by Michael Jackson

I’m headed for the border

It’s on my mind

And nothin’ really matters

I’ve got to be on time

Look in the view mirror

Is he hot on my tracks

Is he getting nearer

I feel some heat is on my back

(Speed demon)

Speedin’ on the freeway

Gotta get a leadway

(Speed demon)

Doin’ it on the highway

Gotta have it my way

(Speed demon)

Mind is like a compass

I’m stoppin’ at nothin’

(Speed demon)

(He say) Pull over boy and get your ticket right…

And nothin’ gonna stop me

Ain’t no stop and go

I’m speedin’ on the midway

I gotta really burn this road

(Speed demon)

Speedin’ on the freeway

Gotta get the leadway

(Speed demon)

Doin’ it on the highway

Gotta have it my way

(Speed demon)

Mind is like a compass

I’m stoppin’ at nothin’

(Speed demon)

(He say) Just, pull over boy and get your

ticket right…

Speed demon, you’re the very same one

Who said the future’s in your hands

The life you save could be your own

You’re preachin’ ’bout my life like you’re the law

Gonna live each day and hour like

For me there’s no tomorrow

Go! Go! Go! Aaow!

(Speed demon)

Speedin’ on the freeway

Gotta get a leadway

(Speed demon)

Got fire in my pocket

I just lit a rocket

(Speed demon)

(He say) Just, pull over boy and get your ticket right

(Speed demon)

(He say) Pull over boy and get your ticket right

(Speed demon)

(He say) Just, pull over boy and eat your ticket

(He say) Pull over boy

(He say) Pull over boy

And get your ticket right

Ugh!

Aaow!

Uhh!

Hoo!

Get your ticket right

(He say) Pull over boy – get your ticket right

(He say) Pull over boy and get your ticket right

(He say) Pull over boy

(He say) Pull over boy and get your ticket

Eat your ticket

Get your ticket

Eat yo,’ get yo,’ Hoo! Aaow!

Get your ticket right

©1987 Mijac Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

CREDITS:

“Speed Demon” - written and composed by Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals, vocal synthesizer.

Larry Williams: MIDI saxophone solo.

Miko Brando, Ollie E. Brown, John Robinson: Drums.

Douglas Getschal: Drum programming.

Bill Bottrell, David Williams: Guitars.

Kim Hutchcroft: Saxophone.

Gary Grant, Jerry Hey: Trumpets.

Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion.

Christopher Currell: Synclavier, effects.

John Barnes, Michael Boddicker, Greg Phillinganes: Synthesizers.

Eric Persing: Synthesizer programming.

Race car intro - Dimensional Recording by Spherical Sound, Inc.

Sounds engineered by Ken Caillat and Tom Jones.

Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones.

Vocal arrangements by Michael Jackson.

Synthesizer and horn arrangements by Jerry Hey.

©1987 Mijac Music