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"Innocent Man"

Date range assessed by the facts that it was confirmed to be “written by Jackson in 1993 at the height of his sexual abuse controversy” (“Julien’s Live” auction listing) (archived), which began in mid-August 1993.

Michael Jackson, lyrics transcript

[000]

California’s lost her love for me.

Seems like the odds are all against me now

the winds are

seems she’s trying to convict me now

seems her heart has turned

against me now

if [I] sail to Acapulco or

Cancun Mexico

then the odds are all against

me, but god knows that

I’m innocent

[001]

chorus The Innocent Man

if I sail to Acapulco

or Cancun Mexico

there the law is waiting

for me

and God knows that I’m

innocent

if they won’t take me in

Cairo then Lord knows where will

I go.

I’ll die a man without a

country

and only God knew I was

innocent now.

[002]

The Innocent Man

if I sail to Acapulco

or Cancun Mexico

there the law is waiting for

me

but God knows that

I’m innocent

if the British try to find me

then lord where will I go

let the whole world go against me

long as God knows I’m

an innocent man now

Farewell to all

my years in Hollywood

or: farewell to all

my dreams in

Hollywood

[003]

Let the whole world be

against me long as God

knows I’m an innocent

man now if the British try

to find me then lord knows where will

I go

let the whole world try

to find me

long as God knows

[004]

The Innocent Man

Sometimes I feel just

like a fugitive I’m running

for my life

and deep inside I often

do say why I ask the

question why

but I’m not running at all

I’m just healing a lonely wounded heart

the truth becomes the lie

I wish I could fly away

“Julien’s Live” auction listing ( October 8, 2010) (archived)

Written on the back of a "Song Packet Info" sheet, this song was written by Jackson in 1993 at the height of his sexual abuse controversy.  The lyrics read in part, "If they won't take me in Cairo then lord where will I go.  I'll die a man without a country and only god knew I was innocent now.