: Jackson uses the phrase "beat it"—colloquial for "go away" or "leave"—as a directive for survival rather than cowardice.
Produced alongside Quincy Jones, "Beat It" was a deliberate attempt to create a "rock song" that would appeal to a broad audience, including those who typically didn't listen to R&B. Beat It: The MJ Song Van Halen Broke (Then Saved) Beat It - Michael Jackson (Lyrics) рџЋµ
: The inspiration for these themes reportedly stemmed from Jackson's own observations of gang "rumbles" in his hometown of Gary, Indiana, as well as his personal aversion to violence. Musical Innovation and "Crossover" Success : Jackson uses the phrase "beat it"—colloquial for