Be Not Always
Jackson 5 · Other Songs - Jackson 5
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 are 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, be not always.
But if always, bow our heads in shame.
Always, please, be not always.
'Cause if always, bow our heads in blame.
'Cause time has made promises, just promises.
Death promises.
Be Not Always - Jackson 5
Released by the Jackson 5, "Be Not Always" stands as a poignant example of the group's transition from children's entertainment to serious musical artists. The track exemplifies the soulful R&B and pop-rock fusion that defined their later catalog, showcasing the brothers' vocal maturity and harmonies beyond their earlier hits. As part of their broader discography, the song reflects the era's shift toward more mature themes and sophisticated production, distinguishing it from their earlier work. It remains a significant song in their body of work, demonstrating the group's ability to craft emotionally resonant recordings that appealed to both young and adult audiences during their peak influence in the 1970s.