Michael Jackson: In the Closet Meaning

Song Released: 1992

In the Closet Lyrics

There's Something
I Have To Say To You
If You Promise You'll
Understand
I Cannot Contain Myself
When In Your Presence
I'm So Humble
Touch Me
Don't Hide Our Love
Woman To Man

[Michael]
She's Just A Lover
Who's Doin' Me By
It's Worth...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Mar 8th 2011 !⃝

   Anyone who says this song is homosexual had OBVIOUSLY NOT seen the music video. That is some strong stuff <3
   
   Anyway, moving on...
   I think it's about a man and a woman who want to have a relationship but don't want the world knowing about it. (Makes a lot of sense coming from Michael.) P.S. This is like the sexiest song in the world. ;)

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 5th 2009 !⃝

   "In the closet" does not mean homosexuality!! It actually means those aspects of life one wants to keep it to himself or herself. Here it refers to sexuality.
   
   The woman here is desperately attracted to the man and she wants him. The man too is equally attracted- he can't avoid her as desire is burning in him. But he wants to keep whatever that happens between them to themselves. He doesn't want the world to know about it while the woman seems to be not so bothered about the world.
   
   If this is to relate to Michael Jackson's personal life, all we can conclude is that he wanted his privacy. He preferred not to talk in public about his relationship to the world- fair enough. Very much fair enough.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Sep 18th 2012 !⃝

   I believe Michael is telling us that is a normal man with desires and needs, but he is also an icon, known around the world. He can't make a move without the media knowing about it. He is a gentleman and he doesn't kiss and tell. There had to be someplace in his life that he could control and have his privacy. Intimacy is a very personal thing and I appreciate his desire to keep that between him and his lady. It isn't anyone else's business.
4. anonymous

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   Aug 28th 2023 !⃝

   I definitely agree with all the interpretations already submitted for this song by MJ. I definitely listened to the words carefully and watched the energy and moves between him & the dancer; it all sent a clear message w/o any misconscruance or doubt in my mind that MJ was never gay( in which I never thought he was) and strongly desired the opposite sex. It is alleged that several of MJ's songs were written by him referring to a secret lover & affair that most of the fan bases of both of them assumed & some knew about. This person broke his heart! He admitted to being in love with her for years, and she never denied being "crazy about" him & loving him very much, but could not go through with an exclusive relationship or marriage due to their age gap & her fear of rejection from fans, the industry, & her career status! So, with that being said, if I had to guess, w/o actual proof but just my own opinion, I would say that he definitely had the woman whom he was deep in love with all his life, in mind when he created these vocals & video, and that is none other than Diana Ross. It has also been alledged that another of his songs, "Dirty Diana" is said to be about groupies, but was definitely a jab at her for leading him on for years, then excaping him by marrying another man w/o warning.....
5. anonymous

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   Aug 2nd 2020 !⃝

   He was a public figure and the press were on his tail. I think its quite normal if he wants a life away from the prying eyes of the press.
   Michael was not gay and I believe he never abused any kid cos no KID ever ran away or got scared of him or ever testified against him.
   Life wasn't easy for the guy, I just hope he's enjoying himself over there...
6. DebAnnExjw

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   Apr 30th 2020 !⃝

   I don't know if any of you know that Michael Jackson's mom was a Jehovah's Witness and he was raised in the religion. He would even knock on doors. He was basically told to leave the religion after Thriller released. Naomi Campbell's mother is also a Jehovah's Witness so they were both exposed to the rules of the religion. Being a former witness myself to me this song is about being a Jehovah's Witness and having a passionate relationship and having to "keep it in the closet", a secret, so you don't get disfellowshiped (kicked out of the religion) and then your family or any member can no longer talk to you.
7. anonymous

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   Mar 12th 2014 !⃝

   Duh. This song is saying that a woman wants to fuck with him and he's saying "Fine. But 'Keep it in the closet!'" He's so sexy
8. anonymous

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   Jun 21st 2012 !⃝

   Ha ha.... seems like we have lust on our hands. Well. Can I just put this out here? He looked SEXY in the video. ;)
   Anyways... this song is obviously about desires. Lust. Attraction and wanting each other. Every time I listen to this it sends shivers down my spine. 'Cause can't you imagine it? "Give it to you" "Touch me" "Something about you" "Makes me want" Listen to it carefully. (Around 4:11 in the video on youtube... listen to the bed springs goin' up and down.) All the moaning... it sounds like *** in the closet. Also listen to 2000 watts. Then yo'll understand from both songs.
9. anonymous

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   Jun 4th 2012 !⃝

   If you ever heard the expression "skeletons in the closet" you would know this song is about him hiding his sexual relationships with women. He said so himself.
10. anonymous

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    Sep 18th 2011 !⃝

    Relationship between a boy and a girl kept secret.
11. anonymous

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    Jul 30th 2011 !⃝

    When I first seen the title of the song " In The Closet", I though that Michael was going to tell people he was gay in a song. But then after listening to the song I felt like he was in a relation with a woman he cared about very much, and he had to keep it a secret, but he didn't want to keep it guiet, because he wanted everybody to know he wasn't gay.
12. anonymous

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    Jan 23rd 2010 !⃝

    Really risky move, Michael, I love it! Michael was smart..using a title "in the closet" that refers to homosexuality, but the song itself is entirely the opposite.. This song is definitely about a relatinship between a woman and man but they must hide it. Michael was a private man.
13. anonymous

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    Dec 17th 2009 !⃝

    I like the video for this song. And Naomi Campbell did a fantastic job portraying Michael's love interest too. Michael was also a gentleman with her as well -- whenever Naomi used bad language, Michael would tell her, "Naomi, don't swear."
    
    And in the video, Michael sure did know how to dance -- especially when it came to Naomi. After all, I believe that Michael was heterosexual, and he did like women. He wasn't homosexual, like a lot of people think.
    
    Anyway, this song is an awesome one to listen to, and the video's fantastic too!
14. anonymous

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    Jul 21st 2009 !⃝

    It is about great sexual temptation, which young or old we all may face through our lives, but as with all of Michael Jackson's songs on the topic, in the end he calls for abstinence outside of marriage.
15. Talon

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    Jul 14th 2009 !⃝

    To me, he is speaking of a high profile woman, someone who, if word got around they were "diddling", it would be pandamonium in the press...I think he's saying go ahead and give in, but keep it hush???
16. Aldebaran

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    Jul 11th 2009 !⃝

    I think he decided to succumb to the advances of one very high profile star (among certainly hundreds who must have tried in vain),and his condition for that would be if she would "keep it in the closet" (a secret). It was probably someone he didn't want to be associated publicly maybe, for whichever reasons.
17. Sinkeri

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    Jul 7th 2009 !⃝

    "Don't Hide Our Love
    Woman To Man "
    It's obvious that the term "in the closet" usually refers to homosexuality, but as quoted above, Jackson is singing about the sexual attraction between a MAN AND A WOMAN, which is heterosexual- so enough of that! :) On the other hand, one has to wonder why Jackson would say his feelings are in the closet, if he indeed was not gay.. could be for the controversy, causing people to talk. In my opinion the video fulfills its' purpose of betraying Jackson as desiring Naomi. :) Grrreat vibe between the two :)
18. anonymous

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    Jun 27th 2009 !⃝

    Didn't his father lock him in the closet?

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