Critical Discourse Analysis in The Song “They Don’t Care About Us” By Michael Jackson

Abstract

This research aims to (1) analyze Michael Jackson's song "They Don't Care About Us" using Fairclough's CDA model, which includes description, interpretation, and explanation, and (2) explore its implications for language learning. The data, comprising song lyrics and symbolic cues from the video, were evaluated using Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis. The description analysis reveals that the repeated line "All I want to say is that they don't really care about us" emphasizes his main message of institutional indifference to social inequality. While interpretation analysis shows that the song's background is linked to the social and political unrest of 1995, referencing events like the Rodney King beating and the subsequent riots. From the perspective of explanation, the song acts as a protest, using music to raise awareness of social issues and call for change. The song includes a variety of grammar and vocabulary, from everyday terms to complex words, helping language learners in expanding their vocabulary. Thus, this song can be used in literary studies to explore figurative language and symbolism, and also to teach English.