"She's out of My Life" was the fourth single to be released by singer Michael Jackson from his successful Off the Wall album in 1980. It was the first time a solo artist achieved four top ten hits from one album. Unlike the previous singles, which were all dance-oriented funk/disco songs, this song was an emotional ballad. Jackson's vocals on this record were judged some of his best. The song was written by Tom Bahler after Karen Carpenter broke up with him upon discovering he had fathered a child with another woman. The song has been covered numerous times by many artists including Patti LaBelle, Ginuwine, 98 Degrees, and Josh Groban.
A crucial moment in the song occurs near its end when Jackson begins to break down in tears as he sings the word "life". The song remained in Jackson's live set for many years as a result of its popularity. Jackson tried many takes of the last few minutes of the song, but always ended the same way – breaking down in tears. Producer Quincy Jones let him record it that way out of necessity, not because he felt it was a good idea . The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
