The lead-off single for the album was "Demolition Man" written by Sting for Jones and also included on The Police's album Ghost in the Machine later in the year. The second single "Pull Up to the Bumper" was a hit and became one of Jones' best-known songs. It originally made #53 in the UK Singles Chart in June 1981, and a 1985 re-release following the success of the Island Life compilation backed with "La Vie En Rose" reached #12.
The third single from Nightclubbing in 1981 was "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)" which melded Ástor Piazzolla's Argentine tango classic with a reggae beat, and lyrics partly sung in French. The title track is a cover of an Iggy Pop song, which was co-written by David Bowie and the fourth single release, "Walking in the Rain", was originally recorded by Australian New Wave band Flash and the Pan and included on their eponymous 1979 debut album. Nightclubbing closes with the ballad "I've Done It Again" written by Barry Reynolds, with whom Jones would go on to compose most of the material for 1982's Living My Life.
The album reached number #35 on the UK Album Chart in May 1981, #9 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart and #32 on Pop Albums, and this in combination with an entirely new androgynous image created by Jean-Paul Goude brought Jones from being a former disco diva with a loyal cult following but dropping sales figures to an international star with mainstream chart success, and resulted in Island Records re-releasing her 1980 album Warm Leatherette worldwide.
The liner notes of the 2006 Universal Music compilation The Grace Jones Story state "A double deluxe CD edition of Nightclubbing is being released in May 2006 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her keynote work", the bonus disc most likely including the original 1981 7" and 12" mixes that were left off the 1998 compilation Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions, namely "Walking In The Rain" (2 different 12" mixes + one 7" edit), "Pull Up To The Bumper" (3 different 12" mixes and also a 7" dub version performed by the Compass Point Allstars called "Peanut Butter"), "Feel Up" (2 different 12" mixes), "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)" (12" Mix) plus the Spanish language 7" version of the latter entitled "Esta Cara Me Es Conocida". For reasons unknown, this deluxe edition however remains unreleased.
The double deluxe edition CD edition of "Nightclubbing" was set to be released in 2009 to coincide with Island Records 50th Anniversary, but is now delayed indefinitely; Universal Music Group instead re-released the album on vinyl.
The strong rhythm section which features on many of the tracks was provided by Robbie Shakespeare on bass and Sly Dunbar on drums. The two, members of the Jamaican group Black Uhuru, were later successful as a duo in their own right.
Walking In The Rain
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking at the Billboard, oh so bland
Summing up the people, checking out the race
Doing what I'm doing, feeling out of place.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Feeling like a woman, looking like a man
Sounding like a "no-no," making what I can.
Singing in the darkness, shining in the night
The coming conclusion, right isn't right.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Come in all you jesters!, Enter all you fools.
Sit down "no-no", old girl fools.
Trip the light fantastic, dance the spiral hips
Coming conclusion, gotten off your lips.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
The lyrics to Grace Jones's "Walking In The Rain" present a complex narrative of a person wandering aimlessly in the rain, unsure of their place in society. The opening two lines set the scene with the singer expressing boredom and dissatisfaction with the world around them. They observe the blandness of the billboards and make judgments about the people passing by, all while feeling out of place. The repetition of "walking in the rain" throughout the song serves not only as a literal description of the singer's actions but also as a metaphor for their solitary journey in life.
The second verse introduces a gender-bending quality to the lyrics. The singer describes themselves feeling like a woman but looking like a man while also making "what I can" in terms of their livelihood. They sing in the darkness and shine in the night, perhaps suggesting a duality or complexity to their existence. The chorus is repeated once more, emphasizing the singer's continued movement through the rain.
The final verse invites "all you jesters" and "old girl fools" to join the singer's journey, encouraging them to let go of societal constraints and dance freely. The conclusion of the song seems to be a call to action, urging listeners to break free from convention and live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking down the street, kicking cans
Taking a stroll down the street, kicking cans as I move along.
Looking at the Billboard, oh so bland
Observing the Billboard which looks so uninteresting.
Summing up the people, checking out the race
Taking stock of people and surveying the race.
Doing what I'm doing, feeling out of place
Carrying out my activity, feeling isolated.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Strolling aimlessly in the rain.
Feeling like a woman, looking like a man
Experiencing life as a female but appearing masculine.
Sounding like a "no-no," making what I can.
Being judged negatively for making a living with my talents.
Singing in the darkness, shining in the night
Singing in obscurity and illuminating the darkness with my presence.
The coming conclusion, right isn't right.
Foreseeing that things will not end well, as what appears right is actually not.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Strolling aimlessly in the rain.
Come in all you jesters!, Enter all you fools.
Inviting all the jokers and foolish individuals to join in.
Sit down "no-no", old girl fools.
Urging those who are deemed unacceptable by society to relax and be themselves.
Trip the light fantastic, dance the spiral hips
Dancing and expressing freedom in a unique, creative manner.
Coming conclusion, gotten off your lips.
Predicting an outcome that is now visible to all.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Strolling aimlessly in the rain.
Walking
walking, in the rain.
Strolling aimlessly in the rain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VINCENT F. BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind