Shortly after that, with Kenny's assistance, Joan formed the backing group "The Blackhearts" with three obscure New York area musicians: Gary Ryan on bass, Eric Ambel (replaced shortly thereafter by Rick Byrd) on guitar and Lee Crystal on drums. After almost a year of touring, Joan's first album with The Blackhearts, entitled I Love Rock'N'Roll came out in December of 1981. The album included a version of "Little Drummer Boy" on the pre-Christmas editions. The album's impact on the music scene was immediate with the LP reaching the Top Five, while the single "I Love Rock'n'Roll" hit the very top of the Billboard's Charts on March 20, 1982 and stayed #1 for 7 weeks. Joan Jett had come back from nowhere.
A string of Top 40 hits followed, as well as sellout tours with The Police, Queen, and Aerosmith, among others. Jett was the second American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain, the first one being Blood, Sweat & Tears in Romania in 1969. She was among the first English-speaking rock acts to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Forced label changes in the 80's led to a decline in popularity. Despite the follow-up albums "Album" and "Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth" being praised by her devout fans, neither got the attention or radio play the first two albums received.
After receiving her own MTV New Year's Eve special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. It was about this time that Ryan and Crystal left the Blackhearts. They were soon replaced by the powerful rhythm section of Thommy Price and Kasim Sulton. Later that year, Jett released "Good Music", which featured appearances by The Beach Boys, The Sugarhill Gang and singer Darlene Love. The album only spawned two minor singles which received little airplay. This label decided the band had to either take in outside help or they would lose their contract.
And so they did. Her next release, Up Your Alley, went multi-platinum and was followed by "The Hit List", which was an international hit. Popular songwriter/producer Desmond Child was brought in, resulting in the release of album "Up Your Alley". This album brought the band a resurgence in popularity, with top 10 singles "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and "Little Liar".
This return to the spotlight would be short-lived, however. Follow-up album "The Hit List", an all-cover songs release, spawned only a minor hit with Jett's version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds".
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out ever.
1991 and 1994 had two more releases, "Notorious" and "Pure & Simple". But radio had started looking to grunge by this time, and neither album got the attention they deserved.
In the 1990s, Jett and Laguna released "Flashback", a compilation of her career so far on their own Blackheart Records. Her next release, "Notorious" (which featured The Replacements' Paul Westerberg) was the last with Sony/CBS as Jett switched to Warner Brothers.
In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland), Donita Sparks (L7) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
While a slew of hits packages, some with an occasional new or previously unreleased track were released following this, it would be 10 years before a new studio album would appear.
This would be 2004's "Naked", and thus far has been a Japan-only release. The album sees Jett returning to a more raw and experimental sound, closer to that of her first 4 releases than the polished material that began with "Good Music".
Failing to get "Naked" released in other markets, Jett released on a more international level "Sinner" in June 2006, on Blackheart Records, her own label.. This album featured many remixed tracks from "Naked", and a complete rewrite of "Stuck in the Middle" to new version "Riddles". Lead-off single and video was a cover of "A.C.D.C." by Sweet.
To support the album, the band appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour, and embarked on a Fall 2006 tour with Eagles of Death Metal.
After a long break from recording, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released a 6-song EP of new material, "Mindsets," in June 2023.
Wynnewood
Let's Do It
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who has never said a word
Starts to sing Spring
When the little bluebell
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring Ding dong Ding dong
When the little blue clerk
In the middle of his work
It is nature that is all
Simply telling us to fall in love
And that's why birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
I've heard that lizards and frogs do it
Layin' on a rock
They say that roosters do it
With a doodle and cock
Some Argentines, without means do it
I hear even Boston beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
When the little bluebird
Who has never said a word
Starts to sing Spring spring spring
When the little bluebell
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring Ding ding ding
When the little blue clerk
In the middle of his work
Starts a tune
The most refined lady bugs do it
When a gentleman calls
Moths in your rugs they do it
What's the use of moth balls
The chimpanzees in the zoos do it,
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
I'm sure sometimes on the sly you do it
Maybe even you and I might do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The song Let's Do It Let's Fall In Love is a playful invitation to embrace love and all its wonders. The lyrics begin with a description of nature, where the little bluebird and the little bluebell start to sing and ring in the arrival of spring. The little blue clerk, in the middle of his work, is also compelled to tune into the moon above and sing his song. According to the lyrics, it is nature's way of urging us to fall in love.
The song then goes on to list various creatures and how they "do it" to illustrate the universality of love. From birds and bees to lizards and frogs, roosters and even lazy jellyfish, love is a fundamental aspect of existence. Even Cape Cod clams and Boston beans, apparently against their wish, fall in love. The song suggests that love transcends social, cultural, and economic barriers, with even the most refined ladybugs and courageous kangaroos succumbing to its allure. The lyrics conclude with an invitation to the listener, suggesting that even they may fall in love, perhaps even with the person singing the song.
Line by Line Meaning
When the little bluebird Who has never said a word Starts to sing Spring
The arrival of spring, as signaled by the bluebird's singing, is a natural signal for love to bloom.
When the little bluebell At the bottom of the dell Starts to ring Ding dong Ding dong
As the bluebell flowers ring out, they, too, signal that spring has arrived, and it's time to fall in love.
When the little blue clerk In the middle of his work Starts a tune to the moon up above
Even the unlikeliest of creatures, like the blue clerk, are inspired by nature to sing a romantic tune under the moon's glow.
It is nature that is all Simply telling us to fall in love
All of these natural signals are reminders that love is a universal part of nature, and we should follow suit.
And that's why birds do it, bees do it Even educated fleas do it Let's do it, let's fall in love
Since even the smallest and simplest creatures follow nature's call to love, humans should not resist the urge either.
Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it Even lazy jellyfish do it Let's do it, let's fall in love
Even creatures that one wouldn't typically associate with romance find themselves swept up in a desire to mate.
I've heard that lizards and frogs do it Layin' on a rock They say that roosters do it With a doodle and cock
From amphibians to birds, all creatures fall under nature's spell and heed its call to love.
Some Argentines, without means do it I hear even Boston beans do it Let's do it, let's fall in love
Regardless of cultural or economic background, every creature is subject to the natural rhythms of love.
The most refined lady bugs do it When a gentleman calls Moths in your rugs they do it What's the use of moth balls
Even the most civilized of creatures are not immune to nature's call of love, as even lady bugs and moths give in to their desires.
The chimpanzees in the zoos do it, Some courageous kangaroos do it Let's do it, let's fall in love
Even animals living in artificial environments such as zoos still give in to their animal instincts to mate.
I'm sure sometimes on the sly you do it Maybe even you and I might do it Let's do it, let's fall in love
The song concludes by suggesting that perhaps the listener has given in to their natural desires in the past, and should consider doing it again with the person they are with.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind