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
World of Denial
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did we get to this place?
I thought that we would have settled this by now
I thought that blood was thicker than mud
I guess I was wrong
If love was a ship sailing oceans deep
You'll learn the truth but it may take a while
Because you're livin' in a world of denial
All we have is our family an' our friends
Why let this thing come to a painful end?
I thought that we'd embrace
Instead we pull away
I guess I was wrong
If love was a ship sailing oceans deep
Then your ship's sinkin' cuz it sprung a leak
You'll learn the truth but it may take a while
Because you're livin' in a world of denial
Go on - keep on playin' dirty
Go on - keep on breaking all the rules
Go on - keep doin' what your doin'
You're gonna look good on the front page news
If love was a ship sailing oceans deep
Then your ship's sinkin' cuz it sprung a leak
You'll learn the truth but it may take a while
Because you're livin' in a world of denial
You got control so you just don't care
But it won't be me who'll go runnin' scared
You'll learn the truth but it may take a while
Cause you're just livin' in a world of denial
"World of Denial" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is a song about the breakdown of a relationship between family or friends. The lyrics suggest that there has been a conflict or betrayal, and despite the singer's hope that the issue would be resolved, they are now living in a "world of denial." The imagery used in the song is that of a sinking ship, which represents the failing relationship. The line "If love was a ship sailing oceans deep, then your ship's sinking cause it sprung a leak" is a metaphor for how love or a relationship can sink if there is a problem that is not addressed.
Furthermore, the song seems to be directed towards the person who has caused the rift. The chorus urges them to continue with their destructive behavior, implying that they will eventually face the consequences of their actions. The line "You're gonna look good on the front page news" is a warning that their actions will not go unnoticed.
Overall, "World of Denial" is a powerful song about the breakdown of relationships and the importance of addressing conflicts. The metaphor of a sinking ship creates a vivid image of the situation, while the urgency of the lyrics makes the song feel personal and emotive.
Line by Line Meaning
How did we get to this place?
Joan Jett is reflecting on how the situation has turned out this way and is wondering how it came to this.
I thought that we would have settled this by now
Joan Jett believed that the issues between them would have been resolved by now.
I thought that blood was thicker than mud
Joan Jett believed that family bonds were stronger than anything else.
I guess I was wrong
Joan Jett comes to the realization that she was mistaken in her beliefs.
If love was a ship sailing oceans deep
Joan Jett uses a metaphor to compare love to a ship sailing through deep waters.
Then your ship's sinkin' cuz it sprung a leak
Joan Jett claims that their love is in trouble because it has a major flaw or issue (like a leak) that is causing it to sink.
You'll learn the truth but it may take a while
Joan Jett thinks that they will eventually learn the truth, but it might take a while for them to realize it.
Because you're livin' in a world of denial
Joan Jett believes that the other person is denying the problem and living in a fantasy world.
All we have is our family an' our friends
Joan Jett emphasizes that family and friends are important and that they have to stick together.
Why let this thing come to a painful end?
Joan Jett questions why they have to let their relationship come to a painful end.
Instead we pull away
Joan Jett feels that they are distancing themselves from each other instead of coming together to solve the problem.
Go on - keep on playin' dirty
Joan Jett is telling the other person to keep acting badly and hurting others.
Go on - keep on breaking all the rules
Joan Jett is telling the other person to keep breaking the established norms and rules.
Go on - keep doin' what your doin'
Joan Jett is encouraging the other person to continue their actions and behavior.
You're gonna look good on the front page news
Joan Jett sarcastically remarks that the other person is going to make a great news story on the front page.
You got control so you just don't care
Joan Jett believes that the other person has control over the situation and doesn't care about the consequences.
But it won't be me who'll go runnin' scared
Joan Jett implies that she won't be the one to back down from the confrontation or be afraid.
Cause you're just livin' in a world of denial
Joan Jett reemphasizes that the other person is living in a self-deceptive and unrealistic world.
Contributed by Josiah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Bronydom22
God, she's an amazing musician. So talented, so powerful, her lyrics so meaningful.
@jacquelinegarcia3056
Love the chorus!
@Webtrekker1
Sounds familiar doesn't it? A well-known lullaby perhaps. "Hush Little Baby"
@basiacomeout
Love this.
@rockerajett
i love her!
@rockerajett
fantastic!!
@dynasty062495
good song <3
@monsterhigh50072
cool!
@Machiventa
@AlwaysRandomGirl247 Wondering if you ever got the tab figured out for this song. love to play guitar but not good at figuring tab. Also i love liar liar so if you have anything for that song figured out i would appreciate it sooo much! I cant seem to find either tab on the internet. Thank you for your time, even if you don't have them figured out would you message me anyway so i know you got the message, Thanks again, Lindsay
@acdc1228
Does anyone know what year Joan Jett recorded this song?