He started off learning to play the violin but soon switched to piano. From the age of 16 he played in bars, and won a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. Jackson did not like the prospect of being a serious composer, and moved towards pop and rock.
His first band was Arms and Legs which collapsed after two unsuccessful singles. He then spent some time in the cabaret circuit to make money to record his own demos.
In 1978 a producer heard his tape, and got him signed to A&M Records. The album Look Sharp! was recorded straight away, and was released in 1979, quickly followed by I'm the Man and Beat Crazy in 1980. He also collaborated with Lincoln Thompson in reggae crossover.
The Joe Jackson Band was very successful and toured extensively. After the breakup of the band, Joe took a break and recorded an album of old-style swing and blues tunes, Jumpin' Jive, featuring songs of Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, and most prominently, Louis Jordan. He went on to record Night and Day, an album that paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and less directly, to New York City) and was his last album to hit the Top 10, peaking at #4.
He recorded another record that was heavily influenced by jazz, pop and jazz standards, and salsa, Body and Soul, which hit #20, containing the hit You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want).
Jackson followed with Big World, a three-sided double record (the fourth side consisted of a single centring groove and a label stating "there is no music on this side"). The instrumental Will Power set the stage for things to come later, but before he left pop behind he put out two more cerebral and celebratory albums, Blaze of Glory and Laughter and Lust. For some years he drifted away from the pop style, going on to be signed by Sony Classical in 1997, which released his Symphony No. 1 in 1999 for which he received a Grammy award.
Night and Day II in 2000 lacked strong pop hooks though, as usual with Jackson, displayed fine lyrics and some elegant songwriting. Volume 4 in 2003 reunited the original band and was well received. A promotional CD, bundled with the initial release, of the 'live' band playing some of Jackson's strongest material was widely admired.
Jackson is also an author, having written A Cure for Gravity, published in 1999, which Jackson has described as a "book about music, thinly disguised as a memoir". It traces his early musical life from childhood until his 24th birthday. Life as a pop star, he suggested, was hardly worth writing about.
In 2004 Jackson performed a cover of Common People with William Shatner for Shatner's album Has Been.
He has actively campaigned against smoking bans in both the USA and the UK, writing a 2005 pamphlet The Smoking Issue and issuing a satirical song (In 20-0-3) on the subject.
In 2008 the album Rain was released by Joe Jackson. Like its predecessor Volume 4, it featured members of the 'Joe Jackson Band', this time minus guitarist Gary Sanford.
Currently he lives in Kreuzberg, Germany.
Discography:
1979 - Look Sharp!
1979 - I'm The Man
1980 - Beat Crazy
1981 - Jumpin' Jive
1982 - Night and Day
1983 - Mike’s Murder, (Soundtrack)
1984 - Body and Soul
1986 - Big World
1987 - Will Power
1988 - Live 1980/86
1988 - Tucker, (Soundtrack)
1989 - Blaze of Glory
1991 - Laughter & Lust
1994 - Night Music
1997 - Heaven and Hell
1999 - Symphony No. 1
2000 - Summer in the City: Live in New York
2000 - Night and Day II
2002 - Two Rainy Nights, (Live)
2004 - Volume 4
2004 - Afterlife, (Live)
2008 - Rain
2011 - Live Music, (Live)
2012 - The Duke
Baby Stick Around
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reds and yellow and pinks and blues on
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around
Purple leopard skin and see-through plastic
Whatever you want, but just make it drastic
Too late, too late to stay home and sit around
[Chorus]
What you want to bet
We ain't started yet
Baby stick around
Baby stick around
Pushin' and shovin' and sweat wet leather
Up and down we go chained together
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around
Somebody tellin' me the latest scandals
Somebody steppin' on my plastic sandals
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around
[Chorus]
Too late, too late
To stay home and sit around
[Chorus]
The song "Baby Stick Around" by Joe Jackson is an upbeat and energetic song that invites people to get up and dance. It celebrates the joy of living and experiencing life to the fullest. The lyrics talk about the different colors of shoes people are wearing and the need to be outrageous and daring in their outfits while dancing. The chorus encourages listeners to stick around and keep dancing because the party has only just begun.
The verses are full of action and movement, describing the chaos and excitement of the dance floor. There are references to leather, chains, and scandalous gossip, adding to the thrill and thrill of the night. The song makes a clear statement that it's too late to stay home, and everyone should come out and enjoy life.
Overall, "Baby Stick Around" is an ode to living in the moment and not taking life too seriously. It's a call to let loose, have fun, and dance the night away.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on you people get your dancing shoes on
Let's prepare to have some fun and dance.
Reds and yellow and pinks and blues on
Wear colorful clothes to add to the festive atmosphere.
Too late, too late
It's too late to back out now.
To stay home and sit around
We shouldn't waste this opportunity to have a good time by staying at home.
Purple leopard skin and see-through plastic
Wear something unconventional and daring like purple leopard skin and see-through plastic.
Whatever you want, but just make it drastic
Choose something bold and daring to wear, so that you stand out at the party.
[Chorus]
Repetitive verse, emphasizing that the party is just getting started.
What you want to bet
I'm confident that this party is going to be amazing.
We ain't started yet
The party is just getting started, and it's already great.
Baby stick around
Stay a little longer and enjoy the party with me.
Pushin' and shovin' and sweat wet leather
We're dancing so hard that our clothes are sticking to us.
Up and down we go chained together
We're all dancing together, moving up and down as if we're all linked by a chain.
Somebody tellin' me the latest scandals
People are gossiping, and I'm hearing all the latest juicy rumors.
Somebody steppin' on my plastic sandals
With all the dancing going on, someone accidentally steps on my plastic sandals.
Too late, too late
It's still too late to leave the party now.
[Chorus]
Repetitive verse, emphasizing that the party is still going strong.
Too late, too late
We've reached the point of no return when it comes to partying.
To stay home and sit around
Staying at home and doing nothing is not an option when there's a great party to be had.
[Chorus]
Repetitive verse, emphasizing that we should keep enjoying the party.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind