Joe Jackson (born 11 August 1954 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, as … Read Full Bio ↴Joe Jackson (born 11 August 1954 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, as David Ian Jackson) is a British musician who grew up in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.. Jackson is known for the hit singles Is She Really Going Out With Him? (1979) and Steppin' Out (1982).

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

Fool
Joe Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tougher than Superman, smarter than Batman
Could be a thin man, could be a fat man
Got more lives than a motherfuckin' cat, man
Go! Follow that man! Go! Follow that man!

When that I was an a little tiny boy
(Heigh, ho, the wind and the rain)
A foolish thing was nothing but a toy

(Rain, rain, every day
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain)

Fool, kicks off the carnival
Wise man goes to church
Fool, fucks up the funeral
No respect, well what do you expect

He's the man who don't follow orders
Stands on one leg and plays the recorder
Gets out of jail and laughs at the warder
Break for the border! Break for the border!

He that has an a little tiny with
(Heigh, ho, the wind and the rain)
Better make sure that he uses it
(Rain, rain, every day
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain)

Fool, kicks off the carnival
Wise man goes to church
Fool, fucks up the funeral
No respect, well what do you expect

Hail the Prince in pink polyester
Burn the Priests and bomb the Protesters
Kill the King, but you can't kill Feste
Long live the Jester! Long live the Jester!

Fool, kicks off the carnival
Wise man goes to church

Fool, fucks up the funeral
No respect, well what do you expect

Overall Meaning

Joe Jackson's song "Fool" is a playful yet rebellious track that champions the life of a free spirit. The lyrics are filled with allusions and symbols, and the song is peppered with a number of clever lines that, when taken together, paint a vivid picture of a character who is a little bit of a trickster and a whole lot of fun to be around.

The opening lines of the song describe the titular character as "tougher than Superman, smarter than Batman." This is a play on the superhero mythos, as these two characters are often seen as the strongest and most intelligent in their respective universes. The song goes on to describe the character as having "more lives than a motherfuckin' cat, man," which suggests that he is someone who can get out of any situation alive.

The next verse provides some context for the song's title, as the character is described as someone who "kicks off the carnival" and "fucks up the funeral." This suggests that he is someone who doesn't take life too seriously and is always looking for a good time. The chorus reinforces this idea by contrasting the character's behavior with that of a "wise man" who goes to church.

The song's third verse introduces some more political themes, as the character is described as "the man who don't follow orders" and "gets out of jail and laughs at the warder." This could be seen as a critique of authority and the way that it can be used to control people. The final verse takes things even further, with references to burning priests and bombing protesters. These lines suggest that the character is not just a free spirit but also a revolutionary who is willing to challenge the status quo.

Overall, "Fool" is a fun and lighthearted song that celebrates the idea of individuality and freedom of thought. The lyrics are clever and thought-provoking, and the song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it easy to sing along to.

Line by Line Meaning

Tougher than Superman, smarter than Batman
This person is stronger than Superman and smarter than Batman.

Could be a thin man, could be a fat man
There's no telling what this person looks like - they could be thin or fat.

Got more lives than a motherfuckin' cat, man
This person is very lucky and has survived many near-death experiences.

Go! Follow that man! Go! Follow that man!
Someone is urging others to follow this person.

When that I was an a little tiny boy
Back when I was a very young boy.

(Heigh, ho, the wind and the rain)
This is likely a reference to a song or nursery rhyme.

A foolish thing was nothing but a toy
I used to think foolish things were unimportant and fun.

(Rain, rain, every day Rain, rain, go away Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain)
This is likely a reference to another song or nursery rhyme.

Fool, kicks off the carnival Wise man goes to church Fool, fucks up the funeral No respect, well what do you expect
Fools cause chaos and mayhem, while wise people are more reserved. Fools are disrespectful and are expected to cause issues.

He's the man who don't follow orders Stands on one leg and plays the recorder Gets out of jail and laughs at the warder Break for the border! Break for the border!
This person is a rebel who doesn't follow rules. They like to have fun and flout authority. They even escape from jail with ease.

He that has an a little tiny with (Heigh, ho, the wind and the rain) Better make sure that he uses it (Rain, rain, every day Rain, rain, go away Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain)
If you have a small chance to do something, it's important to take advantage of it.

Hail the Prince in pink polyester Burn the Priests and bomb the Protesters Kill the King, but you can't kill Feste Long live the Jester! Long live the Jester!
This person is applauding those who are irreverent and go against the norm. They celebrate those who don't fit into what others expect of them.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Ian Jackson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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