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 - Mikeās 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
Friday
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the summer
Calmly running wild
She'd be silly and her friends just smiled
Pass the bottle
Wash the pills down, what went wrong
What went wrong
She don't need to fight it
She don't care no more
She gets paid on Friday
Cooler weather it's not cool to smile
Pretty colors
Going out of style
It ain't so bad when you get used to it
Once you clock in
You'll take any shit, all right
Ain't that right
She don't care no more
She don't need to fight it
She don't care no more
She gets paid on Friday
Monday morning
Friday's far away
Pray you'll make it
It's a magic day
Bells will ring and you'll go out to play
Spend your money
Pass the bottle
Friday rules
Friday rules okay
Ain't talking 'bout Monday
Ain't talking 'bout Tuesday
Ain't talking 'bout Wednesday
Ain't talking 'bout Thursday
I 'm talking 'bout
She don't care no more
She don't need to fight it
She don't care no more
She gets paid on Friday
She gets paid on Friday, Friday, Friday
The lyrics to Joe Jacksonās āFridayā tell the story of Lazy Gilly, a flower child who once enjoyed the carefree life of summer. The opening lines, āLazy Gilly was a flower child, all the summer, calmly running wild,ā describe her as lively and free-spirited. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that something has changed for Gilly. She now relies on pills and alcohol to get through the day and has given up on fighting for the life she once led. She ādonāt care no moreā and instead looks forward to Fridays when she gets paid and can indulge without worry.
The song highlights the cynicism that can come with growing up and having to enter the workforce. The āmagic dayā of Friday has taken on new meaning for Gilly as it now represents the end of a long workweek and the start of her partying. The line āonce you clock in, youāll take any shitā captures the resigned acceptance many people have towards their jobs. The song also touches on the idea that the counterculture of the 1960s and 70s was fading and that the world was changing, and not necessarily for the better.
Line by Line Meaning
Lazy Gilly was a flower child
Gilly was a carefree hippie who enjoyed the summer
All the summer
She cherished each and every day of the summer
Calmly running wild
She lived life free and wild without any worries
She'd be silly and her friends just smiled
Even though she acted silly, her friends admired her carefree spirit
Pass the bottle
Sharing a bottle of alcohol with friends
Wash the pills down, what went wrong
Drinking pills with alcohol, wondering how things got so messed up
She don't care no more
She has given up on trying to make things better
She don't need to fight it
She has accepted her fate and doesn't need to resist it anymore
She gets paid on Friday
She has something to look forward to at the end of the week - payday
Cooler weather it's not cool to smile
As summer comes to an end, it's not as easy to find joy in life
Pretty colors going out of style
The beautiful colors of summer are fading away as fall approaches
It ain't so bad when you get used to it
You can learn to tolerate things that are unpleasant or difficult
Once you clock in, you'll take any shit, all right
After starting your job, you'll be forced to put up with whatever comes your way
Ain't that right
Isn't that just the way things are?
Monday morning
The start of the work week
Friday's far away
Friday seems so distant and unreachable
Pray you'll make it
Hoping you can endure until Friday arrives
It's a magic day
Friday is a special day because it's payday and signifies the end of the work week
Bells will ring and you'll go out to play
The end of the week is a time to celebrate and have fun
Spend your money
Enjoy your hard-earned cash
Friday rules
Friday is the best day of the week
Friday rules okay
Friday is the best day of the week, without a doubt
Ain't talking 'bout Monday
Monday isn't worth talking about - it's the worst day of the week
Ain't talking 'bout Tuesday
Tuesday is nothing special - not worth discussing
Ain't talking 'bout Wednesday
Wednesday is just another day in the work week, nothing exciting
Ain't talking 'bout Thursday
Thursday is just a glimpse of hope that the work week is almost over
She gets paid on Friday, Friday, Friday
Friday is the most important day of the week because of payday
Lyrics Ā© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Ian Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
Lazy Gilly was a flower childĀ
All the summerĀ
Calmly running wildĀ
She'd be silly and her friends just smiledĀ
Pass the bottle
Wash the pills down, what went wrongĀ
What went wrongĀ
She don't care no moreĀ
She don't need to fight itĀ
She don't care no moreĀ
She gets paid on FridayĀ
Cooler weather it's not cool to smileĀ
Pretty colorsĀ
Going out of styleĀ
It ain't so bad when you get used to itĀ
Once you clock inĀ
You'll take any shit, all rightĀ
Ain't that rightĀ
She don't care no moreĀ
She don't need to fight itĀ
She don't care no moreĀ
She gets paid on FridayĀ
Monday morningĀ
Friday's far awayĀ
Pray you'll make itĀ
It's a magic dayĀ
Bells will ring and you'll go out to playĀ
Spend your moneyĀ
Pass the bottleĀ
Friday rules
Friday rules okayĀ
Ain't talking 'bout MondayĀ
Ain't talking 'bout TuesdayĀ
Ain't talking 'bout WednesdayĀ
Ain't talking 'bout ThursdayĀ
I 'm talking 'boutĀ
She don't care no moreĀ
She don't need to fight itĀ
She don't care no moreĀ
She gets paid on FridayĀ
She gets paid on Friday, Friday, Friday
@julianvickery8341
"Friday" by Joe Jackson (from the album "I'M the Man", A&M Records, 1979) https://youtu.be/4kGEodzbfZk
Lyrics:
Lazy Gilly was a flower child
All the summer
Calmly running wild
She'd be silly and her friends just smiled
Pass the bottle
Wash the pills down, what went wrong
What went wrong
She don't care no more
She don't need to fight it
She don't care no more
She gets paid on Friday
Cooler weather it's not cool to smile
Pretty colors
Going out of style
It ain't so bad when you get used to it
Once you clock in
You'll take any shit, all right
Ain't that right
She don't care no more
She don't need to fight it
She don't care no more
She gets paid on Friday
Monday morning
Friday's far away
Pray you'll make it
It's a magic day
Bells will ring and you'll go out to play
Spend your money
Pass the bottle
Friday rules
Friday rules okay
Ain't talking 'bout Monday
Ain't talking 'bout Tuesday
Ain't talking 'bout Wednesday
Ain't talking 'bout Thursday
I 'm talking 'bout
She don't care no more
She don't need to fight it
She don't care no more
She gets paid on Friday
She gets paid on Friday, Friday, Friday
@58doggyboy
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Graham Maby: hands down, the greatest rock bassist ever! No one even comes close. Astounding bass work. No wonder Joe chose him. Not many people know his name, but they should.
@blacklotus5364
Yeah dude I'm sad to say I don't know his name, but this is popping, and the bass on this album is massive
@raymondnavarro5100
God damned right Sir!!
@hammyboy1194
Iām 60 and still living for the weekend!!
@ericburdon6148
I remember the album Look Sharp. Great great album. Joe Jackson was criminally underrated.
@mustlovepretzels
"Look Sharp" went Gold here in the U.S.A. in '79. Underrated? No.
@ericburdon6148
@Otto Greenleaf
I still believe that joe jackson deserved more recognition. He is an incredibly talented musician.
@mustlovepretzels
@Eric Burdon I think the same thing about you Eric.
@iloverods7476
I was 14 when this song first grabbed me. Thank you guys for changing me for the better with your total f ing brilliance.
@garymartel6215
Saw Joe last year at the Wilbur theater in Boston. Do not, I repeat, do not pass up on a chance to see pure brilliance
and one of the tightest hearing live band you will ever ever experience in your life. I know recently joe has had some medical issues but please, you will not be sorry!!!! Great talent!!! Genius!!!!