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
Hell of a Town
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's smoke coming up through the holes in the ground
It's a hell of a town
Plenty of devils for taking you down
Any time of night and day
It's a hell of a town
Getting drunk on the tears of a clown
Steppin' out in a bulletproof gown
So get out of my goddamn way
I'm walking here
I'm talking here
It's a hell of a town
Swimming out where the ships run aground
It's a hell of a town
Always room on the merry-go-round
So step up and be damned today
I'm walking here
I'm talking here
Joe Jackson's "Hell of a Town" is a satirical commentary on New York City, the city that never sleeps, but is always on the brink of chaos. The first verse describes the chaos that plagues the city - the smoke coming up through the ground, devils lurking around every corner, and danger at any time, night or day. The second verse talks about the emotional turmoil that pervades the city. People are getting drunk on the "tears of a clown" - a reference to the emotional struggles of performers and entertainers who put on a brave face for their audiences while struggling behind the scenes. The "bulletproof gown" is likely a reference to the armor New Yorkers feel they need to wear to protect themselves in the city.
The chorus, "I'm walking here, I'm talking here," is taken from a famous scene in the movie Midnight Cowboy, where Dustin Hoffman's character crosses a street and is almost hit by a car. The line has since become a symbol of New Yorkers' unwillingness to back down in the face of danger or obstacles.
In the final verse, the song takes a more positive turn, celebrating the city's resilience and ability to keep moving forward despite the challenges it faces. The "ships run aground" could represent the struggles and setbacks that people face in their personal lives, but there is always room on the "merry-go-round" - a nod to the constant hustle and bustle of the city.
Overall, "Hell of a Town" is a love letter to New York City, warts and all. It acknowledges the challenges and struggles of living in this vibrant but chaotic metropolis while celebrating the spirit of resilience and determination that makes it such a special place.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a hell of a town
New York City is a city full of chaos and problems.
There's smoke coming up through the holes in the ground
There are many things going on under the surface of NYC that people are unaware of.
Plenty of devils for taking you down
There are many bad people in NYC who can cause harm to you.
Any time of night and day
NYC is always open and never sleeps.
Getting drunk on the tears of a clown
People in NYC often take pleasure in the pain of others and watch their suffering like it's entertainment.
Steppin' out in a bulletproof gown
People in NYC feel that they need to be tough and prepared for any situation to survive.
So get out of my goddamn way
People in NYC are often in a rush and get frustrated when others slow them down.
I'm walking here
I'm busy and in a hurry, don't slow me down or get in my way.
Swimming out where the ships run aground
People in NYC are always looking for new experiences and places to explore, even if they're dangerous.
Always room on the merry-go-round
NYC is always full of new and exciting things to do and see.
So step up and be damned today
Take a risk and do something exciting, even if it may have consequences.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind