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
It's Different for Girls
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't seem to say or do the right thing
Wanted to be sure you're feeling right
Wanted to be sure we want the same thing
She said, I can't believe it
You can't, possibly mean it
Don't we, all want the same thing
Well, who said anything about love?
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
Mama always told me save yourself
Take a little time and find the right girl
Then again don't end up on the shelf
Logical advice gets you in a whirl
I know, a lot of things that you don't
You want to hear some?
She said, just give me something
Anything
Well give me all you got but not love
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
Who said anything about love?
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, no, no, no, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, no, no, no, no, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
In Joe Jackson's song "It's Different for Girls," the singer is expressing confusion about how to communicate with a woman he's interested in. He wants them to be on the same page and feel the same way, but he can't seem to articulate the right things to say. She responds by telling him that he couldn't possibly understand what it's like to be a woman when it comes to relationships, that it's “different for girls.” She explains that they don't necessarily want love, at least not in the way that men do. She wants him to understand that they don't want to be tied down, but they still want something more than just what a casual fling has to offer.
The song tackles the idea that men and women view relationships and emotions differently. Men often treat relationships as a means to an end, hoping to get love and commitment out of it. In contrast, women often seek out meaningful connections without necessarily feeling a need for a deeper commitment. The song critiques societal expectations of gender roles and how they play out in relationships. The woman in the song seems to be frustrated that the male narrator can't understand that there are different expectations and desires for men and women when it comes to relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
What the hell is wrong with you tonight?
The singer is confused about the other person's behavior today.
I can't seem to say or do the right thing
The singer is struggling to communicate effectively.
Wanted to be sure you're feeling right
The singer cares about the other person's emotional state.
Wanted to be sure we want the same thing
The artist wants to confirm their mutual goals for the relationship.
She said, I can't believe it
The other person is surprised by the artist's words or actions.
You can't, possibly mean it
The other person doubts the sincerity of the singer's words or actions.
Don't we, all want the same thing
The other person believes that both parties have similar desires for the relationship.
Don't we
The other person is questioning the artist's perspective on the situation.
Well, who said anything about love?
The artist is surprised by the other person's assumption of romantic involvement.
No, not love she said
The other person clarifies that their concerns are not about love.
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
The other person is pointing out that gender can affect one's experiences and perspectives.
(Don't give me love)
The other person is emphasizing that love is not the issue at hand.
You're all the same
The other person is frustrated with the singer's perceived similarity to other individuals of their gender.
Mama always told me save yourself
The singer had received advice from their mother to be cautious and look out for their own well-being.
Take a little time and find the right girl
The singer's mother had specifically advised them to take their time in finding a suitable romantic partner.
Then again don't end up on the shelf
The artist's mother may have cautioned them about not settling down too late in life.
Logical advice gets you in a whirl
The artist has conflicted emotions about their mother's advice, which seems to contrast with their personal experiences.
I know, a lot of things that you don't
The singer believes that they have more knowledge or understanding than the other person.
You want to hear some?
The singer is offering to share some of their insights with the other person.
She said, just give me something
The other person is interested in hearing the artist's perspective on the matter at hand.
Well give me all you got but not love
The artist is willing to share their thoughts with the other person but wants to clarify that their concerns do not involve romantic love.
No, no, no, no, not love she said
The other person is emphasizing that love is not a relevant factor in their situation.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Joe Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind