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
Look Sharp!
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go on and get me in the corner, smoke my cigarettes and drink my beer
Tell me that this world is no place for the weak
Then you can look me in the eye and tell me if you see a trace of fear
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
Go on and laugh at me, 'cause you don't see that I got something going right here
Say I'm just a dreamer, say I'm just a kid
Well, ace, shut your face, maybe you will see or hear
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
Big shot, thanks a lot, gotta go, it's getting late
I got a date with my tailor now, thanks for putting me so straight
Tell me how they rob me blind on every street
But check your watch and wallet now before I go and you're too late
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
Yeah...
The lyrics to Joe Jackson’s “Look Sharp!” are a commentary on the dangers and challenges one faces in the competitive, cutthroat world. The opening lines address the “big shots” who claim to know what’s going on, but who in reality are just smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. Jackson challenges these big shots to look him in the eye and tell him if they see any trace of fear, emphasizing the importance of appearing confident and fearless in such a harsh environment. The chorus echoes this sentiment, insisting that one must “look sharp” and have “no illusions” in order to survive.
To further emphasize the need for toughness and resilience, Jackson mentions the ridicule he faces from those who mock his dreams and aspirations, telling him he’s just a kid or a dreamer. Jackson shuts down these criticisms, insisting that he’s got something going for him and that those who laugh now will someday see or hear the success he will achieve. Lastly, Jackson addresses the big shot once more, thanking him for trying to put him straight but also warning him about the constant threat of being robbed blind and encouraging him to stay vigilant.
Overall, the song speaks to the necessity of developing a thick skin and projecting an aura of strength and fearlessness, even amidst the challenges and disappointments of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Big shot, tell you what, tell me what goes on around here
Hey, you, arrogant person! Can you describe what's happening in this place?
Go on and get me in the corner, smoke my cigarettes and drink my beer
Let me enjoy my own space as I have a smoke and a beer.
Tell me that this world is no place for the weak
Remind me that this world isn't easy, and one needs to be strong to face all the difficulties.
Then you can look me in the eye and tell me if you see a trace of fear
Now that I know how tough this world is, tell me if you see any signs of me being scared or weak.
You gotta look sharp
You have to be vigilant and observant.
You gotta look sharp
You have to be vigilant and observant.
And you gotta have no illusions
Don't let any false beliefs or misconceptions cloud your judgment.
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
Continue walking but constantly check your surroundings.
Okay, what you say, tell me what they're wearing this year
Alright, what's the fashion trend this season? Can you fill me in?
Go on and laugh at me, 'cause you don't see that I got something going right here
You can laugh at me for being behind on trends since you don't realize that I'm doing just fine in my own way.
Say I'm just a dreamer, say I'm just a kid
You might call me naive and childish, but I don't care.
Well, ace, shut your face, maybe you will see or hear
Don't speak unless you know what you're talking about. You might learn something if you listen.
Big shot, thanks a lot, gotta go, it's getting late
Hey, self-important person, thanks for the conversation, but it's late, and I have to leave.
I got a date with my tailor now, thanks for putting me so straight
I have an appointment with my tailor, and you helped me straighten out my ideas.
Tell me how they rob me blind on every street
Inform me about the robberies happening everywhere around me.
But check your watch and wallet now before I go and you're too late
Before I leave, make sure you've checked your watch and wallet, or you might miss something valuable.
You gotta look sharp
You have to be vigilant and observant.
You gotta look sharp
You have to be vigilant and observant.
And you gotta have no illusions
Don't let any false beliefs or misconceptions cloud your judgment.
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
Continue walking but constantly check your surroundings.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOE JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@landyachtfan79
Big shot, tell you what
Tell me what goes on around here
Go on and get me in the corner
Smoke my cigarettes and drink my beer
Tell me that this world
Is no place for the weak
Then you can look me in the eye
And tell me if you see a trace of fear
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way
Looking over your shoulder
Okay, what you say
Tell me what they're wearing this year
Go on and laugh at me
'Cause you don't see
That I got something going right here
Say I'm just a dreamer
Say I'm just a kid
Well ace, shut your face
Maybe you will see or hear
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way
Looking over your shoulder
Big shot, thanks a lot
Gotta go, it's getting late
I got a date with my tailor now
Thanks for putting me so straight
Tell me how they robbed me
Blind on every street
But check your watch and wallet now
Before I go and you're too late
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way
Looking over your shoulder
Yeah
@pantoanticomunistaa6242
YEAR: 1979
Big shot, tell you what
Tell me what goes on around here
Go on and get me in the corner
Smoke my cigarettes and drink my beer
Tell me that this world is no place for the weak
Then you can look me in the eye
And tell me if you see a trace of fear
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
Okay, what you say
Tell me what they're wearing this year
Go on and laugh at me cause you don't see
That I got something going right here
Say I'm just a dreamer
Say I'm just a kid
Well ace, shut your face
Maybe you will see or hear
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
(Instrumental Break)
Big shot, thanks a lot
Gotta go it's getting late
I got a date with my tailor now
Thanks for putting me so straight
Tell me how they run the crime down every street
(La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la...)
But check your watch and wallet now
Before I go and you're too late
(Uh, huh-huh)
You gotta look sharp
You gotta look sharp
And you gotta have no illusions
Just keep going your way looking over your shoulder
@bikenband
The opening machine gun drum intro, the distorted jazz chords, the well placed piano parts, and the clever as fuck lyrics.....masterpiece.
@thundernut
Indeed.And that bass sound !
@NormAppleton
@thundernut My uncle, born in the late 20's loved this record.
@thesmilingmercenary937
Out of all the parts that I love about this song, the drums mesmerize me every single time.
@peterg5383
jazz chords? XD
@fredhill2767
And also the bassline.
@gregv8164
Bad ass song. Love it at 56 years old.
@GREGGSOHO
Loved Joe Jackson from way back in the day, i ran into him late one night in Greenwich Village in the 80's..As he walked by me i gave him a "Joe Jackson, whats up" and he smiled & kept walking! I love this song and many others, he is the man!
@theego2897
East Village in the '80's. Those were the days.
@buffbiker3
yup... met him at Hurrah on 62nd & Broadway in '79. Good dude...