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
Nineteen Forever
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I see so clear
Just like the way we always were
So young and free from fear
I lose my fear of war and dying
And all the clouds just disappear
Only my mirror sees me crying
Wouldn't be a drag to be like you
Settling down and having kids
And telling them what to do
Well I'm gonna stay
Nineteen forever
We can do magic in these times
Be what we want to be
We'll all be rock 'n' roll stars
Immortal on TV
And if you see me looking tired
I've just been sleeping thought the day
But I got something to keep me wired
So we can dance the night away
Wouldn't it be a drag to be like them
They're gonna sell out everything
But I won't get fooled again
Cause I'm gonna be
Nineteen forever
You better believe it
You know my dream's still alive
You can love it or leave it
But I'm never gonna be 35
The song "Nineteen Forever" by Joe Jackson is about the fear of growing older and losing the vitality and freedom of youth. Jackson sings about feeling alive and seeing clearly, just like when he was young and without fear. He talks about the fear of war and dying, but also about the fear of aging and losing his youth. He sings that he can only see himself crying in his mirror, as he faces the reality that he is losing another year. Yet, despite this fear, he refuses to settle down and have children, as he wants to stay "nineteen forever."
The song is a commentary on the youth culture of the 1980s, and Jackson's fears of growing older and losing his relevance in the music industry. Jackson acknowledges the allure of stardom and the desire to be a rock 'n' roll star, but he also recognizes that the industry can be fickle and that selling out can be tempting. He chooses to stay true to his youthful ideals and to reject the idea of settling down and conforming to societal norms. He refuses to be like those who sell out and compromise their ideals for money and fame. Jackson concludes the song by saying that he will never be 35, reaffirming his commitment to his youthful ideals and refusing to be defined by his age.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel so alive
There are times when I am truly happy
Sometimes I see so clear
There are moments of clarity in my life
Just like the way we always were
I reminisce about being young and carefree
So young and free from fear
We were fearless when we were young
I lose my fear of war and dying
I am no longer afraid of the dangers of life, including war and death
And all the clouds just disappear
My worries and problems go away
Only my mirror sees me crying
I only cry when I am alone
Each time I lose another year
I become saddened with every year that goes by
Wouldn't be a drag to be like you
I do not want to be like you
Settling down and having kids
Starting a family and settling down
And telling them what to do
Being controlling towards your children
Well I'm gonna stay
I will remain this way
Nineteen forever
I am going to stay young forever
We can do magic in these times
We have the ability to accomplish amazing things in our time
Be what we want to be
We have the freedom to be whoever we want to be
We'll all be rock 'n' roll stars
We will all become famous rock stars
Immortal on TV
We will live on forever through television
And if you see me looking tired
If I look tired
I've just been sleeping thought the day
I have been sleeping during the day
But I got something to keep me wired
I have something to keep me alert and awake
So we can dance the night away
We can dance all night
Wouldn't it be a drag to be like them
I wouldn't want to be like them
They're gonna sell out everything
They will give up everything for money and fame
But I won't get fooled again
I won't be deceived or tricked again
Cause I'm gonna be
Because I am going to remain this way
Nineteen forever
I will always be young
You better believe it
You should trust what I say
You know my dream's still alive
My dream is still important to me
You can love it or leave it
You can either like what I am doing or not
But I'm never gonna be 35
But I will never grow old
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOE JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doug Platte
I agree Joe Jackson one of the most underrated artist ever.
Clay Snyder
F**** straight buddy
Alex Wells
I have to wonder, is Joe Jackson the most underrated artist of the '80s?
Jim S
Quite possibly so (he said, 6 years later; heh).
dave bass
Absolutely the best from the 80's
Dakarai
Yes, I would agree, and add Graham Parker to that list. If you haven't heard it, find JJ's soundtrack for the also underrated film "Tucker." Jackspn's period compositions are brilliant.
bsg2112
Alex Wells: He's not just an 80's artist. That statement, in itself, is sort of limiting. Yes, he's a great artist many unfortunate people overlook, at their own loss. Sucks to be them.
Jim Nooney
And he's still making great music while so many overrated '80s artists are in the "Where are they now?" file?
Otto Kar
Very big artist. More 30 years later, his songs are still good looking !
Sodham G'morris
HUGE man! The lyrics in this are more pertinent today than ever.