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
Stranger Than You
Joe Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Met my friend the Chinese Elvis and hoisted a few
He talks like Mickey Mouse
And sees with x-ray eyes
Lives in a cardboard house
I almost gave him the prize
Until you
Things you do, right or wrong
It should come as no surprise
When you live in a town where there's always somebody
Stranger than you
At 83rd and Amsterdam there's an Indian Jew
Who pierced all his private parts with a permanent screw
He sleeps on a bed of nails
Which came from outer space
And in my taller tales
I gave him pride of place
Until you
Came along, thanks for opening my eyes
Things you do, right or wrong
It should come as no surprise
When you live in a town where there's always somebody stranger than you
Stranger than you
I'm not complaining even though I'm not sure what you are
I've got the strangest feeling (good) about this love bizarre
I could have stayed in bed
Hiding from this freaky show
I'm happy that instead
I knew just where to go
When you came along, thanks for opening my eyes
Things you do, right or wrong
It should come as no surprise
When you live in a town where there's always somebody
Stranger than you
Are you a boy, are you a girl
Are you an oyster, are you a pearl
Are you a fish, are you a fowl
Are you an angel, are you from hell
The song "Stranger Than You" by Joe Jackson describes the eccentric characters he encounters in New York City. He cites two examples of people he's met in the city, initially praising them for their unique personalities, but then ultimately finding someone even stranger: "Until you came along, thanks for opening my eyes / When you live in a town where there's always somebody stranger than you". He marvels at the unique quirks of the Chinese Elvis who speaks like Mickey Mouse and sees with x-ray eyes, and the Indian Jew who pierces his private parts with a permanent screw and sleeps on a bed of nails from outer space. However, the song's protagonist seems to have found someone even more intriguing and different, singing: "I'm not complaining even though I'm not sure what you are / I've got the strangest feeling (good) about this love bizarre".
The song hints at the acceptance and tolerance of unique individuals and divergent paths. The lyrics suggest that in a city with such diversity, there is always someone more remarkable, stranger, and more unexpected than oneself. The singer of the song celebrates these distinct characters, but ultimately finds a kindred spirit among them. This, in turn, leaves one wondering if the singer is himself one among the eclectic population of New York City.
Line by Line Meaning
At a bar on 43rd at quarter to two
I was at a bar on 43rd around 1:45am
Met my friend the Chinese Elvis and hoisted a few
I met my friend who looks like Chinese Elvis and had some drinks
He talks like Mickey Mouse
He has a high pitched voice like Mickey Mouse
And sees with x-ray eyes
He can see beyond the obvious
Lives in a cardboard house
He has no permanent residence or shelter
I almost gave him the prize
I almost admired him
Until you
Before you came into my life
Came along, thanks for opening my eyes
You came into my life, thank you for showing me new things
Things you do, right or wrong
The things you do, whether right or wrong
It should come as no surprise
I won't be surprised
When you live in a town where there's always somebody
In a city where there are always others
Stranger than you
Who are stranger than you
At 83rd and Amsterdam there's an Indian Jew
There is an Indian Jew at 83rd and Amsterdam
Who pierced all his private parts with a permanent screw
He has pierced his private parts with permanent screws
He sleeps on a bed of nails
He sleeps on a bed made of nails
Which came from outer space
The bed of nails came from outer space
And in my taller tales
In my exaggerated stories
I gave him pride of place
I gave him special treatment
I'm not complaining even though I'm not sure what you are
I'm not complaining even though I'm unsure of your identity
I've got the strangest feeling (good) about this love bizarre
I have a good but strange feeling about this bizarre love
I could have stayed in bed
I could have hidden in my bed
Hiding from this freaky show
Avoiding this strange environment
I'm happy that instead
But I'm happy that instead
I knew just where to go
I knew exactly what to do
Are you a boy, are you a girl
Are you male or female
Are you an oyster, are you a pearl
Are you an easy catch or a precious gem
Are you a fish, are you a fowl
Are you a swindler or a fool
Are you an angel, are you from hell
Are you a saint or a devil
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
G Dogg
Joe Jackson's best song in 20+ years - his songs you remember like it was yesterday - if not the best thing since sliced bread. Stranger Than You is Jackson's ace in the hole, larger than life, as good as the day is long. At the end of the day, unlike 90-plus percent of rock bands and blues players, Jackson is 110 percent cliché free and tells it like it is.
Nick Winiarski
G Dogg I agree with everything you say, man.
The Mason Green Experience
I especially like the implication that no matter how strange the guys described in the verses may be, you (the listener) have both of them beat.
Yetanotherstringband
This is a wonderful song.
Quadratic II
Love this song. Good memories.
liquidgee13
This song is the nuts!!! Luv it!!!
DARREN BANKS
'Hoisted a few' - simple yet brilliant lyric
Little Wing
He will never get into the hall of fame or get the true recognition he deserves. He never played by the industries rules during the MTV era with a few exceptions but just when the public thought they could define him he went 180degrees in another direction but always kept coming back and we are so lucky to have him.
Truth Time2112
Superior Joe.
Art Knight
He is gorgeous!