Invisible Man
Joe Jackson Lyrics

One, two, three, four
The song begins with a slow countdown that sets the tone for an introspective, somber mood.

One, two
The repetition of the numbers serves as an extension of the countdown while also providing the song with a rhythmic pattern.

Hey, can you hear me now
The singer is addressing someone who may or may not be present, questioning whether or not he is being heard.

As I fade away
The artist is describing himself as disappearing, either literally or figuratively.

And lose my ground?
The artist is questioning if losing his ground is a result of fading away, creating an air of uncertainty around his state of being.

Maybe you'd like to know
The singer is offering to share something with the listener, implying that there is something interesting or important to be shared.

What I'd have to say
The singer is emphasizing that what he has to say is valuable and worth listening to.

If I was still around
The artist is acknowledging that he is not present, either because he has become invisible or has passed away.

Now I'm made of smoke
The artist has become smoke, emphasizing his ephemeral, fleeting nature.

You see through to me
The artist has become so insubstantial that others can see through him, suggesting a lack of physical presence.

It's the strangest joke
The singer is commenting on the irony of becoming invisible, as it is both bizarre and unexpected.

Can't touch the invisible man
The chorus repeats the idea that the artist is untouchable and intangible.

Why do the lights go down
The singer is questioning why things inevitably change and become less bright or vivid.

Or run to someone new?
The singer is wondering if others abandon him in favor of someone else, emphasizing his loneliness and isolation.

Well, let them learn
The singer is suggesting that others will eventually learn the same lessons he has learned, implying that his experience is valuable.

I used to own this town
The artist is remembering a time when he was in a position of power, emphasizing that his current state is a dramatic fall from grace.

Now I'm watching you
The artist is suggesting that he still exists, even though he is invisible, and is observing those around him.

Now it's my turn
The singer is suggesting that he will now take action, implying potential revenge or some other kind of retribution.

Now I'm made of mist
Like the previous lines, this one emphasizes that the singer is barely there, existing as a ghostly mist.

Will you know when you've been kissed?
The artist is questioning if others will notice when he has interacted with them, implying that he might be able to interfere in the lives of others without their knowledge.

Now I'm almost free
The artist is suggesting that he is on the verge of a breakthrough or liberation that he has been working towards throughout the song.

Disappearing
The artist is returning to the idea that he is fading away, highlighting the transitory nature of his existence.

Don't cry for me
The singer is asking others not to feel sorrow for him, perhaps because he has found some kind of freedom or release despite his invisibility.

Can't stop the invisible man
The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes that the artist is unstoppable and cannot be contained or controlled.