Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Joe Jackson Lyrics
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From my window I'm staring while my coffee goes cold
Look over there (where?)
There, there's a lady that I used to know
She's married now, or engaged, or something, so I am told
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here
Tonight's the night when I go to all the parties down my street
I wash my hair and I kid myself I look real smooth
Look over there (where?)
There, here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend
They say that looks don't count for much
If so, there goes your proof
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here
Around here
But if looks could kill
There's a man there who's more down as dead
'Cause I've had my fill
Listen you, take your hands from her head
I get so mean around this scene
Hey, hey, hey
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here
Around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around
"Is She Really Going Out With Him?" by Joe Jackson, released in 1978, is a song about a man's jealousy and insecurity towards women he used to date or once found attractive. The song is a commentary on male entitlement and the often-unfair dating dynamics where "nice guys" finish last. The opening lines describe the singer looking out of his window, observing "pretty women out walking with gorillas." This metaphorical description is a dig at the men these women are with, who are not attractive in the singer's opinion. He questions if the women he sees are actually with these men or if he's mistaken.
The chorus then poses a question about whether the woman he's observing is really going out with the man she's with. He then describes the night he plans to go out to parties, and he's determined to look his best, but his attempt at grooming falls short ("I wash my hair, and I kid myself I look real smooth"). He once again observes a woman he knows, this time with her new boyfriend. When the singer implies that her looks don't count for much, he means that he does not see what she could find attractive in her new man. The chorus is repeated and is followed by a bridge, where the singer becomes aggressive towards the man he observes with the woman he desires. In the end, the repeated lyrics suggest that something is not right in the singer's world, and he's feeling emasculated by the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street
I see attractive women with unappealing men from my window
From my window I'm staring while my coffee goes cold
I'm so mesmerized that my coffee gets cold
Look over there (where?)
I'm pointing to a person
There, there's a lady that I used to know
I spot a woman that I recognize
She's married now, or engaged, or something, so I am told
I heard that she's committed to someone else
Is she really going out with him?
I'm doubting that she's actually dating that guy
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
I can't believe she would spend the night with him
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me, there's something going wrong around here
I perceive a sense of wrongness in the situation
Tonight's the night when I go to all the parties down my street
I'm going to all the parties on my street tonight
I wash my hair and I kid myself I look real smooth
I'm trying to look my best
Look over there (where?)
I'm pointing to another person
There, here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend
Jeanie is approaching with her new partner
They say that looks don't count for much
Some people say looks don't matter
If so, there goes your proof
I think this proves otherwise
But if looks could kill
I have a lot of anger towards someone
There's a man there who's more down as dead
I'm so angry at this man that he seems dead to me
'Cause I've had my fill
I can't take it anymore
Listen you, take your hands from her head
I'm telling someone to stop touching her
I get so mean around this scene
I get aggressive when I'm in these situations
Hey, hey, hey
An exclamation
Something's going wrong around here
I sense that things are not right
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
deborah hovis
I was a teenager in 1982 and snuck out to his concert with my twin brother at the Hollywood Palladium. Epic. We got grounded and it was so worth it.
Nilknarf
I was there! Grew up in HB. We were into all that RK'nRL, My girlfriend heard "White Shoes" I listened, changed my thoughts and behavior of Rock and Roll. I was at a show there of Joe, that year. Cheers :->/
deborah hovis
@Nilknarf I love it.
D
Great times!❤️
PATRICIA GILLHAM
priceless
Mark Nolan
Sitting here on a Sunday morning at 67 years old rocking Joe Jackson videos. Very nostalgic mood, taking me back 40 years. As years go by, I will never tire of this talented musician.
Dave Roberts
I'm 5 years younger but doin the same on this Friday night
Robert Acquarulo
At 56 years old I am lying in bed rocking Joe Jackson videos. Very nostalgic indeed.
Steve Solomon
65 years old... Doing the same thing ❤️
Brenda Drumm
Just heard this on radio heard it for yrs next thing it will be banned on about women walking with gorrilas heard on the news Tom Jones song delilah has been banned lol