Jo the Waiter
Tubeway Army Lyrics
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Serving wine in basement bars
Only madmen ever stay, "got no time"
If you're mindless please take mine
Jo the waiter held me close
Behind the door marked 'gentlemen'
Just for now that's all I need
Long gone, I recall good times
I must confess, I cried
We burned out and the line went dead
At six o'clock I felt so alone
I crawled inside, where else to go?
I could be dead for all you know
Everyday I died for you
Valium boys with painted eyes
Young men need love special
I don't think I want it at all
Long gone, I recall good times
I must confess, I cried
Me, I've retired to a back street flat
Picture 'eyes in a cold steel frame'
The freaks arrive, broken needles and blood
"What you on, man, to get those eyes?"
It's very touching, I'm so close to me
False smiles I've rehearsed for days
Come inside, you won't know I'm wrong
Give me your heart, I'm so quickly gone
The lyrics to Tubeway Army's song "Jo the Waiter" explore themes of loneliness, isolation, and longing for genuine human connection. The titular character, Jo, is a waiter who serves wine in basement bars. The singer, likely the singer and protagonist of the song, describes himself as one of the "madmen" who frequent such bars, driven there by a sense of aimlessness in his own life. He offers his own mind to those who are similarly lost.
The second verse takes a more intimate turn, as the singer describes being held by Jo behind a door marked "gentlemen." The suggestion here is that the two of them have found a kind of refuge or solace in each other's company, though it seems to be a fleeting encounter. The longing for authentic friendship appears again in the line "Won't someone call me 'friend'?", hinting at a deep sense of emotional disconnect.
The chorus is a lament for lost time and lost opportunities for meaningful human connection. The singer expresses regret and sadness for what he's lost, suggesting that the emptiness he feels is pervasive and ongoing. The final verse finds the singer having retired to a back street flat. His neighbors are "freaks" who arrive on the scene with "broken needles and blood." This image of degradation and desperation hints once again at a longing for something more real and genuine.
Line by Line Meaning
Jo the waiter worked for me
Serving wine in basement bars
Only madmen ever stay, "got no time"
If you're mindless please take mine
I employed Jo the waiter, who served wine in dingy bars where only the insane lingered. If you have no thoughts of your own, take mine instead.
Jo the waiter held me close
Behind the door marked 'gentlemen'
Just for now that's all I need
Won't someone call me 'friend'?
Jo the waiter provided me with a temporary respite by embracing me in secrecy, but all I wanted was a friend.
Long gone, I recall good times
I must confess, I cried
I reminisce about the past and it brings me to tears.
We burned out and the line went dead
At six o'clock I felt so alone
I crawled inside, where else to go?
I could be dead for all you know
Our group's success was short-lived and now there is silence. At 6 pm, I feel completely alone and isolate myself from the world, wondering if I'm even alive.
Everyday I died for you
Valium boys with painted eyes
Young men need love special
I don't think I want it at all
Each day, I sacrificed for you. The boys around me are numb from Valium and have no real emotions to love anyone. While young men yearn for special love, I'm not sure I even want it.
Me, I've retired to a back street flat
Picture 'eyes in a cold steel frame'
The freaks arrive, broken needles and blood
"What you on, man, to get those eyes?"
Now, I live in a rundown flat on a side street, with only pictures to keep me company. Strange, desperate individuals visit me, inquiring about my odd gaze.
It's very touching, I'm so close to me
False smiles I've rehearsed for days
Come inside, you won't know I'm wrong
Give me your heart, I'm so quickly gone
I am moved by my own thoughts and emotions, but express phony emotions with practiced smiles. Come into my world, where you won't realize anything is amiss until it's too late.
Contributed by Alexander R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
grizzlyjo3000
"Jo The Waiter"
Jo the waiter worked for me
Serving wine in basement bars
Only madmen ever stay, "got no time"
If you're mindless please take mine
Jo the waiter held me close
Behind the door marked 'gentlemen'
Just for now that's all I need
Won't someone call me 'friend'?
Long gone, I recall good times
I must confess, I cried
We burned out and the line went dead
At six o'clock I felt so alone
I crawled inside, where else to go?
I could be dead for all you know
Everyday I died for you
Valium boys with painted eyes
Young men need love special
I don't think I want it at all
Long gone, I recall good times
I must confess, I cried
Me, I've retired to a back street flat
Picture 'eyes in a cold steel frame'
The freaks arrive, broken needles and blood
"What you on, man, to get those eyes?"
It's very touching, I'm so close to me
False smiles I've rehearsed for days
Come inside, you won't know I'm wrong
Give me your heart, I'm so quickly gone
Theresa Wood
This track I loved when I was 15😊 l have followed you for over years 🤗🙏 my best song is metal 😄
alan howe
RIP Paul Gardener, hugely underated bass player
Phil C
+alan howe agree. Paul Gardener's personality really shines through in this fun playful bassline. Cool!!
Emily._.wimmles
I didn't know he died but you say RIP Paul and Cedrick💙💙❤️❤️ (I know he didn't play on this but still)
Owen j Wilson
Was gutted when he passed away in 1984...Very underrated but a very big influence when I was learning to play Bass back in the day..RIP Paul..
John Cook
yes, brilliant bass player
Djamale Zai
The kind of song you need to listen only once to have it glued to your brain .
Neal Ford
My favourite song from this record. Tubeway Army was so different from Numan's later work... Really enjoyed it
kohlemainen
A stand-out song from Gary Numan. Moving
jenniferswest
This song is pure poetry. Everything about it is perfect.