- Friedrich Nietzsche
If you don't know how Joe Fox feels about you or anything else for that matter, you haven't listened closely enough. He'll tell you anything you need to know with ease, albeit in a quiet, no-nonsense manner. You'll know if he loves you or not, what else he loves or hates, and why, if you listen. Joe Fox as you hear him now began about five years ago when he was twenty years old. His collection of instruments consists of guitars, bass, his voice, and a plethora of synthesizers and weird little boxes that hum, buzz and control each other. Given his love of bands like Air and Blonde Redhead, the variety of tools he chose to wield makes perfect sense.
Speaking of electronics: a synth has never sounded so expressive as it has in his songs. 'A' synth? No - I should comment upon the plurality of devices which you will hear....each, like a traveller from a unique, remote crevasse or wrinkle of the globe, stepping up and telling his or her part of the story. The guitars, too, add a sort of urgent narrative.... as if the flesh pressing tightly-wound metal against stained wood knows this isn't possible forever. His vocals, as well, speak with a contempt of his own humanity but a soaring love for all that makes him human. The traces of this human frailty you might pick up from his voice belie his knack for pronounced emotional clarity; you'll never be confused as to how to feel, if you really listen.
Inspired directly by a tragically intense best friend back in the school days, Joe became interested in writing & recording at the age of fourteen. His musical and thematic inspiration could safely be attributed to his family thus: his mother (a teacher of middle eastern music and dance and former pianist) and his father (well-versed in the blues) left many instruments available as precursory playthings to a developing musical personality. He was also most certainly influenced by his sister's musical tastes of the Reagan era, such as the Cure, Devo, & The Talking Heads. Speaking of influences, I feel as if I should mention this: Joe's music and friendship has made probably the most direct and personal effect upon my own tinkering with electronic music and home recording that I can recall.
What you might not find out, however, if your dialogue with him was a bit brief, is that he makes music. Praise be to the attenuation (or volume control) of modern and not-so-modern electronics. Whereas when in person you might be prone to lean in to catch every word, here ... a quick clockwise motion is all that's necessary. This is something you will want to do. You'll probably also feel like moving around quite a bit.
-Ryan Hampton
(for more info, music, photos, etc. go here: http://jfox.raygunarmy.com/)
Listen Up Katie
joe fox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wont sleep tonight
Stare at the ceiling tiles
Crack a smile
Ooh you broke my spirit child
Maybe i be down
Have some friends around
Maybe head to town
With the sorrows i can drown
The thought of you still lingers in my head
But i cant seem to make it out my bed, well listen up katie
You made a fool of me
You knock me off my feet
And i cant get no sleep
Baby you cut me far to deep
Well maybe thats just luck
How we came unstuck
I wont make no fuss
I wont sweat or cuss
Or the mess you left of us
You tore my heart in two
Like only you could do
Enjoy in dating you
Now im blue
And you were only passing through
The thought of you still linger in my head
But i cant seem to make it out my bed
Well listen up katie
You made a fool of me
You knock me off my feet
And i cant get no sleep
Well you cut me far to deep
Well now you cut me far far far to deep now dating you
Well you you cut me far far far to deep now dating you
Dating you
Listen up katie you made a mess of me
You knock me off my feet
And i wont get no sleep
Baby cut me so far deep
Here you come katie
Making a fool of me
Knocking me off my feet
And i cant get no sleep
Well listen up katie
The lyrics of the song "Listen Up Katie" by Joe Fox depict the emotional turmoil of a person who has been hurt and left heartbroken by his lover, Katie. The singer of the song appears to be struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship and the pain caused by his former partner's actions. The opening lines, "Well it's alright, I won't sleep tonight, stare at the ceiling tiles, crack a smile" sets the tone of the song as one of resignation tinged by a hint of bitterness. The singer is trying to mask his hurt by putting on a stoic front.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with conflicting emotions. He considers drowning his sorrows, "with the sorrows I can drown", and maybe making a fuss, "I won't make no fuss, I won't sweat or cuss, or the mess you left of us". However, despite his pain, he seems to accept the situation and reflects on the relationship, acknowledging that he enjoyed dating Katie but that she was only "passing through." The chorus of the song continues to address Katie, berating her for cutting the singer too deeply and making a fool of him.
Overall, "Listen Up Katie" is a poignant and relatable song about the end of a relationship and the emotional aftermath of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Well its alright
It's okay, things are tolerable even though I'm not entirely happy.
I won't sleep tonight
I'll be up all night, unable to rest.
Stare at the ceiling tiles
I'll spend the night looking up at the ceiling.
Crack a smile
I'll try to see the humor in the situation.
Ooh you broke my spirit child
You hurt me deeply and my emotional strength has suffered as a result.
Maybe I be down
I might feel depressed or sad.
Have some friends around
I'll try to surround myself with supportive people.
Maybe head to town
I might go out and distract myself with activities in the city.
Fuck around
I might engage in reckless behavior and not care about the consequences.
With the sorrows I can drown
I might turn to alcohol or other vices to numb my pain.
The thought of you still lingers in my head
I can't stop thinking about you and the impact you've had on me.
But I can't seem to make it out my bed
I'm struggling to move on and get out of this funk.
Well listen up Katie
I need your attention and I want to tell you something important.
You made a fool of me
I feel embarrassed and foolish because of you.
You knock me off my feet
You've destabilized me emotionally and physically.
And I can't get no sleep
I am unable to rest because of the way you've hurt me.
Baby you cut me far too deep
Your actions have caused me great emotional pain and it will take a long time to heal.
Well maybe that's just luck
Perhaps it was inevitable that we wouldn't work out.
How we came unstuck
Our relationship fell apart and we couldn't seem to fix it.
I won't make no fuss
I won't cause a scene or complain.
I won't sweat or cuss
I am determined to stay calm and not get angry.
Or the mess you left of us
I acknowledge that the relationship is over and we're left to clean up the emotional mess.
You tore my heart in two
You hurt me deeply and the pain is almost unbearable.
Like only you could do
Only you have the power to make me feel this broken.
Enjoy in dating you
I had fun while we were together, but now things have changed.
Now I'm blue
I'm feeling sad and down.
And you were only passing through
You weren't meant to stay in my life forever, even though I wish you had.
Well now you cut me far far far too deep now dating you
I am realizing more and more how much you've hurt me since we've stopped dating.
Listen up Katie you made a mess of me
I need you to hear me and understand the pain you've caused me.
Here you come Katie
You've returned to my thoughts and emotions, even though I want to move on.
Making a fool of me
I feel like you've made me look foolish and naive.
Knocking me off my feet
You're destabilizing my emotions again, even though I thought I had moved on.
And I can't get no sleep
I am still unable to rest because of the impact you've had on me.
Baby cut me so far deep
Your actions and words have caused me to feel deep emotional pain.
Writer(s): Oliver Joseph Fox-williams
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.