Joe Jackson's Greatest Hits

I'm going to see Joe Jackson Monday night. He's composed and performed music since the 70s, earning five Grammy nominations and charting with hits such as "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", "Steppin' Out", and "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)".

Joe is known for his literate lyrics and catchy pop/rock melodies. For your enjoyment, here are some of Joe's songs, lyrics, and music videos.

The Obvious Song

There was a man in the jungle
Trying to make ends meet
Found himself one day with an axe in his hand
When a voice said Buddy can you spare that tree?
We gotta save the world, starting with your land.
It was a rock 'n' roll millionaire from the USA,
Doing 3 to the gallon in a big white car,
And he sang and he sang 'til he polluted the air,
And he blew a lot of smoke from a Cuban cigar.

Nineteen Forever

Only my mirror sees me crying,
Each time I lose another year.
Wouldn't be a drag to be like you,
Settling down and having kids,
and telling them what to do?
Well I'm gonna stay nineteen forever!

Steppin' Out (briefly featuring a Miller Lite logo)

We are young but getting old before our time,
Well leave the TV and the radio behind,
Dont you wonder what well find,
Steppin' out tonight.

Real Men
(Note about the lyrics: Much like Randy Newman, Joe Jackson often writes from the perspective of less pleasant or confident characters as a way of telling a story.)

Man makes a gun,
Man goes to war,
Man can kill and man can drink
And man can take a whore.
Kill all the blacks,
Kill all the reds,
And if there's war between the sexes
Then there'll be no people left.

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Tonights 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?)
Here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend.
They say that looks dont count for much.
If so, there goes your proof.