Joe Jackson's excellent screed against market driven greed....

[Virginia Dare]

all the crap that we are driven to buy, it just boggles the mind. We have homes full of junk. Where did it come from?

I'm the Man

Pretty soon now
Y'know I'm gonna make a comeback
And like the birds and the bees in the trees
It's a sure-fire smash
I'll speak
To the masses throughout the media
And if you got anything to say to me
You can say it with cash
'Cause I got the trash and you got the cash
So baby we should get along fine
So give me all your money 'cause I know you think I'm funny
Can't you hear me laughing
Can't you see me smile

I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the hula-hoop
I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the yo-yo

Kung fu
That was one of my good ones
Well what's a few broken bones
When we all know it's good clean fun
Skateboards
I've almost made them respectable
You see I can't always get through to you
So I go for your son
I had a giant rubber shark and it really made a mark
Didja looka looka lookit alla blood
Give me all your money 'cause I know you think I'm funny
Can't you hear me laughing
Can't you see me smile

I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the hula-hoop
I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the yo-yo

Right now
I think I'm gonna plan a new trend
Because the line on the graph's getting low
And we can't have that
And you think you're immune
But I can sell you anything
Anything from a thin safety pin
To a pork pie hat
'Cause I got the trash and you got the cash
So baby we should get along fine
So give me all your money 'cause I know you think I'm funny
Can't you hear me laughing
Can't you see me smile

I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the hula-hoop
I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the yo-yo

[unpossibles]

1. awesome song/album

I recently discovered him, which surprised a lot of my friends as I am huge into other similar Brit "pop" of the same era, like Elvis Costello, Boomtown Rats, Buzzcocks, The Clash, etc.

his lyrics and energy and the musicianship on those first 3 albums blow me away. I like his later stuff too, but the first three Joe Jackson Band albums are amazing. The new one seems decent - I've only heard about 3 or 4 tracks online, but I liked what I've heard.

[Virginia Dare]

2. He's a pretty weird guy...

he doesn't really fit any molds.

I saw him in concert one time, and dude has an attitude and takes himself way seriously. First of all, he refers to all of his songs as "arrangements". Secondly, several times during the show, he just sat there and refused to play anything until the audience shut up. This was difficult seeing as how it was an outdoor venue and there had already been some heavy drinking going on.

I love his stuff though, he's definitely a talented guy. His lyrics really skewer hyprocrisy and irony.

[unpossibles]

3. I did not know that, but I'm not too surprised

isn't he classically trained and all? I would think that would color how one approaches a concert.

[mtowngman]

6. He told the audience to shut up when I saw him too

but he did show some sense of humor. He pointed out that there was a guy in the second row with binoculars, then asked the guy if he was a dermatologist.

[Virginia Dare]

7. LOL!!!

I would NOT want to be the the short end of Joe's snappy repartee!!!

[Katina]

4. "We have homes full of junk"

maybe your home is full of junk, but MINE is full of "stuff!" :D

[Virginia Dare]

8. Excuse me, I stand corrected junky stuff?

;)

[Katina]

10. LOL

Carlin just pops into my head when ever anyone mentions "junk' in our homes. I love that bit of his...my stuff, your junk. Great! :thumbsup:

[mtowngman]

5. love that one

haven't heard it for years.

[martymar64]

9. I'm a big fan

I'm on my fourth copy of Look Sharp.
His bass player Graham Maby is one of the best I've ever heard. He does a lot of bass leads against rhythm guitar and piano. Fuggin Brilliant!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. as long as we're on a Joe Jackson kick

Hey pal
Can I take your picture for the people back home
They won't believe it when they see this stuff
You see the camera that I got in Hong Kong
Completely duty free
This really is a pretty scene
Could you ask your kid to smile please
Sorry what exactly do you mean
Can you say it in English
'Cause we're the . . .
Jet set - get out of our way
And don't be messin' with the . . .
Jet set - get out of our way
We got a lot of things to see
Let's get a Big Mac
Get it while the dollar's worth a thousand yen
It's quite a bargain here
Next year
We'll save some money and we'll hire Big en
For our anniversary
This really is a pretty scene
But I'm happy I don't live here
Hey what's the matter with the waiter's face
Can you say it in English
'Cause we're the . . .
Jet set - get out of our way
And don't be messin' with the . . .
Jet set - get out of our way
We got a lot of things to see