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Joe Jackson — It's Different For Girls
Album: I'm the Man
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2762









Released: 1979
Length: 3:37
Plays (last 30 days): 2
What the hell is wrong with you tonight?
I can't seem to say or do the right thing
Wanted to be sure you're feeling right
Wanted to be sure we want the same thing

She said, I can't believe it
You can't possibly mean it
Don't we all want the same thing?
Don't we?
Well who said anything about love?

No, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
Don't give me love
No, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same

Mama always told me, save yourself
Take a little time and find the right girl
Then again, don't end up on the shelf
Logical advice gets you in a whirl

I know a lot of things that you don't
You wanna hear some?
She said, just give me something
Anything
Well, give me all you got, but not love

No, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
Don't give me love
No, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
Who said anything about love?

No, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
Don't give me love
No, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
Don't give me love
No, no, no, no, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
Don't give me love
No, no, no, no, no, not love, she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
Comments (334)add comment
 ce wrote:

You are correct. There's three versions of this song on that excellent live album: "regular", a capella and acoustic.


(A little late, but ...) this is incorrect - there are three versions of "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" on 1980-1986. 
how could anyone sit quietly in an audience while excellent music plays - the in betweens, i.e.? that said, would have loved to have been in the audience for Big World, one of my favorite albums of his
Excellence…
 jp33442 wrote:

I remember being in 8th grade when this album came out



same!
Joe Jackson doesn't disappoint. Great song, cool arrangements.
 bluematrix wrote:
 
Well, we agree about the pop masterpiece part anyways. Look Sharp (oddly, released in the same year!) was just as good, maybe better.

And real artists get kudos for not just replicating their winning formula and continue to grow and experiment. Beat Crazy had some really good stuff as did Night and Day.

After that, yea, I'd say the really good stuff was in the past. 


Agree on Look Sharp, which was released at least stateside just a bit earlier. That one a Masterpiece as well. Two great Pop albums, then...........wad blown. Don't worry bout ole Joe though. I hear hes's a brilliant London Real Estate Investor
I swear I saw Joe Jackson in a Lahaina, Maui, bar while my submarine was anchored offshore in 1978.  We grumblingly paid our $10 cover charge and proceeded to be amazed at the polished urban sound coming from the stage, underneath a suspended biplane.

Don't know, could be a completely imagined event, as I had such a feeble grip on reality that week ...
A miracle has happened! BillG played two (count 'em TWO) Joe Jackson songs within the same day! 
Great song, and the whole album is as well. This was a staple for me very early on...
A time machine to the 1980s. 
 ce wrote:

You are correct. There's three versions of this song on that excellent live album: "regular", a capella and acoustic.



Posted 2 years ago by
ce:
nomnol wrote:
Joe also did a whole album without guitar. Can't remember which one but someone out there does. Bill maybe?

I think that's "Night and day" (with bass guitar), but you may be thinking of "Rain", which I'm not familiar with.
It seems he made at least TWO albums without guitar.
The Man likes a challenge. IIRC he recorded "Body and Soul" in a single recording for each song, and "Big World" live with a silent audience.


Thanks ce. That's the one. Just bass. I vaguely recall an interview where he said something to this effect. Wow. 
 DaveInVA wrote:

I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segue into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.



It just did.

 jpkelly wrote:

Cmon I am trying to turn RP off and watch a movie! One great song after another after another after another. SHEESH!



I have been there so many times before.  Its call ADDICTION and its the best one I've had.  
such a great album cover. still gets a laugh.

He puts on a hell of a live show. super tight band. worth catching.
 jpkelly wrote:

Cmon I am trying to turn RP off and watch a movie! One great song after another after another after another. SHEESH!


This happened the other day at the office...I put on my mid-fi Sennheiser cans to go loud on something good and still had them on four songs later...it was a good set!
 DaveInVA wrote:

I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segue into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.



It did today.
I remember being in 8th grade when this album came out
 samiyam wrote:
rah wrote:
but what does it mean?
Two things. One, society makes it almost impossible for women to live in the moment without fear. Two, living with the persona of victim is useless and self-destructive.
I always took it as a possibly tongue in cheek role reversal. Somewhat poignant in the current atmosphere of 'rape culture' in the woke UK. I'm of an era when in my teens the prospect of merely talking to these exotic and entrancing foreign creatures called girls had me in a lather of fear of rejection and put-down. Maybe it's because I had sisters - the tongue was certainly mightier than the sword! However, going to an all male boarding school somehow didn't turn me into a wolf-whistling misogynist rapist. 
I remember discovering this song, being hit by that bassline and that sad frustrated emotion...

I wish us all moments of love and happiness to savor <3
Sat on the front row for Joe at The Fox in Atlanta around 1990, unbelievable show!
 nomnol wrote:
Joe also did a whole album without guitar. Can't remember which one but someone out there does. Bill maybe?
 
iirc the Bass on Jumpin' Jive was an upright (long time ago interveiw about why he made the album), or Maby made his electric sound like one for it, and there were no guitars on that album.

This song always makes me turn it up! I am lucky enough to to have seen him twice, once back in the day during his “I’m The Man” tour at Poplar Creek in Chicago (on his Birthday) and he got pissed at the venue security because they were making people sit down in front. He finally had enough and cut the show short. I was fortunate enough to catch him again in 2017 at the Palladium in Carmel. He was incredible and didn’t mind that his audience that has aged with him, sat down for most of the show and sang along. While some of his punk angst has mellowed his creativity still oozes from his fingers. Bucket List x2!
1979? Jesus

Had no idea it was that old. I remember listening to Joe on childhood camping holidays. Love this song.
 nomnol wrote:
Joe also did a whole album without guitar. Can't remember which one but someone out there does. Bill maybe?
 
I think that's "Night and day" (with bass guitar), but you may be thinking of "Rain", which I'm not familiar with.
It seems he made at least TWO albums without guitar.
The Man likes a challenge. IIRC he recorded "Body and Soul" in a single recording for each song, and "Big World" live with a silent audience.

 phlattop wrote:

IIRC, there's a a cappella version on his Live 1980/86 album. Given how tight his band is live, it may match what you heard.
 
You are correct. There's three versions of this song on that excellent live album: "regular", a capella and acoustic.
 sadiemonster wrote:

I was in the 11th grade.
 

Junior in college...................
 jp33442 wrote:
Was in 8th grade when this song came out
 
I was in the 11th grade.
Joe also did a whole album without guitar. Can't remember which one but someone out there does. Bill maybe?
Was in 8th grade when this song came out
 DaveInVA wrote:
I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segue into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.
 

Just did today 2019 March
He was very good even before he grew up.
Nice song{#Clap}
I was lucky enough to see him in concert in a small venue In Minneapolis. He is very good live. Lots of energy and seemed to really enjoy people appreciating his music.
 thewiseking wrote:
This album, top to bottom was a Pop Masterpiece. Alas, Joe kinda blew his artistic wad on this one.


Well, we agree about the pop masterpiece part anyways. Look Sharp (oddly, released in the same year!) was just as good, maybe better.

And real artists get kudos for not just replicating their winning formula and continue to grow and experiment. Beat Crazy had some really good stuff as did Night and Day.

After that, yea, I'd say the really good stuff was in the past. 
 thewiseking wrote:
This album, top to bottom was a Pop Masterpiece. Alas, Joe kinda blew his artistic wad on this one.
 
This is only his second album. The ones that followed — Beat Crazy, Jump 'n' Jive, Night and Day, Big World, Laughter and Lust — are all excellent works. 
echo all that :)

 

aspicer wrote:

For sure...really a big missing on RP overall.

 


I saw him live in the Ulster Hall in Belfast - it must have been 1979 - and he played this song.  He was very good and I always wondered why his musical career did not last.  It seems he was too wise and invested what money he had in business rather than struggle as just another singer songwriter scratching a living.  Good on you Joe.
 msymmes wrote:
But interestingly enough, he went on to invest his money wisely and has an insanely high net worth.{#Whisper}

 

thewiseking wrote:
This album, top to bottom was a Pop Masterpiece. Alas, Joe kinda blew his artistic wad on this one.

 

 
wow, who knew the bloke had such serious biz skills! A chain of burger restos, real estate holdings, ownership of a Football Club! Joe really is The Man
But interestingly enough, he went on to invest his money wisely and has an insanely high net worth.{#Whisper}

 

thewiseking wrote:
This album, top to bottom was a Pop Masterpiece. Alas, Joe kinda blew his artistic wad on this one.

 


This album, top to bottom was a Pop Masterpiece. Alas, Joe kinda blew his artistic wad on this one.
I'm always bummed when the song "I'm the Man" doesn't come on next like it does on the album!{#Frustrated}
 dsd wrote:

The "real" Elvis Costello like Orbison is the "real" Elvis

 
That's a nice comment, I need to think about it some more.
This is the song that really got me hooked on Joe Jackson.
 DaveInVA wrote:
I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segue into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.

 
good call DaveInVA
always loved hearing the start-up of this song, and Joe still stays high on my Respect the Artist list
 scrubbrush wrote:
wow. always thought this was Elvis Costello... 

 
The "real" Elvis Costello like Orbison is the "real" Elvis
 mdnlsn wrote:
YES! More Joe Jackson!

 
Agree. He has a fairly large catalog and some stellar music.  
 mdnlsn wrote:
YES! More Joe Jackson!

 
For sure...really a big missing on RP overall.
wow. always thought this was Elvis Costello... 
YES! More Joe Jackson!
This song has risen in my estimation in recent years. I probably hated it when it came out (too busy listening to glory days of Led Zep and Rolling Stones to bother with new stuff—I changed my focus in mid 80s), but Jackson's musical and lyrical sophistication has grown on me.
 eche wrote:
Aq DaveInVA wrote:
AegwfeeseraWsa
sAwqTmawanaaIts exactly what I meant to say as they play The Cowboy Junkies after it that time and this time.

Now its back to the Doors after this...
WwAaa
 
Qawq

 
I think I'm missing something in the translation ...
Aq DaveInVA wrote:
AegwfeeseraWsa
sAwqTmawanaaIts exactly what I meant to say as they play The Cowboy Junkies after it that time and this time.

Now its back to the Doors after this...
WwAaa
 
Qawq
Love Joe Jackson's music. Please play more. His latest album is the best in years and so are his stripped down 4 piece live shows. This man got me into Louis Jordan. Gave me a new appreciation of Cab Calloway and his cover of Round Midnight introduced me to Thelonious Monk - who incidentally it'd  be great to hear more of too. Love your station.
He is the MAN!!{#Bananapiano}{#Drummer}
Top to bottom, a brilliant pop album. Joe blew his wad on this one.

Like "Is she really going out with him" this track absolutely drips with teenage angst!


seems like I just heard this tune here!    

What a consummate musician he is...and has so many other great ones....I'll have to upload 'Sunday Papers' and more! 

Awesome song.  Great memories.
Dude is so turn of the 80's
 
 DaveInVA wrote:
I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segue into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.

 
Ask and ye shall receive. Good get, Dave. Thanks for paying attention, Bill.
For a so-called proto-punk, Jackson's insight into human character was stunning, "Don't give me love/Don't you know that it's different for girls?" Been there.
1979, Eugene, OR. Fit, training, and runnin' the logging roads.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Joe's first two albums, Look Sharp and I'm The Man were great.
Then, to his credit I suppose, he started trying different styles and genres.
Aside from Steppin' Out, none of them worked as well as the first two, IMO.

 
Volume four? Mind you, he had the old band together for that.
 rdo wrote:
It really is different for girls.  For guys, it's pretty easy.  In fact, it is pretty much assured.  For a girl, there is a huge downside with slim chance of reward.

 
Reminds me of:

For a girl to want sex, she has to be in the mood.  For a guy to want sex, she just has to be in the room.


This song, actually the voice, deserves a rock solid 2!!!
 DaveInVA wrote:
I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segway into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.

 
You mean it should drive a segway to another song??

Oh hang on, perhaps it was segue... (Yes, the spelling nazi has arrived!)
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:


I don't know what you mean to say, but You're Lost Little Girl just followed up this song...

 
Its exactly what I meant to say as they play The Cowboy Junkies after it that time and this time.

Now its back to the Doors after this...
I may still have an acoustic version of this with Graham Maybee recorded in a Detroit radio station about a decade ago...will dig around to see...as time allows
10 - next please
 DaveInVA wrote:
I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segway into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.

 

I don't know what you mean to say, but You're Lost Little Girl just followed up this song...
I still love this song. To bad it doesn't segue into the Doors - Your Lost Little Girl anymore.
most excellent song and album
I hear Spirit in this song.
Joe's first two albums, Look Sharp and I'm The Man were great.
Then, to his credit I suppose, he started trying different styles and genres.
Aside from Steppin' Out, none of them worked as well as the first two, IMO.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
{#Bananapiano} Timeless classic - a big FAT 9
 
{#Bananajam} joining JJ jam !
I sure wish songwriters nowadays would pay more attention to bass lines. The one in this song is sublime.
Pretty much a perfect song.

Sorta Steely Dan-meets-XTC.
raise a daughter....( or 2 )... then bitch...........don't work............{#Sunny}

Awe man!  I'm back in Harford Hall, my senior year at Maryland, with the windows open on a nice sunny spring day with the speakers of my stereo singing out this perfect song.


Joe Jackson was one of the big bright spots in the 80's that carried over into today. This was one of his bests.
Excellent Rock n Roll!
There is a limited number of musical notes and millions of songs.  How come, then, that the two notes at the beginning of this song identify it immediately.  Classic stuff.
 Albert1967 wrote:
Superb song and one which brings me ('67) back to my youth.

 

Same ('62)  {#Bounce}
A highly underrated artist.
 


You have every right to an opinion but I have to disagree.  JJ is musically schooled and live is brilliant vocally and instrumentally - perhaps he is a bit on the tall side but other than that I reckon he's rght up there!

evermovingtarget wrote:
Just too bad his voice is so terrible... And sounds so completely out of tune! Just can't stand to listen to this stuff....
IMHO... 

 


 Cynaera wrote:
I've probably posted this before, but I heard a great a cappella version of "Is She Really Going Out With HIm?" on KINK.FM back in the 80's, and it was awesome. Jazzy and totally in the pocket.  I've never heard it anywhere else, so whenever I hear a Joe Jackson song, it sets up a jonesing in my bones for that instrument-less song... {#Sunny}
 
IIRC, there's a a cappella version on his Live 1980/86 album. Given how tight his band is live, it may match what you heard.
Just too bad his voice is so terrible... And sounds so completely out of tune! Just can't stand to listen to this stuff....
IMHO... 
Superb song and one which brings me ('67) back to my youth.
Sounds a bit like XTC
 GuiltyFeat wrote:
It makes no sense on any level that this song should be over 30 years old.
 Dreams, man…
 oldsaxon wrote:

Always interested in if a male writer can grab the mindset of women I asked my girl if this rang true. She emphatically said yes. 
 

I have actually had several frank conversations with women about this. 

GONG


 rdo wrote:
It really is different for girls.  For guys, it's pretty easy.  In fact, it is pretty much assured.  For a girl, there is a huge downside with slim chance of reward.
 
Always interested in if a male writer can grab the mindset of women I asked my girl if this rang true. She emphatically said yes. 
It really is different for girls.  For guys, it's pretty easy.  In fact, it is pretty much assured.  For a girl, there is a huge downside with slim chance of reward.
 WayUpNorth wrote:
Simply a perfect pop song — it has it all. 
 
Right toe.
Simply a perfect pop song — it has it all. 
It makes no sense on any level that this song should be over 30 years old.
Not sure about this one yet.
i'd love to play this for a couple people
 sirdroseph wrote:
The melody and bassline to this tune is just outstanding!{#Clap}
 
Just played along and you are right!   {#Guitarist}
The melody and bassline to this tune is just outstanding!{#Clap}
This guy always had the coolest band with him:  his arrangements were/are otherworldly!!
Loved everthing he's done ever since he started and who plays his music now? And where is he?
 kdogg73 wrote:
My untrained ear for Joe Jackson had me guessing this was a start of a Fleetwood Mac song, then sung my Elvis Costello. :/
 
ME TOO! Funny. And then the chorus has a Steely Dan feel to it.

Totally digging it.

I've seen him live three times. Every show was more brilliant than the last. This guy is truly talented. Too bad he's a vampire now.



 kaybee wrote:
This is nice but I like the version on his Live 80/86 album.

 

there are a few versions on that album right?  My fave is the acapella version.
That is some good Rock and Roll
What a great start to my listening day.
My untrained ear for Joe Jackson had me guessing this was a start of a Fleetwood Mac song, then sung my Elvis Costello. :/
 finoufk wrote:


That's right...What a shame !
 
So true. Very underrated!
 Deadwing wrote:
JJ has written so many amazing songs and is always overlooked   {#Frown}
 

That's right...What a shame !
This is nice but I like the version on his Live 80/86 album.

 jpwright wrote:
Check out Joe Jackson's song "Home Town" (iTunes) from his double live album. Beautiful. I was walking downtown NY one 80's evening and two doormen stopped me and asked if I wanted to be a part of a live audience just inside the theater.  I said who was the performer?  They said Joe Jackson's Band was recording a live album but please no cat calling.  I listened to a free 2 hour recorded live concert quietly.  I heard "Home Town" layed down live that night. Hope you enjoy it. It still hits home when I return to Virginia.

jp

 
 
That would have been 1986's Big World, recorded live—and before an audience, you, that had to sit on its hands until the tape stopped rolling between songs. The critics really lambasted him for this, I guess for depriving the audience of its spontaneity. Frankly, I never understood that criticism. What I found remarkable was the boldness of the proposition: cut a live album and make it sound like a studio album. Every part had to be played perfectly. The fact that Big World was recorded over four nights is testament to how really, really hard that is to do. Man, do I envy you for having been there. Must have been something.

the first line of Joe's tune will resonate with ANY male... {#Lol}
 jpwright wrote:
Check out Joe Jackson's song "Home Town" (iTunes) from his double live album. Beautiful. I was walking downtown NY one 80's evening and two doormen stopped me and asked if I wanted to be a part of a live audience just inside the theater.  I said who was the performer?  They said Joe Jackson's Band was recording a live album but please no cat calling.  I listened to a free 2 hour recorded live concert quietly.  I heard "Home Town" layed down live that night. Hope you enjoy it. It still hits home when I return to Virginia.

jp

 
 
How COOL!  I'm currently fund-less, but I've put your rec on my new list of "must-buy" music.  Thanks, jpwright! {#Jump}
JJ has written so many amazing songs and is always overlooked   {#Frown}


Check out Joe Jackson's song "Home Town" (iTunes) from his double live album. Beautiful. I was walking downtown NY one 80's evening and two doormen stopped me and asked if I wanted to be a part of a live audience just inside the theater.  I said who was the performer?  They said Joe Jackson's Band was recording a live album but please no cat calling.  I listened to a free 2 hour recorded live concert quietly.  I heard "Home Town" layed down live that night. Hope you enjoy it. It still hits home when I return to Virginia.

jp

 
Great song by a great artist.  I can't play bass but I want to learn it to play this song {#Bananajam}
 laozilover wrote:
Love this album cover!  I may just buy the record because of that!  I can has 12 inch vinyl?
 
Yep:

 
 Businessgypsy wrote:
KINK recorded a lot of artists in their studios, playing those songs in pretty heavy rotation in the mid to late 80s. The Aimee Mann set was otherworldly. They did publish compilation CDs from time to time - maybe eBay? Race 'ya to it!
Edit: Checked KINK's site - they published 10 live-in-studio CDs, but this cut was not on them. Some amazing stuff there however. Sad to discover that Les Sarnoff gave it up to melanoma in '09, he was a fixture.


 
I cried all day when I found out Les had died.  He's always held a special place in my heart - he had such JOY in him, and it spilled over onto everyone with whom he came in contact.  He had a knack for bringing out the best in people.