Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Joe Jackson · Ultimate Collection [2003]
From my window I'm staring while my coffee goes cold
Look over there (where?)
There, there's a lady that I used to know
She's married now or engaged or something so I'm told
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here
Tonight's 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?)
There, gere comes Genie with her new boyfriend
They say that looks don't count for much
And so there goes your proof
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here, around here
But if looks could kill
There's a man there who is marked down as dead
Cause I've had my fill
Listen you, take your hands from her head
I get so mean around the scene, hey, hey, hey
Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
Cause if my eyes don't deceive me
There's something going wrong around here, around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around
Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Joe Jackson's 1981 single "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" stands as a defining track of his early solo career, blending new wave energy with a sharp, satirical edge. Released following his departure from the Jackson 5, the song captures the post-punk sensibility of the era while showcasing Jackson's unique ability to fuse pop hooks with biting social commentary. The recording features his signature falsetto and a driving rhythm section that propelled it to number one in the UK, establishing him as a major force in British music. Often cited as a precursor to his later, more experimental work, the track remains a quintessential example of early 80s new wave, celebrated for its witty lyrics and infectious melody that transcended its original chart success to become a staple of the genre's legacy.