Peak
21
Weeks
15
Score
1,754
Chart Year
1979
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A minimalist New Wave song recorded with his band, "Is She Really Going Out With Him" was Joe Jackson's amusing commentary on hot girls hooking up with butt-ugly dudes. Jackson makes this clear in the marvelous opening line, "Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street." In a Songfacts interview with Joe Jackson, he explained that the song was written with a humor that was lost on some listeners. Said Jackson: "That is just one of those songs that started with the title. I heard that phrase somewhere and I thought that could be a kind of funny song about gorgeous girls going out with monsters. It just started from there. It was just a funny song, or supposed to be funny. It was a great surprise to me when some people interpreted it as being angry." Jackson was not the first to ask this musical question. The 1964 Shangri-Las hit "Leader of the Pack" opens with some dialog: Is she really going out with him? Well, there she is, let's ask her. Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing? In 1976, the UK punk band The Damned lifted this line to open their first single, "New Rose." Other artists to record this song include Sugar Ray, Goldfinger and Kid Courageous.
Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street From my window I'm staring while my coffee grows cold Look over there! (Where?) There's a lady that I used to know She's married now, or engaged, or something, so I am 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?) Here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend They say that looks don't count for much If 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 But if looks could kill There's a man there who's more down as dead. Cause I've had my fill Listen you, take your hands off her head I get so mean around this scene 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
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 9, 1979 | 76 | 50 |
| 2 | Jun 16, 1979 | 63 | 63 |
| 3 | Jun 23, 1979 | 50 | 76 |
| 4 | Jun 30, 1979 | 42 | 84 |
| 5 | Jul 7, 1979 | 39 | 87 |
| 6 | Jul 14, 1979 | 35 | 91 |
| 7 | Jul 21, 1979 | 31 | 95 |
| 8 | Jul 28, 1979 | 27 | 99 |
| 9 | Aug 4, 1979 | 25 | 101 |
| 10 | Aug 11, 1979 | 23 | 103 |
| 11 | Aug 18, 1979 | 21 | 105 |
| 12 | Aug 25, 1979 | 21 | 105 |
| 13 | Sep 1, 1979 | 48 | 78 |
| 14 | Sep 8, 1979 | 95 | 31 |
| 15 | Sep 15, 1979 | 100 | 26 |