Peak
12
Weeks
21
Score
2,791
Chart Year
1983
The video presents a stylized vision of a day in the life of Adam Ant, from dressing in the morning to performing on stage, to being hounded by the media. At the end of the day, he takes home a woman journalist played by British actress Caroline Munro, in effect answering the song's theme question, "What do you do?" The video also starred veteran actors Graham Stark and Dandy Nichols, as the butler and cleaning woman respectively.
Adam wrote this song when dealing with an everlasting intrusion by the press. They were always asking about his personal life, which was great fodder for the tabloids. Adam Ant was a very intriguing character with a colorful past, and while he sought out attention for his act, he preferred to keep his personal life private. By the '80s, his only vice was sex - no drugs, alcohol or even cigarettes for Adam Ant. This led to predictable questions from the press wondering if he didn't drink or smoke, then what exactly did he do? It seemed hard to believe that such an outrageous persona belonged to a teetotaler, but it was true. Reporters were often shocked to discover that Ant was very measured and reasonable in interviews - nothing like the warpaint wearing wildman who showed up on stage. Adam Ant said of this song: "Goody Two Shoes was a sort of answer back manifesto and just trying to keep things level-headed because I felt that, and still do, to a degree, that going on stage is creating an illusion. It's magical and it's wonderful and I love doing it, but off stage there has to be time out." Word at the time was that this song was about Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners. The rumor was that Adam was going to join a band led by Rowland, but couldn't accept the stringent rules being set down for band membership. Ant explained that the lyrics, "When I saw you kneeling, crying words that you mean, opening the eyeballs, pretending you're Al Green, Al Green" was inspired by a Dexys Midnight Runners concert he saw in 1981. He said, "When I saw Kevin Rowland sing those words and really get into it, I think it was more honest than anything the Clash had ever done." (Thanks, Tony - Vero Beach, FL. Above quotes from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh) >> Throughout the early '80s, Ant was one of the most popular performers England, but this was his first and biggest hit in the US, thanks mainly to MTV, who introduced America to his outrageous costumes and wild charisma.
With the heartbreak open So much you can't hide Put on a little makeup, makeup Make sure they get your good side, good side If the words unspoken Get stuck in your throat Send a treasure token token Write it on a pound note, pound note Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside We don't follow fashion That would be a joke You know we're going to set them, set them So everyone can take note, take note When they saw you kneeling Crying words that you mean Opening their eyeballs, eyeballs Pretending that you're Al Green, Al Green Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes Goody two, goody two, goody goody two shoes Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside No one's gonna tell me What's wrong or what's right Or tell me who to eat with sleep with Or that I've won the big fight, big fight Look out or they'll tell you You're a Superstar Two weeks and you're an all time legend I think the games have gone much too far If the words unspoken It get stuck in your throat Send a treasure token, token Write it on a pound note, pound note Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside He said, don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside He said don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside He said no drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside He said no drink, don't smoke, what do you do? Don't drink don't smoke, what do you do? Subtle innuends follow There must be something inside
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 13, 1982 | 85 | 41 |
| 2 | Nov 20, 1982 | 72 | 54 |
| 3 | Nov 27, 1982 | 61 | 65 |
| 4 | Dec 4, 1982 | 45 | 81 |
| 5 | Dec 11, 1982 | 35 | 91 |
| 6 | Dec 18, 1982 | 27 | 99 |
| 7 | Dec 25, 1982 | 25 | 101 |
| 8 | Jan 1, 1983 | 25 | 101 |
| 9 | Jan 8, 1983 | 22 | 104 |
| 10 | Jan 15, 1983 | 19 | 107 |
| 11 | Jan 22, 1983 | 17 | 109 |
| 12 | Jan 29, 1983 | 14 | 112 |
| 13 | Feb 5, 1983 | 13 | 113 |
| 14 | Feb 12, 1983 | 12 | 114 |
| 15 | Feb 19, 1983 | 12 | 114 |
| 16 | Feb 26, 1983 | 12 | 114 |
| 17 | Mar 5, 1983 | 23 | 103 |
| 18 | Mar 12, 1983 | 28 | 98 |
| 19 | Mar 19, 1983 | 55 | 71 |
| 20 | Mar 26, 1983 | 87 | 39 |