Joe Jackson - Be My Number Two Lyrics

Unbelievable pianist, songwriter, performer. Long overdue for a revival. Also the best breakup song I've ever heard.

I like the drum part, One hell expression to end the song.

makes you wonder if you were numero uno or dos

Body and soul l’un des meilleurs album de ma jeunesse...

This song was spot on when I was in my early twenties and is today. I'm 51. His words are like a poem and every song is beautiful musically. So glad I looked him up on youtube.

I feel exactly thé same! Si much goods memories...i am 52.

I’m in the camp of those who interpret the lyrics as a proposal to someone to give/share some comfort and company after a difficult breakup.

I love this song, but wish it had a quiet piano fade out, instead of the loud sax & drum ending.

thats why its not your song

Oh gosh... I was just shot back into my college years at the first sound of the piano. ♡♡

Isn't it possible that #1 is actually him and asking someone to be his #2 is wanting a partner in life. If his heart has seen so much "action" to me means he was a single and now he is done with that life.

Hi Debby. That's what is beautiful to music, it means whatever the listener wants it to be, besides the meaning of it by the author of performer.
Me listening to this song, like to believe it is about a possible new love in his life (number two) after the former love (number one) didn't last forever (me and number one).
Giving meaning to a song can depend on the stage of life of the listener. In my case, I am happy again with my new love and our children , after my marriage ended with the mother of my eldest children. So me and number one are through and I have found my own number two. Although this number two is my new number ONE of course, there is no question about that. But that depends on which stage you are.
Enjoy the music, any way you like, whatever meaning it is to you!

Giving meaning to this song relate to the man who listen to and probably sing it too is depend into identity he have, the one he is a cheater he wants number two aside from that number one. He is a user in this stage. The other one is that he is a lonely man his number one is nowhere for a possible reason like legally separated with him or maybe disabled or simply passed away. So he is longing to have a number two.

let's see....what else might mean #1, and #2, haha

anythings possible

Mind numbing lyrics about deep and real emotions. His song writing has long been underrated.

Beautiful and moving.

Is he the father of micheal jackson??

No, Michael was black and from Gary, Indiana. Joe is British.

@Greg Palmer Fair play Greg. We could of had some fun with that question!

No he is not.

Saw this in concert, loved it back in 84...Always a fan from the beginning...

They don't write songs like this anymore.Super powerful and beautiful.

Hard to believe this was 34 years ago. "Your Life is as. a Vapor that appeareth in the morning, and vanished by midday....Proverbs....

Grreeeat!, Just simply magic.

Beautiful

What a proposal to a young woman -- to be his #2 because he is probably married. The love song is entirely different from any previous love song I ever heard and this is its power. Joe Jackson's arrangement and the musicians are all incredible on this moving melody. The piano really pulls the tears and the band and incredible drummer brings it home to reality. Marvelous.

What he's saying is that number one crushed and broke his heart so bad and he will never be able to let anyone get that close again. They will have settle for being number two and accept what he has left to offer. I am going thru the same thing right now 25 years of marriage and she is leaving me for another guy.
There will be no others allowed to get this close and cause the pain I am going thru. This hurts so bad.

i always heard it as he's broken up with 'the one'..... like the love of his life... "me and number one are through"...... and he just wants company and affection........... but that person will never replace "her".

That's rough.

yeah especially the "you'll be who i want you to"............ he's just going to pretend this new girl is the old one...... but he's being 100% up front with "is it worth the energy? (is it worth your time) i'll leave it up to you" (to decide) ..... savage .

It's obvious from the lyrics that the singer has recently broken up with someone (#1) and it was a tough breakup. Now he's asking the woman he's singing this song to, to be his #2.

i just bought the LP... bcos of this hit :)

Will there be too much to do? Such a powerful song.

Outstanding song!

So true., Outstanding album.