My Sunday Song – “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For My Sunday Song #280 and the final of this 10 song set, we are talking about the 80’s classic “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield. It is an iconic song and one that screams The 80’s. The song went all the way to #1 and I believe is his only #1 song and garnered Rick a Grammy. Did you know, it was the #1 song in the country when MTV debuted!! The song was from the album “Working Class Dog” and helped catapult the album to Platinum status. Rick Springfield was everywhere and even on TV as he played Dr. Noah Drake on the Daytime Soap of ‘General Hospital” which my mom watched which meant I had to watch it. We didn’t have a lot of TV options back in 1981. I am sure that his TV popularity helped shoot this up the charts as women loved him and hoped to be Jessie’s Girl.

The song is about Rick’s friend’s girlfriend. His name was Gary and not Jessie as Rick was trying to protect the innocent. Rick was in a Stained Glass class with Gary and I guess saw the girl, but actually never met her or knew her name (or he is still protecting the innocent). In fact, he states that the girl probably has no idea the song is about her. Rick was lusting from afar, but at least we got a great song out of it. The lyrics are a little silly at times and it is strange that this old guy (he was in his 30’s at the time) was singing a song about teenagers, but he made it work.

The song is pure bubblegum, pop magic and total power pop bliss at the same time. It has this really cool guitar riff throughout and the solo really pushes the song on to the rock side as well which helped it be popular with everyone. Rick sings it with an energy and honest deliver that makes you feel bad for him that he didn’t have her. I am sure we all had someone we crushed on like that growing up. You feel his yearning for her and that is what connected with everyone. Plus, the music is so damn catchy.

if you don’t know this one, have you been living under a rock for the last 40 years? Even my 14 year old daughter loves this song and she discovered it without me telling her about it. Go give the song a listen and let it take you back to a time when music was a blast. Let me know what you think about the song and I hope everyone has a wonderful and Happy Sunday! See you next week with a new artist.

“Jessie’s Girl”

Jessie is a friend,
Yeah, I know he’s been a good friend of mine
But lately something’s changed
It ain’t hard to define
Jessie’s got himself a girl and I want to make her mine

And she’s watching him with those eyes
And she’s lovin’ him with that body, I just know it!
And he’s holding her in his arms late, late at night

You know I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?

I’ll play along with the charade
That doesn’t seem to be a reason to change
You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot

‘Cause she’s watching him with those eyes
And she’s lovin’ him with that body, I just know it!
And he’s holding her in his arms late, late at night

You know I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?

Like Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman…
Where can I find a woman like that?

And I’m lookin’ in the mirror all the time
Wonderin’ what she don’t see in me
I’ve been funny; I’ve been cool with the lines
Ain’t that the way love’s supposed to be?

Tell me, where can I find a woman like that?

You know I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I want Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?

Like Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I want, I want Jessie’s girl

Written by Rick Springfield

30 thoughts on “My Sunday Song – “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield”

  2. That’s neat when the kids discover solid tunes on their own – and I hadn’t realized he was on a soap opera at the time too, maybe that’s a cross-promotional strategy that’s due for a comeback!

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  4. Mega mega tune! My pal Muc bought this album at the time but being a young goofball back than I could not wrap my head around the fact that this guy was a soap opera actor and a rocker. I guess Rick was the original DR. Feelgood!

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  6. I had forgotten that he was a soap actor. My mom preferred Young and the restless at the time. I preferred changing the channel!

    It’s easily one of the best pop songs of the 80s. While I don’t do the social media thing, I think it’s great that newer generations are discovering songs like this. I let my two five year olds raid my CD collection from time to time. Last night, my girl took out Love Stallion’s Unforgettable ride, because the slip case had a horse and heart on it. She loved the music too. My boy is more of a Whitesnake kid so far.

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