Jessie's Girl

Rick Springfield

About Jessie's Girl

"Jessie's Girl" is a song written and performed by Australian singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog. The song is about unrequited love and centers on a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend. Upon its release in the United States in 1981, "Jessie's Girl" was slow to break out. It debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on 28 March but took 19 weeks to hit No. 1 reaching that position on 1 August, one of the slowest climbs to No. 1 at that time. It remained in that position for two weeks and would be Springfield's only first-place hit. The song was at No. 1 when MTV launched on 1 August 1981. Ultimately spending 32 weeks on the chart, Billboard ranked it as No. 5 for all of 1981. The song also peaked at No. 1 in Springfield's native Australia and later won Springfield a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. "Jessie's Girl" was released in the United Kingdom in March 1984 and peaked at No. 43 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1984. Springfield recorded an acoustic version of the song for his 1999 album, Karma. 


Year:
2008
3:37
77 

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Jessie is a friend, yeah
I know he's been a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed that 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 loving him with that body, I just know it
Yeah 'n' 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 play along with the charade
There 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 loving 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 looking in the mirror all the time
Wondering what she don't see in me
I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
Ain't that the way love 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

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Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield (born Richard Lewis Springthorpe; 23 August 1949) is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a member of pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States. He had a No. 1 hit with "Jessie's Girl" in 1981 in both Australia and the US. He received the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Jessie's Girl". He followed with four more top 10 US hits, "I've Done Everything for You", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Affair of the Heart" and "Love Somebody". His two US top 10 albums are Working Class Dog (1981) and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet (1982). As an actor, he portrayed … more »

5 fans

Written by: Richard Springthorpe

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


24 facts about this song

Chart Performance
"Jessie's Girl" is Rick Springfield's most successful song. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1981 and remained on the chart for 32 weeks.
Song Inspiration
The song was inspired by a girl Springfield was infatuated with while he was in a stained glass class in Pasadena. However, the object of his affection was dating a friend of his whose name was not actually Jessie.
The Name Jessie
The name "Jessie" was chosen as it rolled off the tongue better according to Springfield. He doesn't recall his friend's actual name except that it was a common one.
Awards and Accolades
"Jessie's Girl" won Springfield a Grammy in 1982 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
Film and Television Appearances
The song has become a fan favorite and has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including "13 Going on 30," "Boogie Nights," and the popular TV show "Glee."
Song Creation
Springfield wrote the song while he was working on his debut album "Working Class Dog." The song came together quickly and was recorded in a short period of time.
Song Duration
The running time of "Jessie's Girl" is 3 minutes and 14 seconds.
Use in Advertising
"Jessie's Girl" has been used in numerous advertising campaigns, including a recent commercial for a phone company, where the song served as the backdrop.
Lyrics Analysis
The song’s lyrics reflect unrequited love, a theme that has resonated with audiences for decades, contributing to its lasting popularity.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Jessie’s Girl" over the years, including the cast of the musical television series "Glee" and punk rock band Frickin' A.
Music Video
The music video for "Jessie’s Girl" is notable for its early '80s aesthetics and Springfield’s performance, which effectively conveyed the song’s lyrical angst.
Artist Background
"Jessie's Girl" is a song by the Australian singer, actor, and author, Rick Springfield.
Release Date
The song was released in 1979, on Springfield's international debut album "Working Class Dog".
Chart Performance
This song peaked to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in 1981, marking Springfield's first and only number one hit to this day.
Grammy Award
The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in the following year, proving Springfield's talent and the song's popularity.
Song Inspiration
Rick Springfield has shared that "Jessie's Girl" was inspired by a real-life unrequited love. Springfield fell for the girlfriend of a friend he met in a stained glass class.
Jessie’s Identity
The name, Jessie, used in the song was not the actual name of his friend. Rick Springfield used a different name because the real one “didn’t sing well”. However, the real identity of "Jessie" has never been revealed by Springfield.
Video Appearance
Steve Antin, who played the character Jessie in the Music video for the song went on to star in the movie “The Last American Virgin” and later gained fame as the director of “Burlesque”.
Pop Culture References
The song remains a staple of '80s nostalgia and has been referenced in various television shows, movies, and other songs. Most notably, the song features heavily in the 'Boogie Nights' soundtrack.
Platinum Certification
The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, meaning it sold over one million units.
Relatability
Springfield has said that the song's universal theme of unrequited love is a big part of why it continues to be popular today. "It's a really human situation," he said in an interview.
Cover Version
Several artists have covered "Jessie's Girl" over the years, including Mary Lambert and Coheed and Cambria, showing the song's wide-ranging appeal.
Signature Song
Despite having several other hits, "Jessie's Girl" is widely regarded as Rick Springfield's signature song.
Influence on Careers
The song's success gave Springfield's acting career a boost, leading to his celebrated role on the soap opera 'General Hospital'.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1981

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