Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl (Official Video)
Inspiration Behind Jessie’s Girl:
Rick Springfield was taking a stained-glass art class in Pasadena, California, when he developed a crush on one of the women in his class. Unfortunately, she was already in a romantic relationship with one of Rick’s friends. This unrelenting crush didn’t go away so Rick wrote the song Gary’s Girl after his friend. However, the name didn’t sit well with Rick. The search for a replacement name was discovered on a T-shirt as Jessie sounded better and felt right. The lyrics reflect the disappointment of being in love but overshadowed by someone more charismatic.
Biblical Application:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice, James 3:13-16.
Exegesis of Jessie’s Girl:
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
This woman in his art class was growing on Rick. The more he spent time with her in class, the greater his crush on her grew. Unfortunately, his friend Gary was already dating her.
And she’s watching him with those eyes
And she’s loving him with that body, I just know it
Yeah, and he’s holding her in his arms late, late at night
You know, I wish that I had
Rick is starting to become envious of his friend, wishing he could feel what Gary is feeling when this couple is together.
Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
No one that he has met compares to this woman.
I’ll 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
Every time Rick thinks he has a chance, Gary is there to meet her after class. Rick is losing hope, thinking it’s not worth telling her how he feels.
‘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
He looks and their relationship is too much for Rick to handle.
Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
He wishes that he could trade places with his friend.
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?
No one compared to his friend’s girlfriend.
And I’m looking 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?
Rick has tried to impress her, but her mind is on Gary.
Tell me, where can I find a woman like that?
You know, I wish that I had
Rick is now consumed with jealousy.
Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I want Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
Rick couldn’t move on until he found someone like her.
Like Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I want, I want Jessie’s girl
The frustrating part of becoming consumed by envy and jealousy.
Final Thoughts:
Jessie’s Girl reminds me of 2 situations from my own life. My best friend from high school, Carl, we decided early on that we would never date someone that the other liked. When one of the most attractive girls on the cross-country team asked me out, I declined as I was in love with one of her friends. I told her how Carl felt and they went out on a date before each moving on to another person. Meanwhile, in college, I was in a similar situation as Rick. I liked a girl who liked a close friend. When I finally revealed how I felt about her, she simply wanted to be friends. After this conversation, I walked away from this friendship as it was too painful to be with her and only be a friend. This is how I handled the situation in Jessie’s Girl.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 