# Question About Jessie's Girl **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104 "2019-08-23T14:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/41 "2019-08-23T20:10:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s the same thing I was thinking. The singer isn’t really interesting in Jesse’s girl. He’s jealous because Jesse has something that he doesn’t have. The song could just as easily be about Jesse’s car. I think that’s one possible interpretation, consistent with the lyrics of the song but not required by them. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/42 "2019-08-23T22:54:56Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Now the dude in “Is She Really Going Out With Him”?? That guy is about to snap. To Rick Springfield’s credit, he’s at least looking inward and wondering what’s wrong with him that he can’t find a woman like that. Joe Jackson is wondering what the _woman’s_ malfunction is for picking those dudes instead of him. (within the context of the song; I’m not seriously implying anything) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/43 "2019-08-23T23:10:03Z")
For those who haven’t seen it, I’ve loved the [Jimmy Kimmel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqTtjxF0FEA) sketch on the making of “Jessie’s Girl.” ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/44 "2019-08-23T23:27:58Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you gotta watch your friends. Hey now, that’s a different song for a different thread, because… > [@](#): > > When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you know it’s hard > Everybody wants her, everybody loves her > Everybody wants to take your baby home 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/45 "2019-08-23T23:37:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s the same thing I was thinking. The singer isn’t really interesting in Jesse’s girl. He’s jealous because Jesse has something that he doesn’t have. The song could just as easily be about Jesse’s car. “you I wish that I had Jessie’s Car Jessie’s Car Why can’t find an auto like that? Like Jessie’s Car” Seriously, you have never had a painful crush on a friend’s girlfriend\boyfriend? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/46 "2019-08-23T23:45:27Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > “you I wish that I had Jessie’s Car > Jessie’s Car > Why can’t find an auto like that? > Like Jessie’s Car” > > Seriously, you have never had a painful crush on a friend’s girlfriend\boyfriend? I have never, but I can imagine it can be a very painful thing. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/47 "2019-08-24T01:42:36Z")
Where can I find a woman like that? I’ve thought about this line. Does she have a sister? Friends? Birds of a feather, as they say. Network through her. She might be able to set you up. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/48 "2019-08-24T02:35:56Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Seriously, you have never had a painful crush on a friend’s girlfriend\boyfriend? If I had, I would identify her by her name. I wouldn’t be calling her Jessie’s girl or Hank’s wife. And he’s not even sure if he wants whats-her-name or a girl like her. This isn’t a guy who’s fallen for his dream girl. This is an incel who’s upset that his buddy has a girlfriend and he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/49 "2019-08-24T03:15:03Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Hey now, that’s a different song for a different thread, because… > > 😃 Damned back stabbers! > [@](#): > > All you fellows who have someone and you really care, yeah, yeah > Then it’s all of you fellows who better beware, yeah yeah > Somebody’s out to get your lady > A few of your buddies they sure look shady > Blades are long, clenched tight in their fist > Aimin’ straight at your back > And I don’t think they’ll miss > (What they do!) > (They smile in your face) > All the time they want to take your place > The back stabbers (back stabbers) > I keep gettin’ all these visits from my friends, yeah, what they doin to me > They come to my house again and again and again and again, yeah… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hzTeLePbB08/hqdefault.jpg "The O'Jays - Back Stabbers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzTeLePbB08) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/50 "2019-08-24T05:51:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This is an incel who’s upset that his buddy has a girlfriend and he doesn’t. Nah. If he was an incel, he’d be insulting her and saying it’s because of feminism that he can’t get laid. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/51 "2019-08-24T10:01:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s the same thing I was thinking. The singer isn’t really interesting in Jesse’s girl. He’s jealous because Jesse has something that he doesn’t have. The song could just as easily be about Jesse’s car. I think this is definitely a valid interpretation. I wouldn’t paint him as a villain either, but he’s not thinking in a very healthy way about any of this. It wouldn’t take much for him to go one step too far and it would turn really bad. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/52 "2019-08-24T11:19:57Z")
_I’ve been funny, I’ve been cool with the lines. Ain’t that the way love’s supposed to be?_ Hoo boy, dude. That isn’t love at all. You got some growing up to do. I wouldn’t call him a villain, unless he tries to pull some incel shit, or tries to hit on her. But he’s no hero either. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/53 "2019-08-24T14:25:59Z")
Yeah, in the end he’s just an average guy who lusts after a woman he doesn’t know. It’s just a coincidence that he already knows her current boyfriend, and it adds to the drama of the situation. I can’t say whether he’s a villain or hero because we only have the context of a short pop song. I’ll add: That song has a really odd structure for a pop song of that era. It’s really kind of a master work in that respect, and I’d wager Mr. Springfield spent more time on that than the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/54 "2019-08-24T21:28:08Z")
Yeah, I can see someone who falls for the toxic incel mindset starting out with this situation and these feelings, and maybe someone who’s actually being a total creep identifying with the speaker in the song. But I just don’t see anything within the four corners of the lyrics to suggest anything more than a young guy struggling with the triple whammy of 1) I want girls but they don’t want me, 2) my best friend has a girl and I’m envious and feeling a little left behind socially, and 3) this particular girl is really attractive and I have a crush on her, and I have to see her all the time because she’s dating my friend, but all I can do is sit here and eat my heart out. It’s kinda refreshing that he doesn’t claim to be in love with her when he doesn’t know her at all, as the speakers so often do in pop songs. I also picture the speaker being about sixteen years old; I would view these sentiments much differently coming from someone old enough to rent a car. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/55 "2019-08-24T21:38:51Z")
And when he does get a girlfriend, he tells her, “Don’t talk to strangers.” ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/56 "2019-08-24T21:49:17Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > And when he does get a girlfriend, he tells her, “Don’t talk to strangers.” Because they all need the human touch! ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/57 "2019-08-24T21:54:31Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I’ll add: That song has a really odd structure for a pop song of that era. It’s really kind of a master work in that respect, and I’d wager Mr. Springfield spent more time on that than the lyrics. I agree it has a more elaborate structure than pop songs in general. But I would dissent on the idea that this was rare for the era. The 80’s had its share of 3-chord bubblegum, but it was really common for songs to have elaborate chord/melodic structures. At least in the first part of the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/58 "2019-08-24T22:51:13Z")
Well, he spelled Jesse wrong. Jessie is a girl’s name, Jesse, a guy’s name. If the guy’s name really was Jessie, that would be as bad as being a guy named Frances. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/59 "2019-08-24T23:18:47Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Well, he spelled Jesse wrong. Jessie is a girl’s name, Jesse, a guy’s name. If the guy’s name really was Jessie, that would be as bad as being a guy named Frances. I’d say most of the time you’d be correct, but exceptions abound. I mean I wouldn’t tell [this guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_Armstead) that he has a girl’s name ;). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104/60 "2019-08-25T01:40:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If I had, I would identify her by her name. I wouldn’t be calling her Jessie’s girl or Hank’s wife. And he’s not even sure if he wants whats-her-name or a girl like her. > > This isn’t a guy who’s fallen for his dream girl. This is an incel who’s upset that his buddy has a girlfriend and he doesn’t. I think that’s a bit too far. I could see this person becoming an Incel, but I don’t think they’re quite there, yet. He doesn’t present her as owing him anything, and doesn’t hate Jessie for being a “Chad.” I remember having feelings like this early on in puberty. The objectification was an age thing, combined with what I’d seen in the media. It didn’t last long, though, as soon as I started having actual crushes, rather than just being jealous of guys with girlfriends. I’d say the changeover happened at most age 13.5. That’s what’s holding me back in calling the guy a creep: how old is the singer supposed to be in this? I mean, he thinks “love” is being funny and saying the right “lines.” He’s rather naive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-jessies-girl/839104.md?page=4)