OK. What about:
-
Gloria
-
Doreen
-
Mary (another one!)
-
Janey
- Carol
I was thinking of a different song about Maria (think Johnstown Flood), but you are correct that **Lost in the Flood ** also mentions her. (“Some storefront incarnation of Maria, she’s putting on me the stare”.)
I did that on purpose to better reflect the theme of the quiz. (Saying “you” didn’t make sense when referring to 'them").
- Mary from The Rising
Daughter found a few more:
- Maria
- Leah
- Bobbie Jean
That was the 4th Mary I was getting at.
I’ll take a wild guess at #24: The name of the song is Bobby Jean. 
Yeah, that was a ringer. From which album? (Too easy, I know.)
There are two I can think of…
Spirits in the Night – “Me and crazy Janey was makin’ love in the dirt, singin’ our birthday song”
Incident on 57th Street: “Janey opens her eyes to see Johnny up and puttin his clothes on.”
How about:
Candy (an easy, if old, one)
Cherry
See #s 3,5 and 10 of the original post.
Born in the USA
Leah is also the title of the song.
“Candy’s Room” (In Candy’s room, there are pictures of her heroes on the wall…") Darkness On The Edge Of Town
I think there’s a misperception up there: “Bobby Jean” is not a girl. I think that song is about a male friend, a buddy. Specifically, I think it was written around the time Steve Van Zandt left the E Street Band. It may be a veiled reference to that friendship.
And I don’t think Bruce really has a thing for girls named Mary. It’s probably more about meter than anything else. (Two syllables, nice common “e” sound at the end.)
Are you sure of that Lion? The narrator in the song certainly talks about Bobby Jean like she was a woman. He does call her ‘baby’
I’m just callin’ one last time, not to change your mind
but just to say I miss you baby,
good luck, good bye
Bobby Jean
Man, I love that song.
Sure? No. But I seem to recall hearing some recording of the song–it might have been one of the live bootleg versions–where Bruce introduced the song with one of those long, rambling stories he tells (you know what I mean) in which he was fairly explicit that the song was about losing a friend, not a lover. Maybe I’m conflating one memory with another, but I’d swear I heard that. I don’t have all my Bruce music on this computer; maybe I’ll check when I get home today.
As far as the lyrical content goes, the “baby” thing may say one thing, but I think the rest of the lyrics point more toward a friend than a girlfriend. Of course, it’s notable that the name can be either a man’s or woman’s name. Perhaps it’s purposeful blurring of the lines between a friendship song and a romantic song–meaning “Bobby Jean” is meant to be whatever it evokes in the listener. After all, Bruce is a pretty smart guy. I wouldn’t put it past him.
On other matters, “Janey” is also in the title of the song “Janey Don’t You Lose Heart” on the Tracks collection. That collection also includes the obvious “Frankie” and “Linda Let Me Be The One”. I can’t recall any other gals named on those disks, at least not named in the song titles.
Yeah, and I buy that the song could be connected to Steve departing. I always interpreted the song as being about friendship (not romance), but friendship between a guy and a girl. As you say though, the sexes of the singer or the subject aren’t really that relevant in that song.
He doesn’t mention a name in “Jersey Girl.” And that was originally written by Tom Waits about his wife, so I dunno if it would have counted.
Dang, you’re right… I was hearing lyrics from 4th of July in my head… it’s got some sha-la-las in it too, and I got confused.