For over a decade, Plain White T's have been playing to packed audiences craving for that perfect pop-punk punch. Their journey, which began in a small suburban basement playing covers, has taken the band to Warped Tour three times, and landed them opening slots for bands like Jimmy Eat World and AFI. Plain White T's are road warriors in the truest sense and with their first major label album, Every Second Counts, the band is ready to rock in a big way.
PWT's story started back in high school, when frontman Tom Higgenson first stepped into Chicago's famed rock club the Metro and saw his future on the stage. With the local music scene exploding nationally courtesy of bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt, he decided the time was ripe for his own dreams to be realized. Armed with paper, pen, and guitar, Tom went to task, experimenting with lyrics and melodies on a four-track in his parents' Villa Park, Illinois home. Once he'd reached a level of comfort with his songwriting, he worked up the courage to hand off a tape to Christian Lane, singer of 90's buzz band Loud Lucy, and to his surprise, Christian actually listened to it.
Once he'd recruited a group of school pals, including guitarist Dave Tirio, it was only a matter of a couple years before Plain White T's, who'd attracted a loyal following thanks to Tom's ridiculously melodic tales of teen angst and loveless nights, were playing the Metro themselves.
The music industry took notice of that success and after selling thousands of copies of their self-released 2002 debut, Stop, PWT's were picked up by Fearless Records who re-issued the album along with 2005's All That We Needed. But it was their heartfelt, acoustic-tinged "Hey There Delilah" that cemented their status as potential hitmakers.
Tom's songwriting evolved after the success of the romantically frank "Delilah," which really was a departure for a band known for their energetic powerpop. On Hollywood Records debut, Every Second Counts, Tom, along with bandmates Mike Retondo (bass and vocals), De'Mar Hamilton (drums), and Tim Lopez (guitar, vocals), continues to turn the personal into the universal. Throughout the album, he sings of hook-ups and break-ups and the emotional rollercoaster in between. A prime example is lead single "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)." In a similar vein, the lyrics for "Friends Don't Let Friends Dial Drunk" also showcases Tom's offbeat take on love and life, while its melody sucks you in with every turn of phrase. Delving slightly deeper into emotional territory are upbeat tracks like "Our Time Now" and "Come Back to Me" as well as one of the album's quieter numbers, "Write You a Song."
In 2008, the group released the album 'Big Bad World'. The album had two hit singles: "1, 2, 3, 4" and "Natural Disaster". Both were on the American Top 40 at numbers 1 and 2 for three consecutive weeks. By late 2008, the band had joined the Rock Band Live tour with Panic! at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional and The Cab. Later that year, the band played at the Give It a Name festival in the UK. In 2007, the band performed the single "Our Time Now" on an episode of the Nickelodeon television series, iCarly. "Our Time Now" was also the theme song of the ABC Family dramedy series, Greek.
The band's "Rhythm of Love" single was the first to be released from the group's 2010 album, The Wonders of the Younger.' The song reached number five on the Hot AC chart, and was in the top ten in 2010 as well. In 2012, the band also covered The Ramones' "Pet Sematary" for the song soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Frankenweenie. Should've Gone to Bed, a four-song EP, was released on April 9, 2013.
The band left Hollywood Records after creative conflicts with the label during the production of the American Nights album. 'American Nights' was released by Megaforce Records on March 31, 2015.
In 2015, they also appeared on Blues Traveler's album Blow Up the Moon, co-writing the song "Nikkia's Prom." On November 22, 2015, the band released a music video for "American Nights" featuring Higgenson's son, Lennon.
In May 2017, Plain White T's released a music video for their song "Land of the Living." The band, which had left their label Fearless Records in 2005, returned to the label. As of April 2017, the band have said that they are currently writing new music.
Jessie's Girl
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
"Jessie's Girl" is a classic rock song by Plain White T's that tells the story of a man named Rick Springfield who is infatuated with his friend Jessie's recent girlfriend. The song begins by establishing that Jessie and Rick were good friends, but that Rick's feelings towards Jessie have changed since Jessie has started dating his new girlfriend. Rick desires his friend's girlfriend and wishes he could be with her instead.
The chorus is the most recognizable part of the song, as Rick sings about wishing he had Jessie's girl and asking where he can find a woman like her. The lyrics are straightforward and draw upon the theme of unrequited love. Rick is stuck in a situation where he wants something he can't have, and it's causing him to feel envious and frustrated.
The last verse of the song is reflective, as Rick looks at himself in the mirror and wonders what his friend's girlfriend doesn't see in him. He has tried to be funny and cool to win her over, but ultimately he knows it's hopeless. The song ends with Rick repeating the chorus, emphasizing his desire for Jessie's girl and the hopeless feeling of wanting something he can't have.
Line by Line Meaning
Jessie is a friend
I know a guy named Jessie
Yeah, I know he's been a good friend of mine
We've been buddies for a while
But lately something's changed, it ain't hard to define
Something's different about him, I can't quite put my finger on it
Jessie's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine
Jessie has a new girlfriend and I'm attracted to her
And she's watching him with those eyes
I can see the way she looks at Jessie
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it
Their physical interaction is obvious to me
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night
I know they're spending intimate time together
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish I could have Jessie's girlfriend instead
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I really want her
Where can I find a woman like that?
I'm looking for someone similar to her
I'll play along with the charade
I'll pretend everything is normal
That doesn't seem to be a reason to change
There's no real justification for changing the situation
You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
It makes me uncomfortable when they act affectionate towards each other
I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot
I wish I could express my feelings but it's pointless
And I'm lookin' in the mirror all the time
I'm always examining myself
Wonderin' what she don't see in me
I'm trying to figure out why she's not interested in me
I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
I've tried to be witty and suave
Ain't that the way love's supposed to be?
Isn't this how it's supposed to work, with feelings eventually aligning?
Tell me, where can I find a woman like that?
Seriously, where can I find someone similar to her?
I want Jessie's girl
I desperately want her to be mine
Where can I find a woman like that?
I want to find someone like her and be happy
Contributed by Emily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NiCkYaSaUr11
Love It.....Not as Great As The Original By Rick Springfield But Still Amazingly Wonderful!!!!
Lah Rock
I love this song, XD
Maggie Bishop
Omg I love it
Bry Ortega
I love this song but the beginning sounds kinda like an echo
ana mendez
I think I like the original better
Alex Gonzalez
I really love the original, and i thought this was gonna be terrible, but i love it <3
Danny Zeff
I don't like it, but maybe it's just because of my bias against the Plain White T's
T0XiiCKiTTEN
My name is Jesse :D
wolfattack
na this is kinda crap.... they dont capture the catchy tune properly