He received the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Jessie's Girl", which proved to be a career breakout moment. He followed with four more top 10 U.S. rock hits: "I've Done Everything for You", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Affair of the Heart", and "Love Somebody". His two U.S. top 10 albums are 1981's 'Working Class Dog' and 1982's 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet', releases featuring an energetic sound earning both commercial and critical successes. As an actor, he portrayed the popular Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime drama 'General Hospital' from 1981 to 1983, and he sprang back into the role during 2005 to 2008 and 2012, returning again in 2013 for the show's 50th anniversary with his son (and fellow actor) Liam Springthorpe.
Though having gigantic success in the early to mid-80s, Springfield felt totally exhausted with the pressures of stardom. He would end up devoting more time to his personal and family life, though still releasing albums through the late 80s and onward. In 2010, Springfield published his well-received autobiography, titled 'Late, Late at Night: A Memoir', which detailed these struggles.
Born Richard Lewis Springthorpe, later adopting "Rick Springfield" in his performing days, in South Wentworthville on 23 August 1949, he spent the early part of his life around the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The son of Eileen and Norman Springthorpe, the latter a Australian Army career officer, he also has an older brother, Mike Springthorpe. Due to his father's Army career, the Springthorpe family moved to London, England, where they lived between 1960 to 1962. The family moved back to Australia in June 1962, where they settled in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond.
Inspired by the 60s pop rock boom around him, the young Rick Springfield took naturally to singing and songwriting. However, commercial success would come in sudden bursts for him, with the performer facing bouts of 'teen idol' worship (even spending a time doing music for kids as a sort of cartoon Mister Rogers from 1973 to 1975, with those songs put into his 'Mission Magic!' album) that concealed his desire to be taken seriously as a musician. Fully embracing a power pop and new wave sound, as played by contemporaries such as Cheap Trick, The Cars, and others, finally helped him hit the big time in a dramatic way. As well, in October 1984, Springfield married his longtime girlfriend, Barbara Porter, in his family's church in Australia.
When being interviewed about his autobiography, Springfield admitted that he dated while married, and that it was a problem that he has overcome. He mentioned in particular dating Linda Blair, Demi Moore, Connie Hamzy, Morgana Welch, and Geraldine Edwards (the inspiration for Penny Lane in 'Almost Famous'). Though on top of the world for a time, things proved unstable and uncertain. In 1985, when his first son was born and after the release of his 'Tao' album, Springfield took a break from his musical career to spend more time with his family, as stated before. He also resolved to deal with the off-and-on depression that had affected him since his adolescence. Springfield had suffered much in the 70s due to both the serious illness of his father, who died on 24 April 1981, and difficulties dealing with people in the music industry.
Recently, a new feature documentary, titled 'An Affair of the Heart: The Journey of Rick Springfield and his Devoted Fans, was filmed in 2010. The movie started on the film festival circuit in the spring of 2012. The performer's latest work is 2015's 'Stripped Down', a combination of covers, new material, and re-recorded tracks from his past that has attracted some critical praise.
Jesse's Girl
Rick Springfield 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!
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find her, a woman like that?
I'll play along with this 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 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 her, a woman like that?
Like Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find her, a woman...
Where can I find her, 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 why can't I find a woman like that?
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find her, a woman like that?
Like Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I want, I want Jessie's girl
Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" is a classic 80s rock song about a man named Jessie's friend who is infatuated with Jessie's girlfriend. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that Jessie has been a good friend of his, but lately something has changed, and he can't quite define it. Jessie has found himself a girlfriend, who the singer sees as very desirable, and he wants her for himself. He watches her lovin’ and holding Jessie at night and wishes he could have her for himself. Although he plays along with their charade, he feels dirty when they start talking too cute. The singer admits he feels frustrated and inferior that he can’t get the girl he wants so badly, and he looks in the mirror often and wonders what Jessie's girl sees in him.
The song's lyrics strike a chord with anyone who has ever had a crush on someone who is taken, and the catchy chorus makes it an anthem for anyone feeling unrequited love. The chorus is particularly compelling and has become the most memorable line of the song: “I wish that I had Jessie's girl; where can I find a woman like that?"
Line by Line Meaning
Jessie is a friend,
I know Jessie and he used to be my friend
Yeah I know he's been a good friend of mine
Jessie has been a good friend of mine in the past
But lately something's changed
Something about Jessie has changed recently
It ain't hard to define
It's easy to see what has changed about Jessie
Jessie's got himself a girl
Jessie has a girlfriend now
And I want to make her mine
I want Jessie's girlfriend for myself
And she's watching him with those eyes
Jessie's girlfriend is looking at him with loving eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it!
Jessie's girlfriend is physically affectionate with him
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night
Jessie is holding his girlfriend in his arms at night
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I want Jessie's girlfriend for myself
Where can I find her, a woman like that?
I want to find a woman like Jessie's girlfriend
I'll play along with this charade
I'll pretend to be okay with Jessie having a girlfriend
That doesn't seem to be a reason to change
I don't have a good enough reason to try to break them up
You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I feel uncomfortable when Jessie and his girlfriend are affectionate in front of me
I wanna tell her that I love but the point is probably moot
I want to tell Jessie's girlfriend that I love her, but there's no point because she's with Jessie
Like Jessie's girl
I want a girlfriend like Jessie's girlfriend
And I'm lookin' in the mirror all the time
I'm examining myself and wondering what I'm lacking compared to Jessie
Wonderin' what she don't see in me
I'm wondering why Jessie's girlfriend doesn't like me instead of him
I've been funny; I've been cool with the lines
I've tried to be charming and witty to win Jessie's girlfriend over
Ain't that the way love's supposed to be?
Isn't that how people are supposed to try to win someone's love?
Tell me why can't I find a woman like that?
I wonder why I can't find a girlfriend like Jessie's girlfriend
I want, I want Jessie's girl
I really want to be with Jessie's girlfriend
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cashyobm778
You guys realize we are literally witnessing history with delaney's comments
@jayoz9583
Yes! She's so close!
Or he. What's a Delaney anyway?
A: A fan of Jessies Girl.
@Bianca-oq7zi
LMAO YEAH
@-reyda
Lol, it's everywhere
@Gabbybriii
wow
@datboi.66
Delaney needs to be on r/madlads
@KrabbyLama
Get yourself a man/woman who's as committed to you as Delaney is to this beautiful song.
@andystone9655
Right!
@mlawyer2135
Yesss😂
@MsHSpring
😂