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.
Jessie'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 that 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 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 Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
I 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
'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 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 looking in the mirror all the time
Wondering what she don't see in me
I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
Ain't that the way love 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
The lyrics to Rick Springfield's song "Jessie's Girl" explores the longing and desire of the singer who wishes he had the girlfriend of his friend, Jessie. The song begins by the singer acknowledging that Jessie has been a good friend of his, but something has changed. Jessie has gotten himself a girl, someone whom the singer desires to make his own.
The chorus repeats the titular phrase, "I wish that I had Jessie's girl, where can I find a woman like that?" It illustrates the singer's unrequited love for Jessie's girlfriend, intensifying the mood and the conflict. The verses continue, explaining how the singer plays along with the charade of being friends with the couple, even though he feels dirty when they start talking cute.
Finally, in the bridge, the singer is looking in the mirror all the time, wondering what she doesn't see in him. He has been funny and cool with the lines, but Jessie's girl is still out of reach. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is helplessly attracted to a woman who he cannot have, intensifying the emotional dilemma of the singer.
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
I've known Jessie for a while and we've hung out
But lately something's changed that ain't hard to define
Recently, Jessie has changed and it's noticeable
Jessie's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine
Jessie has a girlfriend and I am interested in her
And she's watching him with those eyes
The girlfriend is paying attention to Jessie
And she's loving him with that body, I just know it
The girlfriend is clearly attracted to Jessie and showing it physically
Yeah and he's holding her in his arms late, late at night
Jessie and his girlfriend are physically intimate in private
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I really want to be with Jessie's girlfriend
Where can I find a woman like that?
I'm looking for a woman like Jessie's girlfriend
I play along with the charade
I pretend to be okay with Jessie and his girlfriend
There doesn't seem to be a reason to change
I see no reason to stop pretending
You know, I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I feel guilty (and possibly jealous) when they talk affectionately to each other
I wanna tell her that I love her
I want to express my feelings to Jessie's girlfriend
But the point is probably moot
It's probably pointless because she's already with Jessie
And I'm looking in the mirror all the time
I'm always scrutinizing myself in the mirror
Wondering what she don't see in me
I am trying to figure out why Jessie's girlfriend doesn't seem interested in me
I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
I've tried using humor and smooth talk to win her over
Ain't that the way love supposed to be?
Isn't trying to win someone over supposed to be part of the love process?
Tell me, where can I find a woman like that?
Again, I'm searching for a girl like Jessie's girlfriend
I want Jessie's girl
I really desire to be with Jessie's girlfriend
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Richard Springthorpe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind