Flack was the first solo artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year on two consecutive years: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" won at the 1973 Grammys as did "Killing Me Softly with His Song" at the 1974 Grammys.
Flack performs in the areas of jazz, soul, and folk, and is best known for singles such as "Killing Me Softly with His Song", which won the 1974 Grammy for Record of the Year, and "Where Is the Love", which was one of her many duets with Donny Hathaway.
Flack began her professional career recording for Atlantic Records without much success, until one of her earliest recordings, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (1969), was included on the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood's directorial debut Play Misty for Me; it became a number-one hit in 1972.
Jesse
Roberta Flack Lyrics
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Where we slept, now it's growing cold
Jesse, your face and the place where we lay
By the hearth, all apart, it hangs on my heart
And I'm leaving the light on the stairs
No, I'm not scared, I wait for you
Hey Jesse, it's lonely, come home
Your step, and I remember too
All the pictures are shaded and fading in gray
And I still set a place at the table at noon
And I'm leaving the light on the stairs
No, I'm not scared, I wait for you
Hey Jesse, it's lonely, come home
Jesse, the spread on the bed, it's like
When you left, I kept it for you
All the blues and the greens have been recently cleaned
And are seemingly new,
Hey Jess, me and you
Will swallow the light on the stairs
I'll fix up my hair, we'll sleep unaware
Hey Jesse, it's lonely, come home
The song “Jesse” by Roberta Flack is a heart-wrenching ballad about a woman expressing her longing for her partner, Jesse, to return home. The first verse describes the empty space in the bed where Jesse used to sleep, and how the memories of him linger in the place they shared by the hearth. The chorus reveals the singer’s fear and loneliness as she waits for Jesse's return with a light left on the stairs, and the repeated plea for him to come home.
The second verse delves deeper into the details of Jesse's absence, describing how the singer misses his footsteps and how the memories of their shared life together are starting to fade away. However, the singer is still holding onto their life together and has set a place for Jesse at the table at noon, refusing to let go of the hope that he will return. In the second chorus, the singer expresses her desire to have Jesse back, with the lyrics suggesting that their intimacy will keep them together in the darkness.
The lyrics of “Jesse” are simple but poignant, conveying a sense of longing and desperation that accompanies a great love lost. The theme of absence is present throughout the song, and the chorus repeats the refrain “Jesse, it’s lonely, come home,” over and over, capturing the singer's deep pain and desperate need for closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesse, come home, there's a hole in the bed
Roberta Flack calls out to Jesse, indicating that his absence has left a hole in the bed.
Where we slept, now it's growing cold
The once warm and cozy bed has now turned cold, symbolizing the emptiness left by Jesse.
Jesse, your face and the place where we lay
Roberta Flack remembers Jesse's face and the spot where they slept, showing her longing for his return.
By the hearth, all apart, it hangs on my heart
The memory of Jesse by the fire remains imprinted on Roberta Flack's heart, even though he's not there anymore.
And I'm leaving the light on the stairs
Roberta Flack is doing her best to keep hope alive for Jesse's return, by leaving the light on for him.
No, I'm not scared, I wait for you
She's not afraid of waiting for him and is willing to hold out until he returns.
Hey Jesse, it's lonely, come home
Roberta Flack's emotional plea for Jesse to come back to her because she feels lonely without him.
Jesse, the stairs and the halls, recalling
Roberta Flack remembers Jesse's presence in the house just by recalling the sound of his footsteps in the halls and on the stairs.
Your step, and I remember too
The sound of Jesse's footsteps is a memory that stays with her at all times, and she still recognizes them sharply.
All the pictures are shaded and fading in gray
The previously colorful pictures now appear dull and grey, signifying the loss of color in Roberta Flack's life since Jesse left.
And I still set a place at the table at noon
She continues to set the table for Jesse at noon, indicating her hope for his return is still strong.
Jesse, the spread on the bed, it's like
The way the bedspread is arranged is similar to when Jesse was there, showing that Roberta Flack clings onto little reminders of his presence.
When you left, I kept it for you
She kept the bedspread for him and still cherishes it as a reminder of him.
All the blues and the greens have been recently cleaned
All the blues and greens, or perhaps Jesse's clothes of those colors, have been recently washed, as a little ritual to keep them fresh.
And are seemingly new, Hey Jess, me and you
Even though the clothes are cleaned, Roberta Flack makes it clear that it's not enough as she is incomplete without Jesse by her side.
Will swallow the light on the stairs
Roberta Flack is willing to reduce herself down and simply fade into carefree life with Jesse, ignoring the world outside.
I'll fix up my hair, we'll sleep unaware
Roberta Flack is hopeful that if Jesse comes home, they will enjoy each other's company once again, just like they used to, with her getting ready for the night while Jesse is back in bed.
Hey Jesse, it's lonely, come home
Roberta Flack's constant reminder of her loneliness without Jesse and her longing for him to return.
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JANIS IAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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