Malkmus knew fellow Pavement songwriter Scott Kannberg (aka Spiral Stairs), of the Preston School of Industry, since childhood in Stockton, California. Malkmus attended the University of Virginia, where his father is also an alumnus. While at UVA, he also met Bob Nastanovich, another member of Pavement.
Malkmus currently resides in Portland, Oregon with his partner, artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins. In 2005, Hutchins gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Lottie.
In 2008 Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks released the album, Real Emotional Trash — the group’s first album with new drummer Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney. In 2020, Stephen released Traditional Techniques. Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the album as "an amiably trippy and decisively mellow psych-folk adventure."
Jenny & the Ess-Dog
Stephen Malkmus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's the Ess-Dog, Sean if you wish
She's eighteen, he's thirty-one
She's a rich girl, he's a son of a Coca-Cola middle man
Kiss when they listen to "Brothers in Arms"
And if there's something wrong with this
They don't see the harm
See those rings on her toes?
Check that frisbee and his Volvo
It's a Volvo with ancient plates
They've got a dog she named Trey
A retriever with a frayed bandana 'round his neck
Trey has a window into their relationship
The baby-talk voices and the post class A nasal trip
But it all seems to function
At least in the dog's mind
Let me out of here
Let me out of here
You got to let me out of here
You got to let me out of here
Let me out of here, out of here, out of here, out of here
Let me out of here
Running
Running
Running
Running
Jennifer left for school up in Boulder
And that Ess-Dog came to visit when he could
But the strain was too much
They could not make up for distance
And the distance between their years
Neither one listens to "Brothers in Arms"
And the Ess-Dog waits tables and he sold his guitar
Jenny pledged Kappa and she started Pre-Law
And off came those awful toe rings
Off came those awful toe rings
The Stephen Malkmus song "Jenny & the Ess-Dog" tells the story of a May-December romance between an 18-year-old girl named Jennifer and a 31-year-old man who goes by the nickname Ess-Dog, also known as Sean. Jennifer is a wealthy girl, while Ess-Dog comes from a middle-class family with a Coca-Cola connection. They share a love for 80s music, specifically "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits, which they listen to while making out. Despite the age difference and other potential criticisms, they don't see the harm in being together and enjoying each other's company.
The song has some interesting details about their lives, including the fact that Ess-Dog is in a 60s cover band and drives an old Volvo with antique plates, while Jennifer has rings on her toes and a frisbee. They also have a dog named Trey who seems to be a witness to their relationship, as he hears their baby-talk voices and post-class A nasal trip. Eventually, Jennifer leaves for college in Boulder, and they struggle to make the long-distance relationship work. Ess-Dog sells his guitar and waits tables while Jennifer studies Pre-Law and takes off the toe rings.
The song seems to capture the bittersweet nature of a doomed romance that is fun while it lasts but ultimately cannot overcome the significant obstacles that stand in its way. Interestingly, even though the song is about a particular couple with specific circumstances, it manages to feel universal in its themes of youthful rebellion, recklessness, and the ache of realizing that some things cannot last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Jennifer dates a man in a sixties cover band
Jennifer is romantically involved with a guy who is a member of a band that plays songs from the sixties.
He's the Ess-Dog, Sean if you wish
He goes by the name Ess-Dog or Sean.
She's eighteen, he's thirty-one
She is 18 years old, and he is 31.
She's a rich girl, he's a son of a Coca-Cola middle man
Jennifer comes from a wealthy family, whereas the guy comes from a family where his father is a middle-level employee at Coca-Cola.
Kiss when they listen to "Brothers in Arms"
They kiss when they hear the song "Brothers in Arms."
And if there's something wrong with this
If there is something objectionable about this behavior,
They don't see the harm
they don't think that there is any harm in doing it.
In joining their forces and singing along
They come together to sing along to the song.
See those rings on her toes?
Jennifer wears rings on her toes.
Check that frisbee and his Volvo
Please take note of the frisbee and his car, which is a Volvo.
It's a Volvo with ancient plates
The car is a Volvo and has very old license plates.
They've got a dog she named Trey
The couple owns a dog, and Jennifer gave him the name Trey.
A retriever with a frayed bandana 'round his neck
Trey is a retriever dog and has a bandana tied around his neck, which is a bit worn out.
Trey has a window into their relationship
Through their interactions with Trey, we can get an idea about the couple's relationship.
The baby-talk voices and the post class A nasal trip
They talk to Trey in their baby voice, and sometimes Jennifer has a nasal high after taking some medicine.
But it all seems to function
Despite all this, it appears that their relationship is functioning and not breaking down.
At least in the dog's mind
Well, at least that's what Trey perceives their relationship to be like.
Let me out of here
The singer pleads to be let out of a place or situation.
You got to let me out of here
The singer repeats his plea to be let go from his current situation.
Running
The artist wants to run away from something.
Jennifer left for school up in Boulder
Jennifer went away to study college in Boulder.
And that Ess-Dog came to visit when he could
The Ess-Dog tries to visit Jennifer when he can despite the long distance relationship.
But the strain was too much
But the relationship became too difficult because of long distance and their age difference.
They could not make up for distance
The relationship failed because they could not overcome the distance between them.
And the distance between their years
The singer is referencing the age difference again and how it affected the relationship.
Neither one listens to "Brothers in Arms"
Jennifer and the Ess-Dog no longer listen to the song, "Brothers in Arms."
And the Ess-Dog waits tables and he sold his guitar
The Ess-Dog relinquished his music career and now waits tables for survival.
Jenny pledged Kappa and she started Pre-Law
Jennifer has pledge Kappa and has started studying Pre-Law at college.
And off came those awful toe rings
Jennifer stopped wearing toe rings altogether.
Off came those awful toe rings
Jennifer stopped wearing toe rings altogether.
Contributed by Kennedy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@0Ambiental0
Jennifer dates a man in a sixties cover band
He's the Ess-Dog, Sean if you wish
She's eighteen, he's thirty-one
She's a rich girl, he's a son of a Coca-Cola middle man
Kiss when they listen to "Brothers in Arms"
And if there's something wrong with this
They don't see the harm
In joining their forces and singing along
See those rings on her toes?
Check that frisbee and his Volvo
It's a Volvo with ancient plates
They've got a dog she named Trey
A retriever with a frayed bandana 'round his neck
Trey has a window into their relationship
The baby-talk voices and the post class A nasal trip
But it all seems to function
At least in the dog's mind
Let me out of here
Let me out of here
You got to let me out of here
You got to let me out of here
Let me out of here, out of here, out of here, out of here
Let me out of here
Running
Running
Running
Running
Jennifer left for school up in Boulder
And that Ess-Dog came to visit when he could
But the strain was too much
They could not make up for distance
And the distance between their years
Neither one listens to "Brothers in Arms"
And the Ess-Dog waits tables and he sold his guitar
Jenny pledged Kappa and she started Pre-Law
And off came those awful toe rings
Off came those awful toe rings
@dnon75
I really admire people like Steve Malkmus. He is such a bright person who could have had a successful career in anything but he chose to make songs and videos of him running around indian statues with a lacrosse stick.
@cxssetteman182
That's what Keeping it real means 😌
@brotherbp
Did Stephen's mom write this?
@brndnryn
SM is 1:1 and long may he live
@TheRandomCentral
Malkmus is a genius. Really, the guy hasn't ever released anything bad.
@westwardduck
I had no idea I would still be listening to Stephen Malkmus in 2017 when I went out on a limb as a 14 year old kid and bought Crooked Rain. Malkmus is easily one of my generation's best songwriters.
@samuelechiarelli9594
Yeah because music today sucks and none came with interesting new things, no creativity, no real music
@flip65515
Why didn't you think you'd be listening? Did you ever stop listening to the fucking Beatles 50 years after they broke up? Maybe you don't fancy the Beatles. But pick one.
@exexalien
Love this song. Picturing a guy who introduces himself to people as "the Ess-dog, or Sean if you wish" sets the scene for the rest of the song so perfectly, and from there it's just a matter of waiting for this summer fling to end (and for those awful toe rings to come off).
@MegaMumbles
Stephen Malkmus is so weird. May he never change.