Single:
Jesse entered the Australian singles chart* on 13 October 1980 and peaked at #4. It was the #22 song on the Top 100 of 1981.
Album:
The song is on Come Upstairs which entered the Australian albums chart* on 7 July 1980 and peaked at #43.
Songwriter:
Carly Simon
Producer:
Mike Mainieri
Record label of Australian release:
Warner Bros
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Performed live at Grand Central Station, New York, in 1995:
Songfacts:
This is Carly’s second biggest hit in Australia, after You’re So Vain in 1972. Unlike that song, Jesse doesn’t seem to be about a real person and Simon hasn’t attributed it to anyone in particular. In real life, she had been married to James Taylor for eight years but the bloom was off the rose and they were headed for divorce. He doesn’t fit the description of Jesse, but traces of him may have crept into the lyrics.
Simon’s daughter Sally, 6 years old at the time, sang the “la la” section near the end. She’s credited (for “Lalas”) under her birth name, Sarah Maria Taylor. James Taylor is also in the mix singing background vocals.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/carly-simon/jesse
Lyrics:
Oh mother, say a prayer for me
Jesse’s back in town, it won’t be easy
Don’t let him near me
Don’t let him touch me
Don’t let him please me
Click for full lyrics
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