Musician
An exploration of female toxicity and male impotence.
Verse 1
Jessica says
She's been hurt before,
She says she's made her mistakes, but
She won't make any more.
And Jessica says
That she wants you to know
That with you things will be different, boy,
With you she'll take things slow.
Chorus 1
Jessica says
That these are brand-new, brighter days,
And Jessica says
That she's a brand-new girl in a brand-new state of grace.
Verse 2
Jessica says
The past is another world,
She says that she regrets nothing, but
Still, that was another girl.
And Jessica says
All those times that she was burned,
Well they were worth it, in the end,
For all the lessons that she learned.
Chorus 2
She says she learned
Not to mind that type at all,
And she says she learned
Not to even care when those boys no longer call.
Middle eight
Jessica says that
It's no rejection when
She doesn't care for public
Displays of affection...
GET OUT
OF MY SPACE, NOW
GET YOUR FACE OUT
OF MY HAIR I
CANNOT BRE-E-E-E-EATHE!
Verse 3
And Jessica smirks
With the boys in the pool-room,
Where she goes to buy coke
Whilst you sit
On your barstool...
Chorus 3
Jessica says
That they're all just a means to an end,
And Jessica says
That it's just not fair to deny her her friends.
Verse 4
Jessica says that
She finally trusts that you will stay
She says tonight is the night, boy,
Tonight you go all the way...
Frankly disturbing sex noises
Verse 5
Jessica sighs
And thanks you for your service.
Oh, she's sorry but she can't make it there
Without a man who at least makes her a little
Nervous...
Chorus 4
Jessica says
That you're starting to sound obsessed,
And Jessica says
That her affection's real but it's a different thing from sex.
Outro
Jessica says,
Yes, Jessica says,
Well, Jessica says,
And Jessica says
And Jessica says... etc.
I really enjoy performing this song, not least because I get to do my "Robert Plant in coitus" impression in the middle of it. :) Having written a number of songs about the horrors of unrequited love, I thought I'd balance the books a bit and write one about the horrors of actually getting the relationship you thought you wanted.
The song explores female toxicity, which I'll not detail, here -- hopefully everything Jessica says in the song illustrates that well enough. The song also explores male impotence as the 'protagonist' addressed as "you" completely fails to respect or stand up for himself. This leads to the other reason I enjoy performing the song -- doing my "Jarvis Cocker sneering contemptuously" impression in the third verse.
This version was recorded at my friend Mark's big music barn, at the same place where the amazing Luddstock Private Festival is held. It's a beautiful and inspiring location and I've recorded a number of my songs, there. This was a single vocal-and-guitar take then filled out with some backing vocals and some additional guitar fills. As you can probably hear, I had an indecent amonut of fun with the backing. :)
The song uses a narrative voice to address the rather pathetic male protagonist, except for the second half of the middle eight, where we get to hear Jessica as she explodes in exasperation. Hopefully this serves to balance the listener's sympathies out a little -- neither of these people are happy with the relationship and both would be much better off out of it!