The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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
Jesse, I won't cut fresh flowers for you, no
Jesse, I won't make the wine cold for you, no
Jesse, I won't change the sheets for you
I won't put on cologne
I won't sit by the phone for you
Annie, keep reminding me
That he cut out my heart like a paper doll
Sally, tell me once again
How he set me up just to see me fall
Jesse, I won't cut fresh flowers for you, no
Jesse, I won't make the wine cold for you, no
Jesse, I won't change the sheets for you
I won't put on cologne
I won't sit by the phone for you, no, no, no
Jesse, quick come here
I won't tell a soul
Not even myself
Jesse, that you've come back to me
My friends will all say, "She's gone again"
But how can anyone know what you are to me
That I'm in Heaven again because you've come back to me
Oh Jessie
Jesse, I'll always cut fresh flowers for you
Jesse, I'll always make the wine cold for you, no
Jesse, I can easily change my mind about you
And put on cologne
And sit by the phone for you
Jesse, let's open the wine
And drink to the heart
Which has a will of its own
My friends, let's comfort them
They're feeling bad
They think I've sunk so low
Jesse, I'll always cut fresh flowers for you
Jesse, I'll always make the wine cold for you
Jesse, I will change the sheets for you
Put on cologne
And I will wait by the phone for you
Oh Jesse
Jesse, I will cut fresh flowers for you
Jesse, I will make the wine cold for you
Jesse, I will change the sheets for you
I will put you on cologne
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
Jesse, I won't cut fresh flowers for you, no
Jesse, I won't make the wine cold for you, no
Jesse, I won't change the sheets for you
I won't put on cologne
I won't sit by the phone for you
Annie, keep reminding me
That he cut out my heart like a paper doll
Sally, tell me once again
How he set me up just to see me fall
Jesse, I won't cut fresh flowers for you, no
Jesse, I won't make the wine cold for you, no
Jesse, I won't change the sheets for you
I won't put on cologne
I won't sit by the phone for you, no, no, no
Jesse, quick come here
I won't tell a soul
Not even myself
Jesse, that you've come back to me
My friends will all say, "She's gone again"
But how can anyone know what you are to me
That I'm in Heaven again because you've come back to me
Oh Jessie
Jesse, I'll always cut fresh flowers for you
Jesse, I'll always make the wine cold for you, no
Jesse, I can easily change my mind about you
And put on cologne
And sit by the phone for you
Jesse, let's open the wine
And drink to the heart
Which has a will of its own
My friends, let's comfort them
They're feeling bad
They think I've sunk so low
Jesse, I'll always cut fresh flowers for you
Jesse, I'll always make the wine cold for you
Jesse, I will change the sheets for you
Put on cologne
And I will wait by the phone for you
Oh Jesse
Jesse, I will cut fresh flowers for you
Jesse, I will make the wine cold for you
Jesse, I will change the sheets for you
I will put you on cologne
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This reminds me of our friend Jesse who recently passed away, he will be dearly missed.
R.I.P Jesse Sharp -2004-