Heartbeat City

I see this as being a love song. 'Hearbeat City' is a place inside the singer (or subject of the song, as it is sung from his POV). Jackie is back in his life and now he can start feeling again, as some who are in love will say that they lose the ability to feel (ie, feel dead inside - a form of defensive separation from one's feelings and internal state, which can lead sometimes to severe depression) when they are heartbroken-- or living outside Heartbeat City. The subject could just be very in love and thus very relieved when Jackie comes back or he could be a codependent who without someone in his life loses his own internal focus and sense of being, as well as a loss of being in touch with his feelings, or if a codependent, his identity. The heart is metaphorically the place of both one's feelings and true sense of self - one with a 'big heart' has both a good sense of their own feelings as well as a solid sense of self. The subject gets his Jackie back, he gets his heart back, his sense of self and his source of happiness-- and so he is back in 'Heartbeat City'.

Could "Heartbeat City" be referred to a certain city in the world?

[Edit: Corrected "ceratin" to "certain"]

I always assumed Jacki was a guy "Jacky" - but the situation works for either gender. I think "Heartbeat City" is a pseudonym for both the hometown and the relationship based there. Jacki leaves town (and the relationship) and then returns, but knows that it will be for only a couple of happy days, before she is back on the road. She left, and will leave again, because her lover (obviously very much in love with her) is a bit obsessive and she doesn't feel the connection (to him or home) as deeply. I wonder whether there is a third person in the dialoge (the one who says (hm! - somewhat sarcastically). This is Jacki's friend and rival "I'm glad you made it" (Not) and maybe thinks "all you need is what you got" - that the guy should realise - Jacki is a flake and I'm here ready to appreciate you but you don't see it - wait 'till she leaves town again.... Jacki is a bit sad to leave ("blue" caboose) but even Heartbeat City's attractions are not enough to hold her and she's off again.

I remember reading the review in Rolling Stone for this song. The reviewer nailed it, in my opinion. Ocaseck refers to "Jackie," which the reviewer noted was slang for pain-killers. Listening to the lyrics, doesn't it make a lot of sense?

The single best Cars tune, period.

I think the singer is in Heaven ("Heartbeat City") and has been waiting for his dear friend ("Jackie") to join him there. The lyrics depict Heartbeat City as a kind of idyllic place, the "home" we all have a deep longing for.

this is an awesome synth tune, ric ocasek reminds me of the cure's robert smith sometimes. this song, to me tells the story of girl named jackie with whom the speaker had a romantic relationship until she left him one day. then when she returns wanting to re-kindle things, the speaker is simultaneously happy shes back, but hurt that she left him "i missed you so badly...when you jumped the scene"

this is an awesome synth tune, ric ocasek reminds me of the cure's robert smith sometimes. this song, to me tells the story of girl named jackie with whom the speaker had a romantic relationship until she left him one day. then when she returns wanting to re-kindle things, the speaker is simultaneously happy shes back, but hurt that she left him "i missed you so badly...when you jumped the scene"

I love how in the intro to this song the sound that sounds like a bird reminds me of a heartbeat.

Addendum: sustitute metaphor for pseudonym