Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 30th August '10 - Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy

Taking their name from a caption under a photo of W.C. Fields - '"W.C. Fields with gin blossoms" - the Gin Blossoms formed in 1987 and had some minor success in the early 90's when they released their second album 'New Miserable Experience'.

It wasn't an easy album for the band to produce. Their main songwriter, guitarist Doug Hopkins, was fired towards the end of recording due to his worsening alcoholism and subsequently committed suicide the following year just as the album garnered some success.

The track 'Hey Jealousy' had actually appeared on their debut album 'Dusted' but was re-recorded during the sessions for 'New Miserable Experience' and ended up on the album. Though it only made number 24 in the UK charts I remember that it was a big song on the radio here in the summer of '93 as it always seemed to be playing.

As I got older and learned more about the bands history I realised it was actually about Hopkins' depression and drink problems but, back in '93, I always thought it sounded so romantic. It seemed like a modern 'Romeo & Juliet' story where they were both in love but weren't allowed to be together - hence the line 'and let the cops chase us around'. I think it's a good example of one of the things I love about songs. Even if you don't get the intended meaning of the song, you can often just invent one of your own by assuming that's what the lyrics mean.

Regardless of the meaning of the song I always loved this song and it is one that gets stuck in my head quite often.

I hope you all like this week's song and I hope it gets in your head too.


Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy

Tell me do you think it'd be alright,
If I could just crash here tonight,
you see I'm in no shape for drivin',
And anyway I've got no place to go.

And you know it might not be that bad,
You were the best I ever had,
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago,
I might not be alone.

Tomorrow we can drive around this town,
And let the cops chase us around,
The past is gone but something might be,
Found to take it's place,
Hey jealousy,
Hey jealousy,
Hey jealousy,
Hey jealousy.

You can trust me not to think,
And not to sleep around,
And if you don't expect too much from me,
You might not be let down.

'Cause all I really want's to be with you,
And feel like I matter too,
If I hadn't blow the whole thing years ago,
I might be here with you.

Tomorrow we can drive around this town,
And let the cops chase us around,
The past is gone but something might be,
Found to take it's place,
Hey jealousy,

Tomorrow we can drive around this town,
And let the cops chase us around,
The past is gone but something might be,
Found to take it's place,
Hey jealousy,
Hey jealousy,
Hey jealousy,
Hey jealousy.

Tell me do you think it'd be alright,
If I could just crash here tonight,
you see I'm in no shape for drivin',
And anyway I've got no place to go.

And you know it might not be that bad,
You were the best I ever had,
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago,
I might not be alone.

Tomorrow we can drive around this town,
And let the cops chase us around,
The past is gone but something might be,
Found to take it's place,
Hey jealousy,

Hey jealousy,

She took my heart,
There's only one thing I can start.