Who Is Jenny and Is That Really Her Number in “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone?

Tommy Tutone is best known for its 1981 hit, “867-5309/Jenny”. The band—there is no person named Tommy Tutone—landed a Top 10 hit with the song while also recording one of the most memorized phone numbers in history.

The group has hinted that Jenny may have been a real person. Let’s find out.

Behind the Lyrics

You better wait your turn, buddy. A lot of people have this number. But that doesn’t stop the narrator from clinging to the possibility that someone named Jenny, Jenny from the wall, can help cure his loneliness.

Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to?
You give me something I can hold on to.
I know you’ll think I’m like the others before,
Who saw your name and number on the wall.

Perhaps there’s hope for this lonesome dude. He’s got the digits, and now he’s desperate to make the connection.

Jenny, I’ve got your number,
I need to make you mine.
Jenny, don’t change your number.

For the narrator, dreaming about Jenny won’t do. He needs the real thing. But is Jenny real?

Jenny, Jenny, you’re the girl for me,
Oh, you don’t know me, but you make me so happy.
I tried to call you before, but I lost my nerve,
I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed.

Who Is She?

Over the years, the band has suggested the song was inspired by a real woman. But co-writer Alex Call confessed “Jenny” was indeed made up. “It makes a better story but it’s not true,” he said. “That sounds a lot better than ‘I made it up under a plum tree in my backyard.’”

Too bad for all the radio listeners in the 80s who anxiously dialed 867-5309 hoping this girl would pick up.

I got it, I got it,
For a good time, for a good time call.

The Boss Borrows a Riff

More than its famous phone number, “867-5309/Jenny” also has a killer riff. Bruce Springsteen seems to have (subconsciously) borrowed the riff to guide his 2007 banger “Radio Nowhere”.

Springsteen’s song is also about connection, albeit on a much more communal level.

Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images