Jerk Out

Album: Pandemonium (1990)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Time was a Minneapolis funk group that Prince formed by combining lead singer Morris Day with the group Flyte Time, whose members included Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson and Monte Moir. Their 1984 album Ice Cream Castle contained the hits "Jungle Love" and "The Bird," which both appeared in the Prince movie Purple Rain. "Jerk Out" was written during the sessions for that album, but left off. The group then broke up, and when they re-formed in 1990, they revived the song with the idea of making it sound like they never left.
  • This song started with a drum groove that Prince came up with. Working it out in a jam, Lewis, Johnson and Jimmy Jam finished the song. The "Jerk Out" is just a fun chorus line about having a good time, and the storyline is all about the singer going to a club, flashing his cash, and bringing home a willing young lady who is warned against getting too clingy. When we spoke with Jimmy Jam, he didn't recall any specific inspiration for the lyrics, but remembered being thrilled that the group had a #1 R&B hit and the great time they had making the video.

Comments: 1

  • Martin Koolhoven from AmsterdamA few years after the jam session version of ‘81, the song was given to Mazarati. The lyrics still had some very different lines, proving this did not start out as a innocent party song. “Took her 2 my crib & tied her up - figured that's what she liked - Maybe I was wrong, but what the hell - It didn't matter 2 me: She was white”
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.