☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the singer's longing for Jesse, who has gone away.
- The singer describes how she feels lonely and how much she misses Jesse.
- She remembers shared moments and leaves the light on the stairs to show Jesse the way home.
- The singer sets a place at the table for Jesse and eagerly waits for his return.
- The song ends with the singer asking Jesse to come home and find solace together.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Jesse' by
Roberta Flack are about a person named Jesse who has left and makes the singer long for their return home. The singer describes how she feels lonely and how much she misses Jesse. She tells that there is a gap in the bed where they used to sleep together and that it has now become cold. Jesse's face is still in the place where they used to cuddle by the fireplace and it hurts the singer's soul.
The singer leaves the light on the stairs on to show Jesse the way home. She waits for him and is not afraid. She feels lonely and longs for Jesse to come home.
The singer remembers Jesse's footsteps on the floor and the floorboards. The images fade, but she still sets a place at the table for Jesse at noon. She leaves the light on the stairs on and waits for Jesse without fear.
The song ends with the singer urging Jesse to come home. She tells that the bed looks as if Jesse has just left and she has kept it for him. The colors of the bed linen have been recently cleaned. The singer and Jesse will turn off the light on the stairs together and comfort each other. They will lie down and be unaware of their surroundings. The singer still feels lonely and longs for Jesse to come home.