Tom Waits va escriure Jersey Girl (1980) inspirant-se en la dona amb qui es casaria el mateix any, la compositora Kathleen Brennan. La cançó va ser versionada per Bruce Springsteen, que en va allargar la lletra per parlar d’una mare cansada a qui convida a ballar (el seu fragment comença a: I see you on the street and you look so tired).
El 1981, en un concert al Memorial Sports Arena (Los Angeles), Springsteen va dir: “Hi ha un noi que ha escrit un munt de grans cançons com Ol’ 55, Heart of Saturday Night i aquesta. Recordo que és una d’aquelles que quan la vaig escoltar em vaig dir: «Desitjaria haver-la escrit jo». Es diu Jersey Girl i Tom Waits és aquí per cantar-la amb nosaltres”.
Got no time for the corner boys
down in the street makin all that noise
don’t want no whores on Eighth Avenue
cause tonight I’m gonna be with you
cause tonight I’m gonna take that ride
across the river to the Jersey side
take my baby to the carnival
and I’ll take you on all the rides
down the shore everythings all right
you with your baby on a saturday night yeah
don’t you know all my dreams come true
when I’m walkin’ down the street with you
sing sha la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la sha la la la
sha la la la I’m in love with a Jersey girl
sha la la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la sha la la la
sha la la la la la
you know she thrills me with all her charms
when I’m wrapped up in my baby’s arms
my little angel gives me everything
I know someday that she’ll wear my ring
so don’t bother me cause I got no time
I’m on my way to see that girl of mine yeah
nothin else matters in this whole wide world
when you’re in love with a Jersey girl
sing sha la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la sha la la la
sha la la la I’m in love with a Jersey girl
sha la la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la sha la la la
sha la la la la la
and I call your name
I can’t sleep at night
sha la la la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la
sha la la la la
I see you on the street and you look so tired
I know that job you got leaves you so uninspired
When I come by to take you out to eat
You’re lyin’ all dressed up on the bed baby fast asleep
Go in the bathroom and put your makeup on
We’re gonna take that little brat
Of yours and drop her off at your mom’s
I know a place where the dancing’s free
Now baby won’t you come with me
sing sha la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la sha la la la
sha la la la I’m in love with a Jersey girl
sha la la la la la la
sha la la la la la la la la
sha la la sha la la la
sha la la la la la
