The Dealer - "Jesse told me..."

blinker12 · #1 11-16-2004, 10:39 AM

I'm trying to track down a particular version of "The Dealer" and was wondering if anyone could help me out.

It's a full-band studio recording that includes the lyric "Jesse told me at an early age/I could get away" in the chorus (unlike many other versions, which have "If I'd have looked a little ahead/I'd have run away" instead). It also has Stevie doing some really awesome vamping at the end, mostly on the line "Mistress of my fate."

I downloaded it from the now-defunct sarabelladonna.net a couple years ago, but lost it when I switched computers. But it's by far the best version of the song I've heard, and if anyone could hook me up with it I'd be forever grateful.

Thanks much!

blinker12 · #2 11-18-2004, 12:39 AM

If anyone's interested, a guy named Mathew was nice enough to post the song at http://www.geocities.com/virgolibrapisces/index.html
There may be bandwith issues, but be patient. If you don't yet have this version, it's a must.

tynan88 · #3 11-18-2004, 05:02 AM

If you cant get it from that website, let me know and I can e-mail it to you, if your account is big enough.

Tynan

blinker12 · #4 11-19-2004, 02:05 AM

While we're on the topic, I've been wondering a lot about the meaning of this song, particularly the "Jesse" line.
I see over at Buckinghamnicks.net, Nancy has speculated that the song is about Stevie ending her relationship with Lindsey -- that in choosing to break it off, she was the "mistress of her fate."
Now, her father's name is Jesse, and her grandfather was Aaron Jesse. I've always assumed she's referencing her grandfather in this song, because he was the one who taught her to sing.
But in the context of a break-up song, what did he teach her to "get away" from? A bad relationship?
Possibly, but my own interpretation is that Stevie's singing about an earlier point in her life here. I think she's actually talking about *getting together* with Lindsey, and her related decision to make music her life.
Jesse taught her how she could use music to "get away" from life's more troublesome aspects. And in partnering with Lindsey and getting very serious about her music career, she was "mistress of her fate" in deciding to give singing a serious shot -- "I'll be the dancer/You'll be the player," etc.
Thereafter, she developed serious doubts about her relationship with Lindsey -- "If I'd have looked a little ahead, I'd have run away" -- if not her music career.
Any other thoughts?

tynan88 · #5 11-19-2004, 03:11 AM

I think it is a reference to how Stevie's Granddad was very bitter about how he never succeeded as a country/western singer. He showed Stevie and encouraged Stevie to sing because it could help her get away from any regrets she may have about not reaching her full potential, her singing was the key to a "better" life.

Tynan