Ever wonder why some songs permanently lodged themselves in your cranium at such a young age? Sometimes it’s a song by an artist you’ve never followed very closely, or it’s not even their biggest hit, making any pondering as to why the song has such a hold on you all the more puzzling.

Carly Simon‘s “Jesse” is one tune I’d file into that category, which took up permanent residence in my developing pop brain in 1981. The single, her first for Warner Bros., held at #11 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, including this very week 30 years ago.

Though “Jesse” stalled outside the top 10, I assume there must have been some major radio support for Simon’s song because it sold an astounding million copies, joining the ranks of Simon’s more familiar hits, “You’re So Vain,” “Mockingbird,” and “Nobody Does It Better.” (Such a sales figure equated to gold status then, but has meant platinum since 1989.) “Jesse” also had impressive staying power, hanging around the Hot 100 for 23 weeks.

I’m guessing my kid-connection to “Jesse,” co-written and produced by jazz vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, had much to do with it being so easy to learn and sing. Whether it was age-appropriate for me to do so — the song’s about a lover Simon can’t quite quit, much to the disappointment of her friends — well, that’s a topic best tabled for another time. Lyrical content aside, my love of “Jesse” was just early evidence that my pop heart would always have a will of its own.

I couldn’t find a studio version to stream, but this later live version takes me back all the same:

Listening today, I’m guessing the wine in the line, “I won’t make the wine cold for you,” was Riunite on ice. So nice. And, like “Jesse,” the jingle’s still stuck in my head from way back then.

Purchase Carly Simon – “Jesse” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.