What They Mean to Each Other
Jessie's abuse of James, and James' occasional resentment of Jessie, is played for humor but is admittedly problematic, whether you're viewing them as a couple or not. With such an unequal distribution of emotional power between them, how can they work together (or love each other)?
The answer: they need each other!
What Jessie Means to James
For James, Jessie represents freedom--the freedom to choose his own destiny, and the freedom to choose a person to share it with. Though Jessebelle, his intended, is almost exactly like Jessie in every way (bossy, beautiful, and overbearing), she's also a firm tie to his old life, and so all James sees when he looks at Jessebelle is a gilded cage. Jessie may insult James and get on his case sometimes, but she never preselects his life for him, either--he is free to go whenever and wherever he wishes, and he rests in that knowledge.
A fitting song for the way James views Jessie is Glen Campbell's song "Gentle on My Mind"--the song of a man who is grateful to the woman in his life for allowing him to be free. Click to view video and lyrics
Gentle On My Mind - Glen Campbell (lyrics)
It's knowin' that your door is always open
And your path is free to walk
That makes me tend to leave my sleepin' bag rolled up
And stashed behind your couch
And it's knowin' I'm not shackled by forgotten words and bonds
And the ink stains that have dried upon some lines
That keeps you in the back roads
By the rivers of my memory and keeps you ever gentle on my mind
It's not clingin' to the rocks and ivy
Planted on their columns now that bind me
Or somethin' that somebody said because
They thought we fit together walkin'
It's just knowin' that the world will not be cursin' or forgivin'
When I walk along some railroad track and find
That you're movin' on the back roads
By the rivers of my memory and for hours you're just gentle on my mind
Though the wheat fields and the coal mines and the junkyards
And the highways come between us
And some other woman's cryin' to her mother
'Cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face
And the summer sun might burn me till I'm blind
But not to where I cannot see
You walkin' on the back roads by the rivers flowin' gentle on my mind
I dip my cup of soup
Back from some gurglin', cracklin' cauldron in some train yard
My beard a roughenin' coal pile
And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can
I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
That you're wavin' from the back roads
By the rivers of my memory ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind
What James Means to Jessie
For Jessie, James represents home. She may be driven and resourceful, but she also needs a place to roost and people to call her own. Jessie doesn't function well when she's only leading herself and not tethered to anywhere; her forcibly lonely upbringing has made her that way. James is someone she can take care of, someone who reminds her that being strong is not the only way to survive. James may bungle her (half-baked) plans sometimes and frustrate her with occasional whining, but he never abandons her, either, and she needs that.
A song that fits Jessie's view of James is Meredith Brooks' song "B*tch"--the speaker of the song admits she is scattered and irritable sometimes, but she also is grateful to the man in her life for accepting her and staying by her at her weakest moments. Click to view video and lyrics.
B*tch - Meredith Brooks (lyrics)
I hate the world today
You're so good to me
I know but I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe
I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet...
Yesterday I cried
Must have been relieved to see
The softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one
[Chorus:]
I'm a b----, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your h---, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way
So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing
[Chorus]
Just when you think you got me figured out
The season's already changing
I think it's cool you do what you do
And don't try to save me
[Chorus]
I'm a b----, I'm a tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you hurt, when you suffer
I'm your angel undercover
I've been numb, I'm revived
Can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it any other way...