Meaning of 867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone & Story

Several owners of the telephone number 867-5309, operating in different regions of the United States, claim that this is the worst combination of numbers possible. It’s all about the popular composition 867-5309/Jenny. More than thirty years have passed since Tommy Tutone made it a hit, and numerous pranksters continue to dial the famous number every day to release another witticism.

But more about that below, but first, briefly about the history of creation and the true meaning of the song. For many years, music lovers have been haunted by the question of who Jenny is, to whom Alex Call and Jim Keller dedicated the composition.

Song story 867-5309/Jenny – Tommy Tutone

Before we figure out what the words of the song are about, let’s try to find the answer to the main question: “Who is Jennie?”

At first, the authors and performers of the track delighted the listeners with funny stories. They alternately claimed that Jenny was the owner of the studio, then they claimed that her number was caught by one of them on the toilet wall. For example, this is what Jim Keller once said:

Jenny is an ordinary girl, not a prostitute. My friends wrote her name and number on the wall of the men’s room at the bar. I called her on a dare, and we dated for a while. I haven’t talked to her since the song hit, but I hear she thinks I’m a real jerk for writing this.

People, 1982

Beautiful legends about songs, of course, contribute to their popularization. It is no secret that many musicians not only contribute to their dissemination, but even launch funny inventions into the people themselves.

True, over time they often admit how things really were. Alex Call also could not resist:

Despite all the mythology, I actually just composed Jenny and the phone number and the music and everything just sitting in my backyard. There was no Jenny. I don’t know where this number came from. I was just trying to write a four-chord rock song, and he just sort of showed up… I had a guitar melody, I had a name and a number, but I didn’t know what the song was about. This buddy of mine, Jim Keller, who is the co-writer, was the guitarist in Tommy Tutone. He came over to my place that day and said, “Al, that’s the girl’s number on the bathroom wall,” and we had a good laugh. I said, “That’s right, straight to the point.”
Tommy Tutone was told for years that there was this Jenny and she ran a record label and stuff like that. So the story gets better, but it’s not true. It sounds much better than the fact that I wrote it under a plum tree in my backyard.

SongFacts.com, 2004

On the other hand, Tommy Heath persists to the end and insists that the girl and the number were real. In 2008, he was interviewed by WGN Morning New and again talked about the alleged real Jenny and the numbers he wrote on the wall of the restroom in a motel. Whom to believe, decide for yourself.

Release and achievements

867-5309/Jenny was released as a single in November 1981. It climbed to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Top Tracks.

The ill-fated phone number

When the song became popular, the unfortunate owners of the famous number were attacked by phone hooligans and just curious people who wanted to check who would answer the call. Poor fellows tens, hundreds and even thousands of times a day were forced to pick up the phone to hear another stupid joke.

Probably the record holder for the number of calls was a woman from Chicago. In 1982, she received about twenty-two thousand phone calls over four days.

In 2004, DJ Spencer Potter specifically ordered the number 867-5309 for himself and was surprised when he found out that this combination was free. But very soon he understood why. The stupid calls started almost as soon as he turned on the phone. A few years later, they still happened to be up to thirty a day.

In the end, the guy gave up and put the number up for auction on eBay. Virtual bids reached a million dollars, but the sale at such a high price did not come. Somewhat later, the room was bought by Retro Fitness, which owns gyms.

867-5309/Jenny – Tony Tutone Video

Next, you can watch an online music video in which the group performs the famous song.

Interesting Facts

In his autobiography, Alex Call revealed that he was inspired by the early Kinks and Rolling Stones when working on the song’s melody.
Arnold Schwarzenegger used the song in the popular video Workout with Arnold.
Many girls continue to give this number to annoying boyfriends.

867-5309/Jenny – Tony Tutone Lyrics

Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to?
You give me something I can hold onto
I know you think I’m like the others before
Who saw your name and number on the wall

Jenny I got your number
I need to make you mine.
Jenny don’t change your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

Jenny, Jenny, you’re the girl for me.
You don’t know me but you make me so happy.
I tried to call you before but I lost my nerve.
I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed.

Jenny I got your number
I need to make you mine.
Jenny don’t change your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

I got it, I got it, I got it!
I got your number on the wall!
I got it, I got it, I got it!
For a good time, for a good time call…

Jenny, don’t change your number.
I need to make you mine.
Jenny. I’ll call your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

Jenny, Jenny who can I turn to?
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
For the price of a dime I can always turn to you.
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

867-5309/Jenny Lyrics Tony Tutone Lyrics Alternative

Jenny, Jenny, who do I turn to?
You gave me a lead
I know you think I’m like the ones I used to be
Who saw your name and number on the wall

Jenny I have your number
I need you to be mine
Jenny don’t change your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

Jenny, Jenny, you’re my girl
We don’t know each other but you make me happy
I tried to call you before, but I didn’t have the patience
I tried to imagine you, but I was prevented

Jenny I have your number
I need you to be mine
Jenny don’t change your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

There is, there is, there is!
I have your number off the wall!
There is, there is, there is!
When the time is right, when the time is right, I will call…

Jenny I have your number
I need you to be mine
Jenny I’ll dial your number
8-6-7-5-3-0-9

Jenny, Jenny, who should I turn to
8-6-7-5-3-0-9
For ten cents I can always turn to you
8-6-7-5-3-0-9