Oh, little Jeannie
You got so much love, little Jeannie
And you take it where it strikes
And give it to the likes of me
Oh, little Jeannie
She got so much love, little Jeannie
So I see you when I can
You make me all a man can be

And I want you to be my acrobat
I want you to be my lover
Oh, there were others who would treat you cruel
And, oh Jeannie
You were always someone's fool

Little Jeannie
You got so much time, little Jeannie
Though you've grown beyond your years
You still retain the fears of youth
Oh, little Jeannie
You got so much time, little Jeannie
But you're burning it up so fast
Searching for some lasting truth

And I want you to be my acrobat
I want you to be my lover
Oh, there were others who would treat you cruel
But, oh Jeannie
I will always be your fool

And I want you to be my acrobat
I want you to be my lover
Oh, there were others, and I've known quite a few
But, oh Jeannie
I'm still in love with you

You stepped into my life from a bad dream
Making the life that I had, seem
Suddenly shiny and new
Oh, Jeannie (oh, Jeannie)
I'm so in love with you

You stepped into my life from a bad dream
Making the life that I had, seem
Suddenly shiny and new
Oh, Jeannie (oh, Jeannie)
I'm so in love with you

You stepped into my life from a bad dream
Making the life that I had, seem
Suddenly shiny and new
Oh, Jeannie (oh, Jeannie)
I'm so in love with you

You stepped into my life from a bad dream (so in love)
Making the life that I had, seem
Suddenly shiny and new
Oh, Jeannie (oh, Jeannie)
I'm so in love (I'm so in love)

You stepped into my life from a bad dream
Making the life that I had, seem
Suddenly shiny and new
Oh, Jeannie (oh, Jeannie)
I'm so in love (I'm so in love)


Lyrics submitted by zygote

Little Jeannie Lyrics as written by Gary Anthony Osborne Elton John

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Little Jeannie song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

12 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    great song and elton john rules.

    minervoon June 02, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    No comments on this song? That's a pity. It's definitely my favorite Elton John song. The last part ("You stepped into my life from a bad dream / Making the life that I had seem / Suddenly shiny and new") really speaks to me. Beautiful song.

    DoubtFullon July 14, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I see it as a man who knows a woman who's gone through a litany of bad relationships, guys taking advantage of her and making her a fool. The protagonist has always loved her but she had a thing for these bad guys. Finally she realizes that the protagonist of the song is someone who will treat her right and comes to him.

    This causes extreme happiness for the protagonist and makes his life suddenly shiny and new.

    Just guessing at the acrobat reference. He wants her to take a chance like a circus performer doing something dangerous without a net.

    SteelyDanon January 05, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    After 3 years later----i agree with jwo. This is a great song, and the beat!

    IsaacPoweron April 04, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the acrobat part of the song could mean to be an entertainer, a person who amuses you.. it's almost like saying "you're my star" or something.. that's how I felt. Because, beyond being just a lover, as he mentions in the following line, she's this person who makes him smile, who amuses him, who surprises him.. kind of like when people say that they'd like to have some one to love, but also that this person makes them laugh or something.. I don't know if it's too far fetched, but that's how I always felt about this line..

    Juliagaibuon June 14, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs. I'm sure the acrobat reference refers to sex. Elton John and his writer may not admit it but it says I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover. I could be wrong, but you know I'm not.as monk would say. If you don't want to be dirty then when you hear it you could just cover your ears or and eyes and make believe that he really didn't say that,

    Tanthemanon June 24, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Basically this is the common tale, about a good guy who is in love with a woman, who has a thing for bad guys, probably he's her best friend, therefore he knew all the sorrow that she has for these bad relationships, but this will never change, since she needs to find out what is wrong with her, and this is, a low self esteem, that's why she can stand abuse and humillation. The last part of the song, is almost like a prayer, he wants that she understand, what is wrong and change it, but this will never gonna happen. The whole song is claim, a wish, saddly love can't change people, they need to change by themselves. The song also has a hint about ages, little jeannie probably is a young woman around 20 years, the guy probably is an older guy 30 or 40 years old, someone who knows that Jeannie wants to be in love, but she can't even love herself, that's why he can't be with her, he wants a change on her perspective.

    And I want you to be my acrobat (Its a claim about trusting each other, like acrobats in the circus, she can't fully trust on him, that's why they can't perfom the act of love),

    zapping102on September 24, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i just dont understand the.. want you to be my acrobat line... i dont wanna know what goes on in that bed haha

    Greghereon September 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Almost three years later --- I agree with DoubtFull. This was the first Elton John song I liked and it remains my favorite.

    JWOon April 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's like "Tiny Dancer". A 'woman' he is love with. Not sure about the "acrobat" part...ok well I can use my imagination but let's say it doesn't mean that. K? K. One of his best songs as far as I am concerned.

    Thia007on November 12, 2011   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.