Mike Doughty – 27 Jennifers

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I went to school with 27 Jennifers
16 Jenns, 10 Jennies, and then there was her

It's the sweet shine of,
Yeah, force of divine love
The blessed arrival of you

You might be the one that I've been seeking for
You might be the strange delightful
You might be the girly who shall end all girls
You might be the sweet unspiteful

I rode the bus with 27 Jennifers
15 Jenns, 10 Jennies disapproved of her

Yeah, get from my sight, man,
Gladness is a blight, and
Happiness stinks up the room

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Lyrics submitted by tallgrl45

Track duration: 03:10

"27 Jennifers" as written by Mike Doughty

Lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


27 Jennifers song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:So I note distinct differences between this version and the re-worked Golden Delicious version and something tells me the truth of it all lies in the reasons for those changes.

    BUT since I don't know those reasons I'ma throw my hat in on this version with Dohboy and say that overall the song is in reference to the narrator's dating history, Jennifer being a common-as-hell name, and that he only truly fell for one.

    I note a shift in time, so to speak, from the first verse to the second: First verse we're in class and the narrator is optimistic about this Jennifer.

    Second verse we're on a bus instead of in class, indicating travelling or learning, or bringing along memories - take your pick. To me this means he's more looking back. In any case, it's notable that one Jenn doesn't disapprove of Jennifer...but after this verse the narrator takes a bitter and ironic (if I'm right) tone: Jenn and Jennifer get together.

    The song has a happiness to it overall, so I also see this song as a man looking back over his dating history and making light of something that hurt him deeply at the time, but which is far enough back in history now that if it wasn't while in school, it "might as well" have been and can be used smiled about a bit now.

    Just my thoughts.
    Flag summondiceon June 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In all honesty I love Doughty, his music is essential in this day and age, though his lyrics are a confusion to
    descipher. I feel that whatever the literal meaning for the song is, the deeper hidden message seems to be if
    you find someone who catches your eye amongst the crowd of the plain sheep, you should not care how the populis
    feels about him/her
    because if you have found love then everyone else can piss off.
    Flag SirBoosington28on May 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In a recent radio interview, Doughty said that growing up it SEEMED like there were 27 Jennifers in his class. 20 years ago, Jennifer was the most popular girl's name. 27 is just a random number that means "a lot." He's just being playful with all the math.
    Flag ResoNateon April 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:here's my take - he went to school with 27, and 25 disapproved of her, that leaves just her and one other "Jenn", who actually liked her so much that she stole her away. the last 3 lines sum it up beautifully. classic doughty.
    Flag Dohboyon January 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm a Jennifer and I went to school with a bunch and when I heard this song I just started laughing. Now it's sort of my theme song :P
    Flag undergroundwooon January 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:umm who cares about how many there were lol- hes talking about hes found someone who might be "the one" for him and nobody approves but apparently he doesn't care- damn song after song of mike doughty's reminds me of my life lol.
    Flag NarrowSoulon August 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its probably 27 just because 27 is weird number. google it, the number 27 pops up everywhere. more weird math: if you add the numbers from 2 to 7, it equals 27.
    Flag playbass27on August 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song, but damn it reminds me of standardized testing...
    Flag ZidaneTribalon June 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he's saying that 15 jenns, and 10 jennies disapproved of her. so one jenn liked her. that makes 27
    Flag WhiteWolfon May 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I was never good at math... but i think somethings a little "fishy" here...

    15 Jenns, 10 Jennies disapproved of her = 25... oh well its Doughty, you dont question his amazingness..
    Flag jackiwillbeon April 05, 2006   Link

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