‘Chuck E.'s in Love’ is a song by American singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones. Released in 1979 on her eponymous debut album Rickie Lee Jones, the song became her biggest hit, reaching number 4 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 chart.
Jones and her lover and fellow songwriter Tom Waits spent a lot of time hanging out with their friend Chuck E. Weiss at the seedy Tropicana Motel in Los Angeles. Eventually Weiss, affectionately referred to as "Chuck E.", disappeared. Later Weiss called the apartment where Jones and Waits lived. When Waits took the call, Weiss explained that he was in Denver, and that he had moved there because he had fallen in love with a distant cousin there. When Waits hung up he announced to Jones, ‘Chuck E.'s in love’. Jones liked the sound of the sentence and wrote a song around it. Although toward the end of ‘Chuck E.'s in Love’ the lyrics state, "Chuck E.'s in love with the little girl singing this song," the twist ending is fictional; Jones was never the girl with whom Chuck E. was in love.
The first line of the song is, "How come he don't come and P.L.P. with me down at the meter no more?" P.L.P. stands for "public leaning post" and is old American slang for one person, usually female, leaning up against another person, usually male, in a friendly fashion.
This was Jones' first single. She was signed to Warner Bros. Records by their A&R head, Lenny Waronker, and he decided the song was the best choice for her debut. Waronker was right; the song became a big hit and established Jones as an emerging artist (she won the Grammy for Best New Artist). The song ended up being by far her biggest hit, as Jones enjoyed a career with far more acclaim than commercial success. This song got a big boost when Jones performed it on Saturday Night Live on April 7, 1979.
Label – Warner Bros.
Songwriter – Rickie Lee Jones
Producers – Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]How come he don't come and P.L.P. with me
Down at the meter no more?
And how come he turn off the TV
And hang that sign on the door?
Well, we call, and we call
"How come?" we say
Hey, what could make a boy behave this way, yeah?
Well, he learned all of the lines now
And every time
He don't, uh, stutter when he talks
And it's true, it's true
He sure has acquired
This kind of cool and inspired sort of jazz when he walks
Where's his jacket and his old blue jeans?
If, if this ain't healthy, it is some kinda clean
[Chorus]
That means that Chuck E.'s in love, my, my
Chuck E.'s in love, love, love, love
Chuck E.'s in love, uh-huh
Chuck E.'s in
[Bridge]
I don't believe what you're saying to me
This is something that I've got to see
Is he here?
I look in the pool hall
But is he here?
I look in the drugstore
But is he here?
No, he don't come here no more
[Verse 2]
Well, I tell you what
I saw him
He was sittin' behind us
Down at the Pantages
And whatever it is
That he's got up his sleeve
Well, I hope it isn't contagious
What's her name?
Is that her there?
Oh, Christ, I think he's even combed his hair
And is that her?
Well, then, what's her name?
Oh, it's never gonna be the same
That's not her
I know what's wrong
'Cause Chuck E.'s in love with the little girl singing this song
And don't you know
[Chorus]
Chuck E.'s in love, yeah, yeah
Chuck E.'s in love, love, love, love
Chuck E.'s in love, my, my
Chuck E.'s in
[Post-Chorus]
Chuck E.'s in love
Chuck E.'s in love
He's in love, love, love with me