Peak
8
Weeks
18
Score
2,829
Chart Year
1989
Co-written by Diane Warren and Desmond Child, this song was recorded by Cher on Geffen Records and released October 1989; in the UK in December. You're struttin' into town like you're slingin' a gun Just a small town dude with a big city attitude This section is a fairly obvious allusion to what happens to any man who crosses Ms. Warren, or more likely Cher: Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James For the record, the real Jesse James was shot in the back of the head on April 3, 1882. His murderer, Robert Ford, and his brother were arrested, indicted for murder, pleaded guilty, sentenced to hang, and pardoned all on the same day. As James was an outlaw, this was all legal and above board. >> "Just Like Jesse James" was part of Cher's musical resurgence in the late '80s. She put her music on hold early in the decade to focus on acting, quite successfully, with starring roles in Silkwood (1983) and Mask (1985). She had plenty of roles lined up, but John Kalodner at Geffen Records talked her into singing again. "I didn't wanna have anything to do with it, truthfully," Cher told Mojo. "I just said, 'Look, I'm making movies and I think my singing days are over.' And John said, 'Don't be ridiculous. You're a great singer, with the most distinctive voice.' But I kept him waiting for a long time, 'cos I did three movies in a row and I thought, He's just gonna get tired and leave me alone. But he didn't. He was very tenacious, and thank God. I guess it was the style of the time." Those three movies were Suspect, Moonstruck, and The Witches of Eastwick. She won the Best Actress Oscar for Moonstruck. The Geffen album, called Cher, was also released in 1987 and got her back on the charts with the single "I Found Someone." For her next album, Heart Of Stone, the finest songwriters, producers and musicians were summoned from all the lands, and hits were made, starting with "If I Could Turn Back Time," followed by "Just Like Jesse James." Cher fell out of favor a few years later but returned with a vengeance with the #1 hit "Believe" in 1998. Running 4:08, there were various releases; in Australia it was backed by "Starting Over"; it was also put out as a 3-track single including "I Found Someone."
You're struttin' into town like you're slingin' a gun Just a small town dude with a big city attitude Honey are you lookin' for some trouble tonight Well alright You think you're so bad, drive the women folk wild Shoot 'em all down with the flash of your pearly smile Honey but you met your match tonight Oh, that's right You think you'll knock me off my feet 'Til I'm flat on the floor 'Til my heart is cryin' Indian and I'm begin' for more So come on baby Come on baby Come on baby show me what that loaded gun is for If you can give it I can take it 'Cause if this heart is gonna break it's gonna take a lot to break it I know tonight Somebody's gonna win the fight So if you're so tough Come on and prove it Your heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James You're an outlaw lover and I'm after your hide Well you ain't so strong, won't be long 'til your hands are tied Tonight I'm gonna take you in Dead or Alive That's right You break the laws of love in the name of desire Take ten steps back 'Cause I'm ready baby Aim and fire Baby there's nowhere you gonna run tonight Ooh That's right Well you've had your way with love but it's the end of the day Now a team of wild horses couldn't drag your heart away So come on baby Come on baby Come on baby you know there ain't nothing left to say If you can give it I can take it 'Cause if this heart is gonna break it's gonna take a lot to break it I know tonight Somebody's gonna win the fight So if you're so tough Come on and prove it Your heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James You think you'll knock me off my feet 'til I'm flat on the floor 'Til my heart is cryin' Indian and I'm begin' for more So come on baby Come on baby Come on baby Come on If you can give it I can take it 'Cause if this heart is gonna break it's gonna take a lot to break it I know tonight Somebody's gonna win the fight So if you're so tough Come on and prove it Your heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James I'm gonna shoot ya down Jesse James
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 21, 1989 | 90 | 36 |
| 2 | Oct 28, 1989 | 61 | 65 |
| 3 | Nov 4, 1989 | 51 | 75 |
| 4 | Nov 11, 1989 | 42 | 84 |
| 5 | Nov 18, 1989 | 35 | 91 |
| 6 | Nov 25, 1989 | 26 | 100 |
| 7 | Dec 2, 1989 | 19 | 107 |
| 8 | Dec 9, 1989 | 17 | 109 |
| 9 | Dec 16, 1989 | 10 | 116 |
| 10 | Dec 23, 1989 | 8 | 118 |
| 11 | Dec 30, 1989 | 8 | 118 |
| 12 | Jan 6, 1990 | 8 | 118 |
| 13 | Jan 13, 1990 | 8 | 118 |
| 14 | Jan 20, 1990 | 19 | 107 |
| 15 | Jan 27, 1990 | 33 | 93 |
| 16 | Feb 3, 1990 | 47 | 79 |
| 17 | Feb 10, 1990 | 67 | 59 |
| 18 | Feb 17, 1990 | 93 | 33 |