"Jessie" with whatever last name you could imagine seem quintessentially American, so that certainly adds to the feeling.

Incidentally, I looked up the wiki on the song this a.m., and the woman who inspired the song was in actuality *Gary's* girl... another name I think of as very American... But not particularly poetic.


I also read the Wiki on Springfield (checking to see if there was any reference to hospital visits that would have provided fodder for the rumor), and it turns out he was making records as far back as 1969. Wonder what the heck THEY sounded like (but not enough to track 'em down.)