Songfacts®:

• The Time was a Minneapolis funk group that Prince formed by combining lead singer Morris Day with the group Flyte Time, whose members included Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson and Monte Moir. Their 1984 album Ice Cream Castle contained the hits "Jungle Love" and "The Bird," which both appeared in the Prince movie Purple Rain. "Jerk Out" was written during the sessions for that album, but left off. The group then broke up, and when they re-formed in 1990, they revived the song with the idea of making it sound like they never left.
• This song started with a drum groove that Prince came up with. Working it out in a jam, Lewis, Johnson and Jimmy Jam finished the song. The "Jerk Out" is just a fun chorus line about having a good time, and the storyline is all about the singer going to a club, flashing his cash, and bringing home a willing young lady who is warned against getting too clingy. When we spoke with Jimmy Jam, he didn't recall any specific inspiration for the lyrics, but remembered being thrilled that the group had a #1 R&B hit and the great time they had making the video.