In a November 2003 interview with Songfacts, guitarist Mike Campbell explained the song's origins: "Jammin Me" was interesting because I wrote the track and gave it to Tom, and he held it for a while and didn't do anything with it.

[2]On the True Confessions tour between Petty and Dylan (who both later became members of the Traveling Wilburys), they collaborated on this track which became the opening song on the album.

[3] It follows in line with an ongoing theme throughout the album of people "who are reeling from media assaults and shattered relationships", but have a strong desire to survive in order to make sense of the world.

[8] Critics were generally favorable towards the single with AllMusic comparing it to the Rolling Stones song "Start Me Up", saying "the fabulous groove is positively infectious".

[3] Rolling Stone complimented Petty and Campbell's "raw guitar chords" and Benmont Tench's "honky-tonk piano fills".