Heart of Saturday Night

Tom Waits

About Heart of Saturday Night

The Heart of Saturday Night is the second studio album by singer and songwriter Tom Waits, released in 1974 on Asylum Records. The title song was written as a tribute to Jack Kerouac.


Year:
1976
13:12
149 
#7

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Well you gassed her up
Behind the wheel
With your arm around your sweet one
In your Oldsmobile
Barrelin' down the boulevard
You're looking for the heart of Saturday night

And you got paid on Friday
And your pockets are jinglin'
And you see the lights
You get all tinglin' cause you're cruisin' with a 6
And you're looking for the heart of Saturday night

Then you comb your hair
Shave your face
Tryin' to wipe out ev'ry trace
All the other days 
In the week you know that this'll be the Saturday
You're reachin' your peak

Stoppin' on the red
You're goin' on the green
'Cause tonight'll be like nothin'
You've ever seen
And you're barrelin' down the boulevard
Lookin' for the heart of Saturday night

Tell me is the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin?
Telephone's ringin'; it's your second cousin
Is it the barmaid that's smilin' from the corner of her eye?
Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye.

Makes it kind of quiver down in the core
'Cause you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before
And now you're stumblin'
You're stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night

Well you gassed her up
And you're behind the wheel 
With your arm around your sweet one
In your Oldsmobile
Barrellin' down the boulevard,
You're lookin' for the heart of Saturday night

Is the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin?
Telephone's ringin'; it's your second cousin
And the barmaid is smilin' from the corner of her eye
Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye.

Makes it kind of special down in the core
And you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before
It's found you stumblin'
Stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night
And you're stumblin'
Stumblin onto the heart of Saturday night

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Tom Waits

Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car." With this trademark growl, his incorporation of pre-rock music styles such as blues, jazz, and vaudeville, and experimental tendencies verging on industrial music, Waits has built up a distinctive musical persona. He has worked as a composer for movies and musical plays and has acted in supporting roles in films including Paradise Alley and Bram Stoker's Dracula; he also starred in the 1986 film Down by Law. He was nominated for an Academy Awa… more »

10 fans

Written by: Thomas Alan Waits

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Information
"Heart of Saturday Night" is a classic song by American singer-songwriter and musician Tom Waits. Waits is highly respected for his distinctive fusion of jazz, blues, and rock to create a unique musical style.
Album
The song is the title track of Tom Waits' second studio album, "The Heart of Saturday Night". This album was released in 1974.
Music Style
The album, including the title track, features a blend of folk, blues, jazz, and lounge music. This eclectic mix became the signature sound for Waits throughout his career.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "Heart of Saturday Night" reflect Waits' early style of deeply thoughtful, urban storytelling. Its poignant lyrics paint a vivid picture of a nocturnal, romantic, and somewhat mysterious atmosphere.
Critical Acclaim
While the albums weren’t commercial hits initially, they were critically acclaimed. "The Heart of Saturday Night", in particular, was praised for its lyrical sophistication and emotional depth.
Inspiration
Waits stated that the song was inspired by Jack Kerouac’s novel of the same name.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists across different genres, highlighting its universal appeal. Notable covers include those by Shawn Colvin, Madeleine Peyroux and Phil Harris.
Album Artwork
The artwork of the album is a homage to the 1965 Frank Sinatra album "Sinatra-Basie: An Historic Musical First". This shows Waits' admiration for Sinatra.
In Popular Culture
The song is often associated with Saturday nights, human feelings, desires and the nighttime atmosphere of American cities, making it an enduring favorite in popular culture and numerous movie soundtracks.
Legacy
The Heart of Saturday night is widely regarded as the work in which Waits found his unique musical voice, setting the stage for his future successes.

Discuss the Heart of Saturday Night Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Heart of Saturday Night Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/650331/Tom+Waits/Heart+of+Saturday+Night>.

    Missing lyrics by Tom Waits?

    Know any other songs by Tom Waits? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Heart of Saturday Night

    1.2M
    6,501     120

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    What boy band is Louis Tomlinson in?
    A Five Directions
    B One Addition
    C Four Directions
    D One Direction

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Tom Waits's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Tom Waits tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!