Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back
Like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going
It’s hard to beat that as an opening verse…once I heard that I was hooked. Springsteen met Joey Ramone in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Ramone asked Bruce to write a song for his band, The Ramones. Springsteen wrote “Hungry Heart” that night but decided to keep it.
Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (Flo and Eddie) of The Turtles sang backup.
The song was on the album The River. The album peaked a #1 in the Billboard Album Charts in 1980. Hungry Heart peaked at #5 in the Billboard 100 in 1980. This was Springsteen’s first top 10 hit.
Bruce Springsteen: “I saw the Ramones in Asbury Park,” “and we were talking for a while and I was like, ‘Man I’ve got to write the Ramones a song.’ So I went home and I sat at my table and I wrote it in about the time it took me to sing it. I brought it in and we went to make a demo for it or I played it for [Johnny Ramone], and he said, ‘Nah, you better keep that one.’ He was right about that. It did pretty well.”
From Songfacts
This was Springsteen’s first Top 10 hit. Born To Run was a big album five years earlier, but did not have any hit singles. This song proved that Springsteen could not just sell concert tickets and albums, but could record hit pop songs.
This song explores a man’s wanderlust contrasted with his desire for a stable family life. Many of Springsteen’s songs are about wanting to get away, and in this song the main character concludes that he does not want to be alone.
Springsteen’s voice was slightly sped up on the recording, producing a higher vocal. Bob Dylan did the same thing on “Lay Lady Lay.”
This was used in the Tom Cruise movie Risky Business. It was the first time a Springsteen song was used in a film.
In the 1981 Rolling Stone reader’s poll, this was voted best single. Springsteen also won for Best Artist, Album, and Male Singer.
Bruce has the audience sing the first verse and chorus when he performs this live.
The single was backed with “Held Up Without A Gun.” This started a tradition of using songs that did not appear on his albums as B-sides.
This went to #28 when it was Reissued in England in 1995. The first time it was released it only went to #44.
Springsteen performed this with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at Young’s first annual Bridge School benefit concert in 1986.
Hungry Heart
Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back
Like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
I met her in a Kingstown bar
We fell in love I knew it had to end
We took what we had and we ripped it apart
Now here I am down in Kingstown again
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody needs a place to rest
Everybody wants to have a home
Don’t make no difference what nobody says
Ain’t nobody like to be alone
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
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I play The River all the time. Bought the album in Toronto when it came out
Thank you for sharing
Is it just me? I always thought Bruce Springsteen was overrated.
Rick…it’s his lyrics that get to me. As with anything it depends on what you look for I guess.
I definitely think I’m in the minority on that one.
I’m there a lot Rick on many subjects.
It’s not just you. He is overrated.
Actually, it is only you with that particular opinion! 😳
This was the turning point where it seemed to me that Bruce or his handlers started pandering to the mainstream. It’s so different from Born to Run.
This is where he turned a little more radio friendly no doubt…
then a little later it would blow sky high with Born In The USA
What makes it a little more odd is…Nebraska was sandwiched between the two.
That is interesting about Nebraska. Born in the USA was huge for sure. My 8th grade students wanted to be Bruce singing BITUSA. 🙂
I’m with the students on that one…count me in.
Haha!
Great song, the first I REALLY liked by Bruce. I liked “Prove it all Night” a couple of years before but it didn’t blow me away, I don’t remember hearing “Born to Run” until after this (after he’d become an established star.) Glad he didn’t give it out to the Ramones.
THAT would have been an interesting cover…I don’t believe they did it at all.
I have been thinking about doing a music prompt of Jack and this song would be perfect for that.
Like many I always fantasized about doing what that first sentence says, but realized that would be just a tad irresponsible. 😒
Yea man that would be frowned upon! Don’t think it never popped in my head also.
Not one of my favorite Bruce songs, but I’ve got to admire the pedigree.
Great song, although not super keen on The River as an album – Springsteen made three amazing, focused records in a row, then released a bloated collection of whatever he had lying around.
It has it’s moments. The title track is one of my top songs by him. I do agree that Darkness and Born to Run are better as albums.
Independence Day is very good too. I think River appreciation depends on enjoying the long, moody stuff like ‘Point Blank’ and ‘Drive All Night’.
I haven’t listened to Independence day in a long time…love that song.
At first, I thought of Van Morrison’s great song Almost Independence Day.
This will sound weird but I think if Springsteen’s incorrigibleness could be wound up in one song this would be it. How could one not be inspired where he went with this? I don’t think it’s one of his for the ages, but it was sure suited for the times.
No it’s not his best…but he does explore some cool ground and it’s damn catchy.
Yeh it’s so catchy. He ramped up the US catchy sound in Born but emboldened it. Legend.
Hmmm don’t remember Springsteen mentioning the ramones in his book. Do remember John landau saying to him that the river lacked a hit…and with that Springsteen kept writing. ..have to go back n check. Interesting that the ramones were involved though.
I saw Bruce on Fallon saying that about the Ramones…the song is so unlike the Ramones! It’s a funny story…check it out on youtube.
I do remember Landau telling him to write another one for Born in the USA…that is when he wrote Dancing In The Dark.
Yes! That was it, I was thinking of the wrong album
I remember that from the Dave Marsh book…Bruce was not a happy person when told that.
Must have mellowed by the time he wrote his bio!
You’re right, nothing like the Ramones — don’t know what he was thinking lol. I really love the river, but not hungry heart, it’s catchy sure but in no way fits the album
The title song is one of my favorite Springsteen songs…I know some with the same story as the character in that song.
Yes a tune! Personally I love all those messy bar bands tracks — have you noticed how the gaps between songs seems less on this album? COuld be my imagination….but they seem to smash into one another. Love it.
Yes they do and it’s a variety to them…they are not as cohesive as Born to Run but I still like it.
The only album of his that I own is Born in the U.S.A.
You don’t even own his best album!
IDK. There is a lot of good stuff on that album. 🤔
What album did “Trapped” come from?
I like the album…don’t get me wrong but it pales against some of his others. It is very good though.
Trapped wasn’t on one of his albums…it was on a charity album I believe.
I liked that song, a lot.
I had forgotten about that one. It’s been a while
Yeh, it’s a great song.