Though Ketchum first began recording in the mid-1980s, not until his 1991 record deal with Curb Records did he have a major hit with the album Past The Point Of Rescue. The title cut to the album was a Top 3 single, and other singles that met similar success included "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Sure Love".
In 1994 Ketchum toured Britain, issuing the single "Past The Point Of Rescue" on that side of the Atlantic. Though the single failed to make the UK Top 100 pop charts, it received extensive airplay on country radio. The album Every Little Word (of which the UK release featured a bonus disc of past US hits including "Past The Point...") made the Top 40 on the UK country charts and also did the same back in the US.
Ketchum continued to record and release new material. His final US releases were Father Time in 2008, and I'm the Troubadour in 2014.
His film credits included appearing in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel and a small role in the 1994 film Maverick.
Hearts Are Gonna Roll
Hal Ketchum Lyrics
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Settin' on her daddy's knee
Had him wrapped around her finger
Doing anything she pleased
She had a way of getting what she wanted
But Daddy knew in his mind
The pretty soon the boys would come runnin'
Hearts are gonna roll
Heads are gonna turn
Tears are gonna fall
A bridge is gonna burn
Hearts are gonna roll
Hearts are gonna roll
Now she changes like the weather
Never stays in love too long
She'll take you to the limit
Just to leave you hangin' on
Drop dead looks and a mind for trouble
That's all the girl's ever known
Leavin' behind a path of destruction
No matter where she goes
Hearts are gonna roll
Heads are gonna turn
Tears are gonna fall
A bridge is gonna burn
Hearts are gonna roll
Hearts are gonna roll
Don't fall under the spell of her eyes, boy
She's not looking at you
Take it from somebody who knows
She's movin' right one through
Hearts are gonna roll
Heads are gonna turn
Tears are gonna fall
A bridge is gonna burn
Hearts are gonna roll
Hearts are gonna roll
Ever since she was a baby
Settin' on her daddy's knee
Had him wrapped around her finger
Doing anything she pleased, he knew
Hearts are gonna roll
Hearts are gonna roll
Hearts are gonna roll
Hearts are gonna roll
Watch 'em roll now
The lyrics in Hal Ketchum's "Hearts Are Gonna Roll" paint a vivid picture of a woman who has a hold on the hearts of many men, but also causes destruction wherever she goes. The song begins by establishing how the woman in question had her father wrapped around her finger ever since she was a baby. This sets the stage for her to manipulate men as she pleases throughout her life. The second verse explains that she never stays in love for long and has a tendency to leave a path of destruction wherever she goes. The chorus warns of the inevitable consequences that will follow, such as hearts rolling, tears falling, and bridges burning.
The lyrics seem to be cautioning men not to fall for this woman's charm and beauty since she's already moved on from them before they even know what's happened. The repeated phrase "hearts are gonna roll" emphasizes the idea that falling in love with this woman will lead to heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since she was a baby
Since she was young
Settin' on her daddy's knee
Sitting on her father's lap
Had him wrapped around her finger
Easily manipulates her father to get what she wants
Doing anything she pleased
Controlled her father completely
She had a way of getting what she wanted
She had a talent for manipulating people
But Daddy knew in his mind
Her father was aware of her schemes
The pretty soon the boys would come runnin'
She’d charm boys with her magnetic personality soon enough
It's just a matter of time before
It’s an inevitability
Hearts are gonna roll
People are going to fall in love with her
Heads are gonna turn
People will take notice of her beauty
Tears are gonna fall
She’ll be the cause of heartbreak
A bridge is gonna burn
She’ll leave a trail of destruction in her wake
Now she changes like the weather
She has a fickle personality and can’t stay in love for long
Never stays in love too long
She has commitment issues
She'll take you to the limit
She'll push your limits to the edge
Just to leave you hangin' on
And then leave you waiting for more
Drop dead looks and a mind for trouble
She’s gorgeous, but her actions lead to problems
That's all the girl's ever known
She has a habit of causing trouble wherever she goes
Leavin' behind a path of destruction
She causes chaos and heartbreak
No matter where she goes
Her history repeats itself everyplace she goes
Don't fall under the spell of her eyes, boy
Don’t let her beauty fool you
She's not looking at you
She’s not interested in a long-term situation
Take it from somebody who knows
Believe someone who has been there before
She's movin' right one through
She’s just passing through, looking for her next target
Hearts are gonna roll
People will fall for her again
Heads are gonna turn
People are going to notice her beauty once more
Tears are gonna fall
People will get hurt because of her again
A bridge is gonna burn
Her behavior will bring someone’s world crashing down
Hearts are gonna roll
People will fall in love with her once more
Hearts are gonna roll
Watch the cycle start again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL GERALD LUNN, JOHNNY VAN ZANT, ROBERT WHITE JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind