Heat Wave
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics


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Whenever I'm with him (ooh),
Something inside (inside)
Stars to burnin' (ooh)
And I'm filled with desire

Could it be a devil in me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burnin' in my heart (like a heat wave)
I can't keep from cryin' (like a heat wave)
It's tearin' me apart

Whenever he calls my name
Soft, low, sweet and plain,
I feel, yeah, well,
I feel that burnin' flame

Has high blood pressure got a hold on me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?

It's like a heat wave
Burnin' in my heart (like a heat wave)
I can't keep from cryin' (like a heat wave)
It's tearin' me apart

(Ooooh, oooh, heat wave)
(Ooooh, oooh, heat wave)

Sometimes I stare in space,
Tears all over my face
I can't explain it, don't understand it
I ain't never felt like this before

Now that funny feelin' has me amazed
I don't know what to do, my head's in a haze

It's like a heat wave

Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Well, it's alright, girl)
Whoa-ho yeah
(Go ahead, girl)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Well, it's alright, girl)
Ho yeah
(Ain't nothin' but love, girl)

Don't pass up this chance
It sounds like true romance

Don't you know it's like a heat wave?

Burnin' burnin'
Burnin' burnin' burnin'

Burnin' burnin' burnin'




Burnin' burnin' burnin'
(repeat and fade out)

Overall Meaning

"Heat Wave" is a song about the rush and passion of falling in love. The singer realizes that whenever she is near her lover, "something inside starts to burnin'" and she is filled with desire. She can't keep from crying because the overwhelming feeling is "tearin' me apart." She wonders if this intense desire is normal, or if something demonic has hold of her. She longs for her lover to call her name softly and sweetly so that she can feel the "burnin' flame" of love. She can't explain her intense emotions, and it makes her feel as if "my head's in a haze."


The song uses the metaphor of a heat wave to describe the intensity and passion of love. The singer feels as if her heart is on fire whenever she is with her lover. She wonders if this is how love is supposed to feel or if there is something more to it. The song captures the feeling of being in the throes of love, with all the confusion and chaos that comes with it.


Line by Line Meaning

Whenever I'm with him (ooh),
Every time I'm with him,


Something inside (inside)
My emotions,


Stars to burnin' (ooh)
Become intense,


And I'm filled with desire
And I feel a strong need for him.


Could it be a devil in me
I wonder if there's something wrong with me,


Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
Or if this is how love is meant to be felt and experienced.


It's like a heat wave
My feelings are as strong and powerful as a heat wave,


Burnin' in my heart (like a heat wave)
Burning up in my heart,


I can't keep from cryin' (like a heat wave)
Making me so overwhelmed and emotional that I can't stop crying,


It's tearin' me apart
Enough to break my heart.


Whenever he calls my name
Every time he calls out to me,


Soft, low, sweet and plain,
In his sweet, low voice,


I feel, yeah, well,
It makes me feel,


I feel that burnin' flame
The same intense passion and desire for him.


Has high blood pressure got a hold on me
I wonder if my high blood pressure is causing this,


Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
Or if this is just how love is supposed to feel like.


Ooooh, oooh, heat wave
Oh, a strong feeling of heat and passion,


Sometimes I stare in space,
Often I just space out and stare blankly,


Tears all over my face
Tears streaming down my face


I can't explain it, don't understand it
I can't make sense of this overwhelming feeling,


I ain't never felt like this before
I've never felt anything like this ever before.


Now that funny feelin' has me amazed
Now this funny feeling just confuses me,


I don't know what to do, my head's in a haze
I don't know how to react, I'm in a state of confusion.


Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yes, that's how it is,


(Well, it's alright, girl)
It's all okay,


Whoa-ho yeah
Wow, it is just so intense,


(Go ahead, girl)
Just let yourself go, girl,


Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yes, that's how passionate it feels,


(Well, it's alright, girl)
It's all good, girl,


Ho yeah
Yes, it's very overwhelming,


(Ain't nothin' but love, girl)
It's just pure love, girl.


Don't pass up this chance
Don't let this moment slip away,


It sounds like true romance
It's what true romance feels like.


Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Yeah, it's like an intense wave of passion.


Burnin' burnin'
Burning, burning,


Burnin' burnin' burnin'
Burning, burning, burning,


repeat and fade out
The intensity of my emotions keeps building up until it ends.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Levine, James Valentine, Jesse Royal Carmichael, Mickey Madden, Ryan Michael Dusick

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

David Barnard

The Motown stars of the 60s 70s & early 80s... Bring them back today, and they would still be crushin' it.

Terry Nicholls

The joy the Motown sounds gave us then still give us joy now great

robert simpson

This song was nominations for a Grammy..best female vocal performance

Connie Santos

These ladies are absolutely fantastic

ch1 Il

Yes yes they are I thank them for giving us such beautiful memories they really knew how to capture time.

Rhea Hayes

“BRILLIANT REMIX!!” VERY BEST VERSION OF VOCALS & INSTRUMENTS PERIOD❣️❣️🇨🇦

MB Remix

Thank you for your kind comment, much appreciated !

Lena Chavez

These glamorous ladies never cease to be appreciated! I just cant decide which one was the greatest!

joaquin perez

What great great singers hands down!!!

S K

My favorite backing vocals ever

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