ROBBIE DUPREE, originally from New York, spent much of the 70's writing, playing, and touring with diverse bands such as: The Striders, Small Fortune, and Chrome Willie and the Sparks. He achieved his first recognition in 1976, when his song 'When You're Down' received the American Songwriting Festival Award for 'Best Rhythm & Blues Song'. Robbie signed with Elektra Records in 1980 producing 2 top 10 singles with his debut album: 'Steal Away' and 'Hot Rod Hearts',this also got him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
Hot Rod Hearts
Robbie Dupree Lyrics
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Hot sparks burnin' the night away
Two lips touchin' together
Cheek to cheek sweatshirt to sweater
Young love born in a back seat
Two hearts pound out a back beat
Headlights, somebody's comin'
Got to move
Out on the boulevard tonight
Here come those hungry sharks
Up from the bottom for another bite
School girl brushes her hair back
Blue jeans can't hide the bare facts
Bad boy knows where to find her
Runs the light, sneaks up behind her
Here come those hungry sharks
Up from the bottom for another bite
True believers livin' on the borderline
They're just dreamers killin' time
Killin' time, killin time
Times are hard for those hot rod hearts
Out on the boulevard tonight
Here come those hungry sharks
Up from the bottom for another bite
Girl with the hot rod hearts tonight
Girl with the hot rod hearts tonight
Keep runnin' with the hot rod hearts
Out on the boulevard tonight
Hot rod hearts out on the boulevard tonight
The lyrics to Robbie Dupree's song Hot Rod Hearts follow the events of a night spent by a young couple in their car. They are parked ten miles east of the highway and burning hot sparks light up the night sky. The two of them are lost in their young love as they hold each other close, sweating in their cheek to cheek embrace. They stand for the pureness of young love, born in the back seat of the car, as they move to the rhythm of the back beat pounding in their hearts. But their peaceful moment is interrupted by headlights as somebody approaches. They must keep running as their hot rod hearts quicken in fear.
As the song progresses, the two of them are still on the boulevard, but the setting changes to a city-like environment. The bad boy is shown tailing the school girl as she brushes her hair and walks away. He knows her whereabouts at all times and, despite her attempts to hide, he sneaks up behind her. This colorful setting is used to illustrate the dangers that come with young love, which is also translated to the hungry sharks in the song. These sharks come from the bottom for another bite—another metaphor used for the lurking evil of the world they must navigate through.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten miles east of the highway
The story begins ten miles to the east of the highway.
Hot sparks burnin' the night away
There are sparks burning throughout the night.
Two lips touchin' together
Two people are kissing each other.
Cheek to cheek sweatshirt to sweater
They are kissing while their cheeks touch and they are wearing a sweatshirt and a sweater respectively.
Young love born in the back seat
The two people in love were born while they were in the back seat of the car.
Two hearts pound out a back beat
Their hearts are beating faster in sync with the rhythm of the music playing in the background.
Headlights, somebody's comin'
The headlights of a car are approaching.
Got to move
They need to take action and move from their current position.
Keep a runnin' with the hot rod hearts
They need to continue running to avoid being caught.
Out on the boulevard tonight
The chase is taking place on the street.
Here come those hungry sharks
The people chasing them are hungry for something, and it's likely not good.
Up from the bottom for another bite
The people chasing them are coming from the bottom and they are about to attack them again.
School girl brushes her hair back
A girl in school is brushing her hair back.
Blue jeans can't hide the bare facts
Her blue jeans are tight and they can't hide what's underneath.
Bad boy knows where to find her
A 'bad boy' knows where to find the girl brushing her hair.
Runs the light, sneaks up behind her
The boy runs the red light and sneaks up behind the girl.
True believers livin' on the borderline
People who believe strongly in something are living on the edge.
They're just dreamers killin' time
These people are just dreaming and are not doing anything useful with their time.
Times are hard for those hot rod hearts
It's tough times for the people with the hot rod hearts.
Girl with the hot rod hearts tonight
A girl with a hot rod heart is part of this story tonight.
Keep runnin' with the hot rod hearts
They need to continue running with their hot rod hearts to stay ahead of the people chasing them.
Hot rod hearts out on the boulevard tonight
People with hot rod hearts are racing on the street tonight.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILL LA BOUNTY, STEPHEN GREYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jackg.2780
Man, I miss the early 80s. Better music, better times!
@colinjohnston17
Yep i am with you there
@luraesayner5716
Ditto!
@suegabriel
I was 20 years old and had my whole life ahead of me. Loved the music, and sure miss those days!
@shawnbegay7220
I just turned 57 yesterday on May 20. This takes me back to September 1980 when I was 14 and starting off as a freshman at Trevor G, Browne High School in west Phoenix. Nearby Desert Sky Mall was Westridge Mall and had just opened.
@dannyspitzer1267
Oh man, I miss those days....really wish I could go back; I feel sad that I can't....
@tanthony3895
The 80's will soon be remembered as the greatest era in US history ..the music, culture, and positive vibes. Awesome!
@ericsamuelson5656
I was born Dec 1982 and I miss them way too much
@SnailRage
Maybe if it weren't for Reagan and Bush
@dawnmanning8539
80s were a decadent era when ma y were being made and many talented creatives died young from spinning out and the idolatry essentially killed them. Wouldn't want that era again, no looking back.