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Shawn Colvin — (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
Album: Cover Girl
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 803









Released: 1994
Length: 3:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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
Comments (117)add comment
I’d like to hear the Holly Cole version here instead (or the Waits original). Colvin’s version seems to me a bit saccharine and lacking in depth. In fact I’d love to hear any of Cole’s Waits covers here, especially Purple Avenue.
Posted 1 month ago by Talus1    [ Reply ]
Although this version by Shawn Colvin is a good rendition, it  would be nice to hear the original by Tom Waits or the Jerry Jeff Walker version of this song occasionally.
Posted 1 year ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
ffffzfffzstarts z fwd
Posted 3 years ago by bajadomeboy    [ Reply ]
 haretic wrote:
has to be coming up!  bill always plays the artist after playing a cover!  egad, i love rp!   {#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Bananapiano}{#Motor} 




Nope, that would be too predictable. The seguemaster is a creative and subtle DJ. This was followed today with Ray Montagne's "Achin All the Time."
Posted 3 years ago by Otomi    [ Reply ]
I love this take on the brilliant Tom Waits original. Shaun's voice just cuts through it like a hot knife through butter.
Posted 3 years ago by MysteryMan    [ Reply ]
Definite 8, at least.
Those lyrics brought back a lot of memories...
Posted 3 years ago by RazzCat    [ Reply ]
The sign of a great song is when it's still recognisably a great song no matter who's performing it. A case in point here.
Posted 4 years ago by Paddy_Hannan    [ Reply ]
has to be coming up!  bill always plays the artist after playing a cover!  egad, i love rp!   {#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Bananapiano}{#Motor}

j1sey wrote:
Oh yeah!  2 Tom Waits tunes, back-to-back!  Thank you RP.  More Tom, please...{#Yell}

 


Posted 10 years ago by haretic    [ Reply ]
Oh yeah!  2 Tom Waits tunes, back-to-back!  Thank you RP.  More Tom, please...{#Yell}
Posted 10 years ago by j1sey    [ Reply ]
Would rather hear Tom... But still a rad song!
Posted 10 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
too much mushy soupy stuff here lately.... this is one of them, 1 form me
Posted 10 years ago by suesblues    [ Reply ]
This is just wrong; sucked the life right out of a great song
Posted 10 years ago by DoctorK    [ Reply ]
How about Neko Case doing "Christmas Card..." next?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgTPo4zRI2Q
Posted 10 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
 kuril wrote:
After the same two pints, I still, affirmatively, do not like Tom Waits covers.  

 
Check out wicked grin from John Hammond... Tom Waits helped produce it.  Absolutely awesome..
 
Posted 10 years ago by MGebhard    [ Reply ]
There should be a "disturbing" rating.
Posted 11 years ago by casey1024    [ Reply ]

Shawn Colvin with Buddy Miller & Viktor Krauss 

Shawn Colvin




Posted 11 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Why?
Posted 11 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
come on folks, lets get this average rating down below a 6!
Posted 11 years ago by thatslongformud    [ Reply ]
 shemp wrote:
Please don't ever play this song again.  
 
Agreed - I thought Mr Waits didn't allow this sort of thing.
Posted 11 years ago by goozer321    [ Reply ]
Please don't ever play this song again.  
Posted 11 years ago by shemp    [ Reply ]
Nice voice, sweet... Song needs more street edge... Otherwise... 
Posted 12 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
Gimme Tom Waits.
Posted 12 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
After the same two pints, I still, affirmatively, do not like Tom Waits covers.  
Posted 12 years ago by kuril    [ Reply ]
Posted: May 17, 2010 - 09:28< Reply >
jackie0 wrote: An insipid cover that ads nothing to the original except to render it void of meaning.

As big a fan as I am of Norah's work, I have to agree with you. Now, when it comes to women covering Tom Waits' work, nothing holds a candle to Shawn Colvin's efforts, IMHO. {#Whistle}

Ahaa, sneaky Bill at work. 2 Tom Waits covers followed by the real thing. Thanks, Bill.
Posted 13 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
It's a cover so  I don't want it to sound like the original.  I like it.  The song is good enough to hold up to different treatments.
Posted 13 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
 burdell wrote:
An abomination. All I can think of while listening to this is that we're not hearing the original.
 

Yeah, while "abomination" might be a little strong, I never fail to be annoyed by her covers.  Or her originals for that matter.  Not even TW content can save her today...

Posted 13 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
 fast_eddie wrote:
Yes!!!! Tom Waits cover day on RP!!!!!  The gods must like me today!!!!
 
And we're celebrating again today, leading off with Norah Jones doing "The Long Way Home." 

Love Shawn's voice. I'd probably fall in love with her instantly f I ever met her in person.  

Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Yes!!!! Tom Waits cover day on RP!!!!!  The gods must like me today!!!!
Posted 13 years ago by fast_eddie    [ Reply ]
Lovin' the Tom Covers!!!!
Posted 13 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
An abomination. All I can think of while listening to this is that we're not hearing the original.
Posted 13 years ago by burdell    [ Reply ]
2nd best version of this
Nothing beat the original

Posted 13 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
 Stefen wrote:
Adios Oldsmobile.
 
Adieu, Dodge Dart with a tiny slant six.  When you and I found the heart of Saturday night, it was never sweet and sugary.

Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Anaemic.
Posted 13 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
What a voice!
Posted 14 years ago by tprimeau    [ Reply ]
 DeeCee1109 wrote:
Madeline Peyroux has a good cover of this . . .
 
Why am I not surprised.  I'll have to check it out.  Thanks for the tip.

Maybe Antje Duvekot will cover some of Shawn Colvin's originals.  Special thanks to Bill & RP for introducing me to A.D.

Meanwhile, I do love Shawn Colvin's covers...brought her some notoriety, from what I recall of her reputation in the southern Illinois area (& beyond).  This CD, Cover Girl, speaks to her legacy as a cover artist earlier in her career.  It is one of my favorites in her body of work.


Posted 14 years ago by Tim_in_N_FL    [ Reply ]
 steeler wrote:
I just can't see Shawn sitting next to Tom in the car as its barreling down the road looking for the heart of Saturday night.
 

Was just thinking this, and discovered that I had already said it here. 

Look both ways, Shawn. {#Eyes}

Posted 14 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
 NickDanger wrote:

IMO, Waits and Jerry Jeff nail this song as a rough, bluesy piece.

 
Agree.  Give me a cover that actually adds something to the original, and takes it a step farther even.  
Colvin took the heart out of it.  
Posted 14 years ago by jackie0    [ Reply ]
Good grief, what next! St Winifreds School Choir covering Sex And Drugs And Rock'n'roll?
 
Talk about missing the point. Harrumph.
Posted 14 years ago by hobiejoe    [ Reply ]
I love Shawn Colvin, but I hate this song. It just doesn't hold up compared to her other songs. She's got a beautiful voice though and I would like to hear more of her on RP.
Posted 15 years ago by ugly    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Do cover get much better than this?

Brilliant song, brilliant cover. 
 
{#High-five} Absolutely agree...sublime cover. And it reminds me of all the times (in my youth) that I went searching for the heart of Saturday (and Friday) night.

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
Adios Oldsmobile.
Posted 15 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
soooo good live!
Posted 15 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
8->9.
This gal has really got some talent!
Posted 15 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Colvin is the cover queen.  So many good ones.  Viva Las Vegas, Tenderness on the Block come to mind as especially good.
Posted 15 years ago by seedeater    [ Reply ]
 NickDanger wrote:

IMO, Waits and Jerry Jeff nail this song as a rough, bluesy piece.


 

I'm with you. I like a lot of Shawn's stuff, but this one is too sweet. Needs to be rougher to work and you mentioned two that really made it work.
Posted 15 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
I love everything this woman has ever recorded/performed.  Shawn is a Goddess!!
Posted 15 years ago by JoBo    [ Reply ]
Do cover get much better than this?

Brilliant song, brilliant cover.

8 from the Cape Cod jury. 
Posted 15 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
Love this song, Especially the Jerry Jeff Walker version.
Posted 16 years ago by YA_MAN    [ Reply ]
Pretty harsh listener rating.

For me, a good tune is a good tune.

7.

Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]

IMO, Waits and Jerry Jeff nail this song as a rough, bluesy piece.


Posted 16 years ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
Madeline Peyroux has a good cover of this . . .
Posted 16 years ago by DeeCee1109    [ Reply ]
A little to "up" for me...I'll take TW! I can see Tom wandering around to this tune; I see Shawn at Starbucks.
Posted 16 years ago by MtnSinger    [ Reply ]
Shawn Colvin - (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
Norah Jones - The Long Way Home

Two Tom Waits covers in a row. Nice stuff!
Posted 16 years ago by Squirreley    [ Reply ]
reminds me of emmylou covering townes... nice but... not the same... no soul
Posted 16 years ago by C57BL6    [ Reply ]
It is funny, listen to the lyrics and you will know: The old Tom Waits used to shave his face every saturday; This girl shave her legs... cute cute...
Posted 16 years ago by natius    [ Reply ]
Tomcat12 wrote:
I like Jerry Jeff Walker's late 70s treatment of this song as well. Ol' Jerry Jeff was a mainstay of my Saturday nights back in the day...
Mine as well....cruisin' 11th St in small town East Texas ....
Posted 16 years ago by jadedragon    [ Reply ]
Cool cover! I hadn't heard that version before.
Posted 16 years ago by moonyblue    [ Reply ]
Wicked Grin-Pleeeese
Posted 16 years ago by skyguy    [ Reply ]
chasech5 wrote:
I like this, and Waits' version as well. Colvin made the song her own, as all good covers do. Its not the same of course--it never is. When people try to make it like the original--that's the definition of failure.
I like Jerry Jeff Walker's late 70s treatment of this song as well. Ol' Jerry Jeff was a mainstay of my Saturday nights back in the day...
Posted 16 years ago by Tomcat12    [ Reply ]
Don't play enough of Ms. Colvin on RP
Posted 16 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
I like this, and Waits' version as well. Colvin made the song her own, as all good covers do. Its not the same of course--it never is. When people try to make it like the original--that's the definition of failure.
Posted 16 years ago by chasech5    [ Reply ]
Call me ignorant - or whatever you want, for that matter - but I've never heard Waits' version. So, as I listened to this, as happens every time I listen to Shawn Colvin, I was reminded of the sweet innocence of childhood. Her voice just makes me think of swinging in a tree swing on a warm spring day, no matter what she happens to be singing about.
Posted 16 years ago by Kristi    [ Reply ]
hikeupit wrote:
Nice Tom Waits cover sequence Bill. Keep it going!
Ditto.....1-16-08!
Posted 16 years ago by Honeyman    [ Reply ]
she turned it into a girlie song!
Posted 16 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
perezia23 wrote:
I couldn't agree more! Colvin's voice drives me crazy...making rational thoughts irrational.
I think you're all offbase. I love Tom Waits, Norah Jones and Shawn Colvin. And these are not bad covers of his songs.
Posted 16 years ago by stevetheshoe    [ Reply ]
ch83575 wrote:
This is actually worse than the Norah Jones cover of "The Long Way Home" right before it.
I couldn't agree more! Colvin's voice drives me crazy...making rational thoughts irrational.
Posted 17 years ago by perezia23    [ Reply ]
Uncle_Fenester wrote:
What Horseplayer said! The Norah Jones cover worked; this one, not so much. Of course there's really no substitute for Mr. Waits himself growling out his songs.
Must agree, Toms' vocal delivery certainly is unique.
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Banaszak wrote:
I'm looking at the cover and wondering, Is her hand really that big?
No but the hat in her hand is really that big...
Posted 17 years ago by d00kie    [ Reply ]
This is actually worse than the Norah Jones cover of "The Long Way Home" right before it.
Posted 17 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
Nice Tom Waits cover sequence Bill. Keep it going!
Posted 17 years ago by hikeupit    [ Reply ]
crinky wrote:
This can't touch Waits' version.
Agreed.
Posted 17 years ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
I'm looking at the cover and wondering, Is her hand really that big?
Posted 17 years ago by Banaszak    [ Reply ]
WOW! ...beautiful cover of a perfectly perfect Waits tune ...masculine & boozy, made sweet & sexy!
Posted 17 years ago by go_ski_mully    [ Reply ]
TerryS wrote:
Pleasant, but insubstantial.
This can't touch Waits' version.
Posted 17 years ago by crinky    [ Reply ]
Pleasant, but insubstantial.
Posted 17 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Sure ain't Tw, but still nice enough. A great song.
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Its a tame version of the song but still likable. I have no problem with other artist version of Tom's songs. I prefer other version of this songs however, Holly Cole for example.
Posted 17 years ago by eastcoast    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits is a cool guy and I'm sure he loves hearing his great songs covered. Sad to read some comments that assume that Tom Waits is as narrow minded as some of his "fans" who are so insulting they claim his songs cannot stand a less than stellar interpretation.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
electronicshaman wrote:
it's a 2 from me I just couldn't bear to give a Tom Waits song 1
I'm with ya. The mere fact that I even considered doing so is a pretty good indicator of just how dreadful this is. And I'm not against covers and reinterpretations, by any means, but this is a massacre.
Posted 17 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
tragic.
Posted 17 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
Oh, Tom, Tom, Tom, where are you?
Posted 17 years ago by Xeric    [ Reply ]
Dropped it from a 7 to a 6. Still prefer Jonathan Richman's cover.
Posted 17 years ago by jdbaldwin    [ Reply ]
What dross is this? Yet another of the venerable Mr. Waits' classics murdered.
Posted 17 years ago by nadz    [ Reply ]
it's a 2 from me I just couldn't bear to give a Tom Waits song 1
Posted 17 years ago by electronicshaman    [ Reply ]
I like this because I don't have to get past Waits' voice to hear the lyrics. I love his songwriting, but his voice is an acquired taste, I guess.
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
This I like.
Posted 17 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
What Horseplayer said! The Norah Jones cover worked; this one, not so much. Of course there's really no substitute for Mr. Waits himself growling out his songs.
Posted 17 years ago by Uncle_Fenester    [ Reply ]
As covers of Tom Waits songs by plaintive female singers go, I much prefer the Norah Jones version of Long Way Home that preceded this in the playlist. Jones actually gets the spirit of the song right, so adding a "pretty" voice over that makes a nice mix. Here, not so much. As I type these words Bill has segued into Tom Hisself doing Heart Attack and Vine. Hmmmm...I wonder which contemporary female singer/stylist could do a job on that one?
Posted 17 years ago by horseplayer    [ Reply ]
dadsays wrote:
take off your blinders and get with the groove Doofus
ain't no groove here
Posted 17 years ago by DoofusGeezer    [ Reply ]
DoofusGeezer wrote:
an insipid version of a great song
take off your blinders and get with the groove Doofus
Posted 17 years ago by dadsays    [ Reply ]
an insipid version of a great song
Posted 17 years ago by DoofusGeezer    [ Reply ]
please please play Toms this version has nothing
Posted 17 years ago by philip_randle    [ Reply ]
cool waits song set. when are we gonna hear some of the new waits cd??
Posted 17 years ago by dadsays    [ Reply ]
Love this song. Love the artist. Love the CD. Love the original even more. You've got to listen to how she uses her voice. She makes love to lyrics. Great work.
Posted 18 years ago by birdland    [ Reply ]
She does something odd with her voice...kinda goofy. Ruins it for me.
Posted 18 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
This just does not work for me. It is like woman's hockey, a reasonable entertainment value but lacks the grit.
Posted 18 years ago by Gaylord_Meatface    [ Reply ]
I just can't see Shawn sitting next to Tom in the car as its barreling down the road looking for the heart of Saturday night.
Posted 20 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Tom Waits for Colvin? Nah, I don't think so.
Posted 20 years ago by ScopArch    [ Reply ]
toms original is fine as pink champagne, but this aint a bad interpretation
Posted 20 years ago by lolitampeg    [ Reply ]
drH wrote:
You people are all nuts. What's not to love about this?
Second, that!
Posted 20 years ago by mig7    [ Reply ]
You people are all nuts. What's not to love about this?
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
Nope. Give me the King of Croak's original. This is another wimpy cover (like that limp Emmylou Harris version of Wrecking Ball that was on awhile ago).
Posted 20 years ago by LaChinchon    [ Reply ]
She's phoning it in, play some freakin Waits. Earth Died Screaming should make Ms. Colvin run, full speed into her Mary Chapin Carpenterness.
Posted 20 years ago by sans    [ Reply ]
I can appreciate Shawn's taste in tunes...unfortunately, this unreconstructed Waitsaholic can't appreciate her delivery of this.
Posted 20 years ago by dadofsammy    [ Reply ]
I really like this song. Her voice is magical.
Posted 21 years ago by Drunkenlilacwine    [ Reply ]
whining makes me want to go out and kill (or at least )
Posted 21 years ago by cyndromeda    [ Reply ]
I\'m a big Shawn Colvin fan. I like this version and Tom\'s original but my favorite is Jerry Jeff Walker\'s interpretation. (pimp)
Posted 21 years ago by frednic    [ Reply ]
Lovely. This is a great, and somehow sad, song. There was an episode of Pickit Fences that featured this one (the Waits version) - it was perfect.
Posted 21 years ago by lordcruloze    [ Reply ]
Bill, you owe me one Tom Waits song ;)
Posted 21 years ago by brb_331    [ Reply ]
I love Shawn Colvin\'s music, but I too would rather hear some more Tom Waits (including this tune).
Posted 22 years ago by shmgeggie    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by lily33: boring. never liked this artist. never saw anything special or exciting about her.
Apparently you haven't heard anything from her first album lily, because I think you would appreciate some of the songs on that album, IMHO her best to date.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Hi Bill & Rebecca Happy New year to you, too..I\'ve already told you I love this one..but one you never play is \"You and Mona Lisa\" from Few Small Repairs..one of her best! So please add to playlist. ;)
Posted 22 years ago by KT    [ Reply ]