HEAT WAVE

Original Martha & The Vandellas version



Whenever I'm with him
Something inside
Starts to burnin'
And I'm filled with desire

Could it be the devil in me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be

Just like a heat wave
Burning in my heart
Can't keep from cryin'
It's tearing me apart

Whenever he calls my name
So slow, sweet and plain
I feel, yeah, yeah, well I feel that burning flame

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

Just like a heat wave
Burning in my heart
Can't keep from cryin'
It's tearing me apart

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

But that doesn't mean it has me amazed
I don't know what to do, my head's in a haze

Just like a heat wave
Burning in my heart
Can't keep from cryin'
It's tearing me apart

Don't pass up this chance
This time it's a true romance


Written by brothers Brian and Edward Holland, and originally recorded by Martha & The Vandellas who released it on their 1963 album Heat Wave. HEAT WAVE was the only track on the album that was an original and not a cover. The above lyrics are for the original Martha & The Vandellas version of HEAT WAVE as released in 1963.

Springsteen played an instrumental riff from HEAT WAVE at the beginning of CIRCUS SONG on 31 Jan 1973 at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY. Also played 30 years later during The Rising tour, on 21 Sep 2003 at Comerica Park, Detroit, MI, with Martha Reeves of Martha & The Vandellas.

Available Versions

List of available versions of HEAT WAVE on this website:

HEAT WAVE [Original Martha & The Vandellas version]