[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Shawn Colvin — (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night
Album: Cover Girl
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 754









Released: 1994
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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 (116)add comment
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.
ffffzfffzstarts z fwd
 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."
I love this take on the brilliant Tom Waits original. Shaun's voice just cuts through it like a hot knife through butter.
Definite 8, at least.
Those lyrics brought back a lot of memories...
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.
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}

 


Oh yeah!  2 Tom Waits tunes, back-to-back!  Thank you RP.  More Tom, please...{#Yell}
Would rather hear Tom... But still a rad song!
too much mushy soupy stuff here lately.... this is one of them, 1 form me
This is just wrong; sucked the life right out of a great song
How about Neko Case doing "Christmas Card..." next?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgTPo4zRI2Q
 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..
 
There should be a "disturbing" rating.

Shawn Colvin with Buddy Miller & Viktor Krauss 

Shawn Colvin




Why?
come on folks, lets get this average rating down below a 6!
 shemp wrote:
Please don't ever play this song again.  
 
Agreed - I thought Mr Waits didn't allow this sort of thing.
Please don't ever play this song again.  
Nice voice, sweet... Song needs more street edge... Otherwise... 
Gimme Tom Waits.
After the same two pints, I still, affirmatively, do not like Tom Waits covers.  
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.
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.
 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...

 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.  

Yes!!!! Tom Waits cover day on RP!!!!!  The gods must like me today!!!!
Lovin' the Tom Covers!!!!
An abomination. All I can think of while listening to this is that we're not hearing the original.
2nd best version of this
Nothing beat the original

 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.

Anaemic.
What a voice!
 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.


 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}

 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.  
Good grief, what next! St Winifreds School Choir covering Sex And Drugs And Rock'n'roll?
 
Talk about missing the point. Harrumph.
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.
 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.

Adios Oldsmobile.
soooo good live!
8->9.
This gal has really got some talent!
Colvin is the cover queen.  So many good ones.  Viva Las Vegas, Tenderness on the Block come to mind as especially good.
 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.
I love everything this woman has ever recorded/performed.  Shawn is a Goddess!!
Do cover get much better than this?

Brilliant song, brilliant cover.

8 from the Cape Cod jury. 
Love this song, Especially the Jerry Jeff Walker version.
Pretty harsh listener rating.

For me, a good tune is a good tune.

7.

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


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

Two Tom Waits covers in a row. Nice stuff!
reminds me of emmylou covering townes... nice but... not the same... no soul
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...
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 ....
Cool cover! I hadn't heard that version before.
Wicked Grin-Pleeeese
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...
Don't play enough of Ms. Colvin on RP
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.
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.
hikeupit wrote:
Nice Tom Waits cover sequence Bill. Keep it going!
Ditto.....1-16-08!
she turned it into a girlie song!
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.
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.
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.
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...
This is actually worse than the Norah Jones cover of "The Long Way Home" right before it.
Nice Tom Waits cover sequence Bill. Keep it going!
crinky wrote:
This can't touch Waits' version.
Agreed.
I'm looking at the cover and wondering, Is her hand really that big?
WOW! ...beautiful cover of a perfectly perfect Waits tune ...masculine & boozy, made sweet & sexy!
TerryS wrote:
Pleasant, but insubstantial.
This can't touch Waits' version.
Pleasant, but insubstantial.
Sure ain't Tw, but still nice enough. A great song.
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.
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.
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.
tragic.
Oh, Tom, Tom, Tom, where are you?
Dropped it from a 7 to a 6. Still prefer Jonathan Richman's cover.
What dross is this? Yet another of the venerable Mr. Waits' classics murdered.
it's a 2 from me I just couldn't bear to give a Tom Waits song 1
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.
This I like.
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.
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?
dadsays wrote:
take off your blinders and get with the groove Doofus
ain't no groove here
DoofusGeezer wrote:
an insipid version of a great song
take off your blinders and get with the groove Doofus
an insipid version of a great song
please please play Toms this version has nothing
cool waits song set. when are we gonna hear some of the new waits cd??
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.
She does something odd with her voice...kinda goofy. Ruins it for me.
This just does not work for me. It is like woman's hockey, a reasonable entertainment value but lacks the grit.
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.
Tom Waits for Colvin? Nah, I don't think so.
toms original is fine as pink champagne, but this aint a bad interpretation
drH wrote:
You people are all nuts. What's not to love about this?
Second, that!
You people are all nuts. What's not to love about this?
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).
She's phoning it in, play some freakin Waits. Earth Died Screaming should make Ms. Colvin run, full speed into her Mary Chapin Carpenterness.
I can appreciate Shawn's taste in tunes...unfortunately, this unreconstructed Waitsaholic can't appreciate her delivery of this.
I really like this song. Her voice is magical.
whining makes me want to go out and kill (or at least )
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)
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.
Bill, you owe me one Tom Waits song ;)
I love Shawn Colvin\'s music, but I too would rather hear some more Tom Waits (including this tune).
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.
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. ;)