“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” is a song written and recorded by Jerry Reed in 1971

About the song

Jerry Reed, a versatile country music artist known for his songwriting, guitar-playing, and acting skills, penned “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” as a playful and energetic country rock anthem. This upbeat track, released in 1973, became a hit single and a staple of Reed’s live performances.

With its catchy melody and Reed’s distinctive vocal style, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” offers a fun and entertaining listening experience. The song’s lyrics, filled with humorous anecdotes and vivid imagery, explore the theme of luck and the ups and downs of life. Reed’s energetic guitar playing and the song’s driving rhythm make it easy to dance and sing along to.

The opening lines, “When you’re hot, you’re hot, when you’re cold, you’re cold,” immediately establish the song’s central theme. The lyrics continue to reference the unpredictable nature of life, using humorous anecdotes and vivid imagery to illustrate the point. Reed’s playful delivery and the song’s upbeat tempo make it a delightful listen.

“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” is more than just a fun and catchy song; it is a testament to Jerry Reed’s versatility as a musician. His songwriting skills, guitar-playing ability, and distinctive vocal style combine to create a truly memorable track. The song’s upbeat energy and playful lyrics make it a timeless classic that continues to delight audiences of all ages.

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Lyrics

Well now uptown got its hustlers the bowery’s done got its bums
42nd Street got big Jim Walker he’s a pool shootin’ son of a gun
Yeah he’s big and he’s dumb as any man can come but he’s stronger than a country horse
And when the bad folks all get together at night you know they all call big Jim Boss
Just because

And they say you don’t tug on Superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off that ol’ Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Jim

Well outta south Alabama come a country boy he said I’m lookin’ for a man named Jim
I’m a pool shootin’ boy my name is Willy McCoy but down home they call me Slim
Yeah I’m lookin’ for the King of 42nd Street he drive a drop top Cadillac
Last week he took my money and it may sound funny but I come to get my money back

And everybody said hey Jack don’t you know that
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull that mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Jim

Well a hush fell over that pool room Jimmy come boppin’ in off the street
And when the cuttin’ was done the only part that wasn’t bloody was the soles on the big man’s feet
He was cut in about a hundred places and he was shot in a couple more
And you better believe they sung a different kind of story when big Jim hit the floor
And now they say