With catchy tunes and fun lyrics, no wonder Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” is a model of an old country bop. Before the current hitmakers made their mark, Reed had taken over the genre of Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and many famous singers. If you want to explore the South and West’s music, then the track “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” is good for you.
Backtracking “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”
Since the start of his career in the 50s, Jerry Reed‘s songs have been a hit on the charts. He doesn’t disappoint, staying true to what pure country sound feels like when listeners tune in. It’s safe to say he’s one of the pioneers and reasons why country music is popular as it is to this day.
Now, do you wonder what’s the story behind Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot?” Well, the story narrates the singer as the protagonist who’s playing an illegal game. It describes the craps he’s playing with his mates in a back alley. Anyway, he’s having a streak of good luck against his two friends, but then a police officer discovers them. Soon they were arrested and, based on the lyrics, keep all that money for evidence. The singer even taunts the cops with his catchphrase, “When you’re hot, you’re hot,” which probably left the man in uniform irritated.
The third verse revealed how the trio is taken to court, and the singer saw that the judge is his old fishing buddy. He thought he’d be off the hook. Obnoxious and arrogant, the main character even attempted to bribe the judge with the money he owns him. However, the judge just grins at him and does the opposite. The singer’s two buddies are given two small fines while he is sentenced to 90 days in jail, saying the catchphrase back to him.
Jerry Reed’s First No. 1 Hit
Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” is the first No. 1 hit of the country legend. Written and composed in 1971, the song was the singer’s most successful on the country charts. It even peaked to number one for five weeks.
The “East Bound and Down” song is similar to “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot.” Jerry Reed songs have a signature flair that makes them unique to listeners. What’s more, his music is always used in the entertainment industry until today.
You can listen to Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” here and tell us what you think.