About The Song
On April 18, 1970, RCA Records placed an ad in Billboard Magazine in which Chet Atkins, vice president of the label’s country division, basically put his job on the line. Atkins called Jerry Reed “one of the greatest undeveloped talents I have ever known,” at a time when Reed had yet to crack the Top Ten. “If Jerry doesn’t make it big in the near future,” Chet continued, “I will probably quit my job, because if that is true, I do not know talent.” Atkins probably had a sense of what was about to happen. By the end of the year, Reed was one of the hottest-selling acts in the business.
The record that turned things around was “Amos Moses,” which debuted on October 24, 1970. Prior to that, Reed’s highest chart position as a performer had been his #11 peak with “Are You From Dixie (Cause I’m From Dixie Too),” although Jerry had already enjoyed the success of scoring a #1 hit as the composer of Porter Wagoner’s 1962 chart-topper “Misery Loves Company.” Actually, “Amos Moses” topped out at only #16 on Billboard’s country playlist, but it fared much better on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, peaking at #8 on February 27, 1971. The single was also certified for sales of one million copies.
Reed’s follow-up was even bigger. Jerry was a regular on television’s “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” and during the course of a show, he forgot one of his lines. Stuck, he simply ad-libbed “When you’re hot, you’re hot,” and the audience went crazy. Reed was quick to recognize that he was on to something, and wrote an entire song based on that line when he got home. He incorporated the phrase into a crap game, and the song’s storyline concluded with an appearance in court. Between the sassy female background vocalists, Reed’s sloppy rap and the grinding guitar work, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” took on a bit of a party atmosphere. Jerry liked to have fun, and he believed that when people listen to music, their goal is to have fun and be entertained. So he intentionally kept political points of view out of all the songs he wrote and performed, keeping the proceedings lively and fun. His approach paid off quite handsomely. “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” spent five weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart, and peaked at #9 on the pop listings, a tremendous showing for a country release. It also brought Jerry Reed Hubbard a Grammy for “Best Country Vocal Performance by a Male,” and symbolically saved Chet Atkins’ job.
Video
Lyric
Son well now me and Homer Jones and Big John Talley
Had a big crap game goin’ back in the alley
And I kept rollin’ them sevens and winnin’ all them pots
My luck was so good I could do no wrong
I just kept on rollin’ and controllin’ them bones
Fin’lly they just threw up their hands and said
When you’re hot you’re hot I said yeahWhen you’re hot you’re hot
And when you’re not you’re not
Put all the money in and let’s roll ’em again
When you’re hot you’re hot(La la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
When you’re hot you’re hot)Well now every time I rolled ’em dice I’d win
And I was just gettin’ ready to roll ’em again
When I heard somethin’ behind me I turned around
And there was a big ole cop
He said hello boy then he gave us a grin
Said looks like I’m gonna have to haul you all in
And keep all that money for evidence I said well son
When you’re hot you’re hotHe said yeah when you’re hot you’re hot
And when you’re not you’re not
You can ‘splain it all down at city hall
I said yeah when you’re hot you’re hot(La la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
When you’re hot you’re hot)Well when he took us into court I couldn’t believe my eyes
The judge was a fishin’ buddy that I recognized
I said hey judge old buddy old pal
I’ll pay you that hundred I owe you if you get me out of this spot
So he gave my friend a little fine to pay
He turned around and grinned at me and said
Ninety days Jerry when you’re hot you’re hot
And I said thanks a lotWhen you’re hot you’re hot
And when you’re not you’re not
You let my friends go free and throwed the book at me
He said well when you’re hot you’re hotI said well I tell you one thing judge old buddy old pal
If you wasn’t wearin’ that black robe I’d take you out back of this courthouse
And I’d try a little bit of you on my own you understand that you hillbilly
Who’s gonna collect my welfare pay for my Cadillac
Whadda ya mean contempt of court
Judge oh judge