“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”, a song written and recorded by Jerry Reed for the RCA label, December 23, 1970, RCA Victor Studio, 800 17th Ave. South, Nashville, TN, in the same session these two songs were also recorded: “With you (missing you)” and “Another puff”. Jerry was accompanied in the recording session by: Pete Wade (guitar), Bobby Dyson (bass), Ralph Gallant (drums) and Larry Butler (piano). With the production of Chet Atkins, the song was released in March 1971, and reached # 1 of the US Hot Country Songs charts, on June 19, 1971, for five weeks, and remained on the charts for a total of 15 weeks. On July 10, 1971, it also reached # 1 from the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. It was the first number one of Jerry’s career.

The song was included in Jerry’s ninth studio album, When You’re Hot, You’re Hot (RCA 1971), on June 12, 1971, the album reached # 2 on the US Top Country Albums charts, remaining in the charts a total of 31 weeks, it was Jerry’s most successful album.

About the song:

The song describes an illegal game of craps being played in a back alley. The singer is having a streak of good luck against his two friends, winning several games in a row. In the second verse, a police officer discovers the game, arrests the participants and “take (s) all that money for evidence.” Undaunted, the singer believes his good luck streak will continue and tells the cop “when you’re hot, you’re hot.”

The third verse describes the trio in court to face the punishment, and to the singer’s delight, he finds out that the judge presiding over the case is one of his old fishing buddies — who, as it turns out, he owes money. When the singer attempts to bribe the judge by offering to pay back the money in exchange for a lighter sentence, the judge grins and does the opposite: gives the other two small fines, but sentences the singer to 90 days in jail with the response “ when you’re hot, you’re hot! “

The song ends with the singer going into a tirade against the judge, telling him that if he weren’t in his black robe, I’d have been physically attacked, and that someone would have to “collect my welfare, pay for my Cadillac. “ The judge immediately declares the singer to be in contempt of court.

Some Versions

Nat Stuckey 1971 (RCA)
Kings Road 1972 (Pickwick)
Taxi Gang featuring Sly & Robbie 1986 (Mango) Instrumental

Jerry Reed – When You’re Hot, You’re Hot lyrics

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 yeah

When 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 hot

He 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 lot

When 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 hot

I 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