Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Tracy Chapman
Acoustic Guitar
Adam Levy
Electric Guitar
Andy Stoller
Bass Guitar
Glenys Rogers
Background Vocals
Rock Deadrick
Percussion
John "J.T." Thomas
Piano
Phil Shenale
Keyboards
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Tracy Chapman
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Tracy Chapman
Producer
Doug Trantow
Assistant Engineer
John Ewing, Jr.
Assistant Engineer
Kevin Scott
Assistant Engineer
Don Gehman
Producer
Eddy Schreyer
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
I'd heard rumors, I'd heard talk
About the trail you'd left of broken hearts
'Bout the sea of tears too wide to cross
But a little bad press has never scared me off
So I burned a path to figure out
How to get me some of what you got
I've got a red hot heart
If the talk is true, yours is the same
We should be together
Let our passions fan love's flame
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When I looked for you, I almost passed you by
You were so cool and calm I thought my friends had lied
But I thought so much reserve must make you wild inside
It was there and then that I knew
I had to get me some of what you got
I've got a red hot heart
If the talk is true, yours is the same
We should be together
Let our passions fan love's flame
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Thought I'd won your heart when I held you hand in mine
Thought it was true love the way we complemented each other
My right is your wrong
When you're right then I'm left with nothing
Your light and your heat have all been spent
Leaving only smoke and ashes
Only smoke and ashes, baby
I've got a red hot heart
And your heart's as blue as the blood in your veins
I say there's fire down below
You say it's only smoke and ashes, baby
I'm crying all the time
Salty stinging tears
And mourning for the past carbon dated years
But knowing now for certain
That you were always right
Because if a breeze could blow you out of my life
It's only smoke and ashes, baby
Only smoke and ashes, baby
I've got a red hot heart
And your heart's as blue as the blood in your veins
I say there's fire down below
You say it's only smoke and ashes, baby
I was blinded by devotion
My unwavering love for you
So blinded that I thought all your lies were true
But now I know for certain since you've gone away
It was just a smoldering fire I mistook for a blaze
Only smoke and ashes, baby
I've got a red hot heart
And your heart's as blue as the blood in your veins
(Your heart's as blue)
I say there's fire down below
You say it's only smoke and ashes, baby
(Only)
Only smoke and ashes, baby
Baby, baby
Baby, baby
Baby, baby
Baby, baby
Baby
Written by: Tracy Chapman

