Rod Stewart – Young Turks

About The Song

“Young Turks” is a track by Rod Stewart, initially featured on his 1981 album “Tonight I’m Yours.” The song marked a departure for Stewart, incorporating a synthpop and new wave sound, influenced in part by artists like Devo. Despite the song’s association with the term “young Turks,” which originated from a 20th-century secular nationalist reform party, the lyrics don’t explicitly use the phrase. Instead, the chorus emphasizes “young hearts, be free, tonight,” leading to alternative names for the song such as “Young Hearts” or “Young Hearts Be Free.”

Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings, and Kevin Savigar composed the music, while Stewart wrote the lyrics. The song, released as the first US single (second in the UK) from the album, features synthesizers and a hi-hat played over a drum machine. Reviewers praised its melodic and lyrical qualities, with Billboard noting it as “the kind of song Stewart is best at.”

“Young Turks” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 61 on October 17, 1981, peaking at No. 5 from December 19, 1981, to January 9, 1982. In the UK, it reached No. 11, and globally, it achieved Top 5 status in Australia, Belgium, Israel (reaching No. 1), and Canada. Notably, the song’s music video, featuring breakdancing, was one of the first to be played by MTV shortly after its launch. “Young Turks” stands out as a memorable and successful entry in Rod Stewart’s diverse musical repertoire.

Video

Lyrics

Billy left his home with a dollar in his pocket
And a head full of dreams
He said somehow, someway
It’s gotta get better than this

Patti packed her bags
Left a note for her mama
She was just seventeen
There were tears in her eyes
When she kissed her little sister goodbye

They held each other tight
As they drove on through the night
They were so excited
We got just one shot of life
Let’s take it while we’re still not afraid

Because life is so brief
And time is a thief, when you’re undecided
And like a fistful of sand
It can slip right through your hands

Young hearts be free tonight
Time is on your side
Don’t let them put you down
Don’t let ’em push you around
Don’t let ’em ever change your point of view

Paradise was closed
So they headed for the coast in a blissful manner
They took a two-room apartment
That was jumping every night of the week

Happiness was found in each other’s arms
As expected, yeah
Billy pierced his ears
Drove a pickup like a lunatic, ooh!

Young hearts be free tonight
Time is on your side
Don’t let them put you down
Don’t let ’em push you around
Don’t let ’em ever change your point of view

Come on babe!

Young hearts, be free tonight
Time is on, on your side

Billy wrote a letter back home
To Patti’s parents tryin’ to explain
He said, “We’re both real sorry
That it had to turn out this way”

But there ain’t no point in talking
When there’s nobody listening
So we just ran away
Patti gave birth to a ten-pound baby boy, yeah!

Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side
Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side
Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side

Young hearts gotta run free
Be free, live free
Time is on, time is on your side
Time, time, time
Time is on your side
Is on your side
Is on your side
Is on your side
Young heart be free tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, yeah