Fan Reviews / Comments

Counting the headlights passing two by two
Searching the stream of steel and chrome
I'm looking for love, I know you're looking too
So rev up your heart and take me home
A wish and a prayer won't get me there tonight
Longing to hold you

Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I wanna be with you

Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I wanna be with you

I know you like to drive it hard and fast
You tear up the speed zone in my heart
Just give me one night to prove our love can last
I can make love a work of art
A wish and a prayer won't get me there tonight
Longing to hold you

Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I wanna be with you

Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I wanna be with you

Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I wanna be with you

Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina

(total playing time 3:01)
*Note: the album states the co-writer is "Charity" Vallance who is actually Jim Vallance

Jim Vallance says: In 1979 I wrote a song called "Jamaica". Bruce Allen (Bryan Adams' manager) played the song for BTO, who recorded it for their 1979 album "Rock N Roll Nights".
A few years later "Jamaica" came to the attention of singer Rick Springfield, via his guitarist Tim Pierce (Tim knew Colleen Donovan, who worked for my Los Angeles publisher).
Rick liked the song, but thought the title sounded like a travel commercial ... so he re-wrote the lyric, renaming the song "Kristina". (jimvallance.com)

I was always pretty indifferent to this song until I started hearing it live, I didn't love it, didn't hate it.  But it has such an energy to it live that now when I hear the recorded version, it just makes my heart beat a little faster (and makes me drive a little faster too, really gotta watch that).     I actually never really knew what he was saying in this line: "Searching the stream of steel and chrome" until I  heard the live version.

During the Columbus State Fair Show in 2000, Rick admitted that this song was written for Pam "PK" Cole (the make-up artist for General Hospital at the time he was on the show). She was in the audience, and he said that she didn't even know it. It was a great moment, and I'm sure it must have meant a lot to her. She has since succumbed to cancer.

The original version of this song was written by Jim Vallance and was performed by Bachman Turner Overdrive. The song was called Jamaica and was out in the 70's.  I prefer Rick's Kristina though, for some reason!!

I researched some interviews Rick did, and Rick does credit "Charity" Vallance - meaning he was giving "charity" to Jim Vallance for the music - but Rick did write the lyrics (for Kristina).

LOVE this one.  One of my favoites live.

Were I Kristina, he DEFINITELY would not have to beg that hard for me to take him away!   :o)

Though this one still kind of comes out of that place of desparation and unhappiness that I have felt from most of the songs to this point. It really doesn't have that desparate feel to it for me.

SONG FACTS:

Rick performed this song on the Live and Kicking Special.  He continues to perform this song often in concerts.

It appears  on the following releases:
Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet, Alive - Greatest Hits, Legendary, and Anthology (written in rock)