

Springsteen's voice was slightly sped up on the recording, producing a higher-pitched vocal, a technique first used by Brian Wilson in the production of " Caroline, No" in 1966. The title is drawn from a line in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's famous poem " Ulysses": "For always roaming with a hungry heart".

Previously, upbeat and catchy Springsteen songs such as " Blinded by the Light", " Because the Night", and " Fire" had been given away and become hits for others, and Landau preferred the trend not continue. Springsteen composed "Hungry Heart" that night, but decided to keep it for himself on the advice of his producer and manager, Jon Landau. When Springsteen met Joey Ramone in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Ramone asked him to write a song for the Ramones. It was released as the album's lead single in 1980 and became Springsteen's first big hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at number five. " Hungry Heart" is a ballad written and performed by Bruce Springsteen on his fifth album, The River. 1980 single by Bruce Springsteen "Hungry Heart"
