IN veRonIcA's HEAD
(Words and Music by Rick Springfield)

He lifted her face from the pillow and said
"Baby such is life"
And then he pushed his suitcase out through the door
"It'll give 'em something to talk about"
The door slammed
Left a scar
She'd be damned she could see her in his car
So much for marriage and the good- good wife
Well maybe it's a fact of life

But IN veRonIcA'S HEAD
The wheels were burning
Turning out of frustration
Veronica's bed
Mocked every private thing she said to the bastard

She dyed her hair black in the bathroom mirror
He'd liked it blonde on his wife
An act of independence
A small victory
Hey, it was something to shout about
Cause at night, she'd crack
She'd feel his strong fingers raking down her back
She'd wake up angry
But turned on like a light
Yeah maybe it's a fact of life

But IN veRonIcA'S HEAD
The wheels were burning
Turning out of frustration
Veronica said
She would never be the same, no
But IN veRonIcA'S HEAD
The fields were burning
Burning down the destruction

She turns around
He's there
Confusing her with his promises
And crying on the telephone
She twists and she turns in circles
With all of her strength she breaks free
She stumbles and she nearly falls

But IN veRonIcA'S HEAD
The wheels were burning
Turning out of frustration
Veronica said
She would never be the same, no
But IN veRonIcA'S HEAD
The fields were burning
Burning down the destruction
Veronica's bed
She lies there listening
Late at night to her heartbeat
Oooh

The wheels are turning
And IN veRonIcA'S HEAD
The fields are burning
The wheels are turning
The fields are burning

(total playing time 3:52)

Rick says:
About a friend of mine who went through a particularly hurtful divorce and who survived. The capital letters in the title spell out her real name (RIA) - melodicrock.com

Rick also says: , a friend of ours who had, ah, ... his relationship, marriage came to an end ... we were involved with them, not involved with them, but as  friends. - eiozine.com

Song Facts: This can be found on Karma.

According to US

I love the music on this one. Probably because it's a break from the smooth melodies we've been getting all along on this album. Maybe not. :-) It's got that classical feel underneath the rock tone, it kind of goes along with the words. Another one of my favorites --Rick telling a story. For some reason, his *story* songs seem to touch me more. This one may sound like a movie of the week, but unfortunately the tale rings true for too many women nowadays. Thankfully it's not one that I've had to deal with (hey, I've got enough of my own afterschool special highlights in my teen years to reward me with a basically sane adult life-thanks) but I have known friends in relationships such as this. Rick wrote this song with such truth, as if he'd been there - makes you want to raise your eyebrow a bit.

I'm glad that he made Veronica a strong woman. "She dyed her hair black in the bathroom mirror" That is typically the first thing a woman in a shattered relationship does, want to change something about herself. In this case, it was an act of defiance "a small victory". (again, how DOES he know?) I always think that the next line is his little wink at us: "He liked it blonde on his wife. " Uh huh. Later he sings about her having a weak moment, yet she remains strong in the end. It makes me want to go "Yeah!"

Good rockin' tune dude. I'd give it a 95 on rate-a-record anytime. It doesn't get a 100 because "there is no perfect anything" Sorry I couldn't resist. (see if I had written this before SDAA was released, I would have had no ending) - Michelle P.

I really like this song. I've never thought of Rick as a "story teller" songwriter, although he's great at painting a picture in your head, this song has more of a story to it, than a lot of his songs. A troubled relationship, although this time, definitely written in the 3rd person about someone else.
It just has such an attitude about it. From the opening music, which sounds so much like a symphony, to the opening scene where you see the wife standing at the door as the husband gets into the car with the "other woman". Yet, the sexual part of their relationship still exists. And he always comes back, begging for forgiveness when his fling is over, and she's always been weak and taken him back, but not this time.
My favorite line is "she died her hair black in the bathroom mirror, he'd liked it blonde on his wife", I can just see that scene so clearly in my head. - rlh

Has anyone ever noticed that the music at the beginning of this song is kind of dream-like or like a fairytale and then after the line  - With all of her strength she breaks free, She stumbles and she nearly falls -  the music has a really strong beat and all of the whimsical music is over. I just love what that represents...that she was weak in the beginning, but she finally got over the bastard and that she has finally realized that she doesn't need him in her life to be happy. All I have to say is, "You go girl!" - Char P.