“Harden My Heart” is a song by the American rock band Quarterflash, released as a single in 1981 and included on their self-titled debut album, which was released in 1982. The song was written by Quarterflash’s lead vocalist, Rindy Ross, and her husband, guitarist Marv Ross.
The inspiration for the song came from a personal experience of Rindy Ross, who had been in a difficult romantic relationship and was struggling to find the strength to move on. The lyrics reflect the frustration and emotional pain of a woman who has been hurt by a lover who has betrayed her trust. The chorus, “Harden my heart, I’m gonna swallow my tears,” expresses the singer’s determination to protect herself from further emotional harm by shutting down her emotions.
The song’s melody features a catchy saxophone riff, which became one of the band’s signature sounds. The saxophone solo was performed by Rindy Ross, who is also a skilled saxophonist.
“Harden My Heart” was a commercial success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart. It remains one of Quarterflash’s most popular songs and has been covered by several other artists over the years.
