"Heart of Gold" is an acousticballadinhalf-time.[1][2] Music critic John Mendelsohn describes it as being country music-ish.[2]Musician magazine finds the guitar work reminiscent of the Kinks earlier album Muswell Hillbillies.[3] It was, according to Ray Davies, written about the birth of his and Pretenders front woman Chrissie Hynde's daughter, Natalie, in 1983.[1][4][5] According to Davies, it was also inspired by a comment by Anne, Princess Royal in which she told intrusive photographers to "naff off."[1][3][5] Davies has stated that "I wrote about it imagining I was a photographer, but really it was about Chrissie having her first baby. Both she and Princess Anne seem to be quite anonymous people at times."[1] However, Mendelsohn does not find the claim that the song was inspired by Princess Anne to be very credible.[2]Musician describes the song's protagonist as being "tough but tender."[3] Mendelsohn describes her as having "an abrasive exterior and a new baby daughter."[2] The song was recorded in early 1983, at the same time as "Young Conservatives" (which precedes the song in State of Confusion's running order).[4]
"Heart of Gold" was first released as the ninth track on State of Confusion (eighth on non-cassette versions of the album.) It has since appeared on compilation albums such as Come Dancing with The Kinks[6] and Picture Book,[7] as well as the box set The Arista Years.
The song was cited as a highlight from State of ConfusionbyAllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who also described it as "charming."[8][6]Musician also found it to be one of the "best moments" from the album.[3] Music critic John Mendelsohn claimed that "in a better world, 'Heart of Gold'...would have been an even bigger hit than 'Come Dancing.'"[2] Mendelsohn particularly praised the "bright acoustic guitars and grin-inducing Davies brothers harmonies on the choruses."[2]
