AOH :: SPRINGST.TXT
All the lyrics of the Boss's songs
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From uw546@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Sat Dec 2 23:55:25 1995
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 23:53:15 -0800
From: "Leslie B. Broughton" <uw546@freenet.victoria.bc.ca>
To: uw546@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
Subject: lyrics.all
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Lyrics All
_________________________________________________________________
Complete Collection of
Bruce Springsteen's Lyrics
November 1, 1992 - 1st compiled. Compiled from Internet archives,
Updated - July 4, 1994 edited, organized by Louis Puccio.
Lou@phantom.com
194 pages. Compuserve: 71051,3236.
A O L(PC Link): Bdybilder.
Greetings to all you Springsteen fans and music lovers! Here are the lyrics
to all the songs from every released album, as well as many un-released, 'B'
sides, covers and songs Bruce has written for others.
How this came about:
After checking many file archives I found that many lyrics were scattered all
over in various files, directories and locations on the Internet. Some sites
only had complete lyrics from a few albums and perhaps a few songs mixed in
from other albums. Some members of the Backstreets email newsletter (see
below for names) were kind enough to forward lyrics from sites located all
over the world, and also from their own collections. I then combined
everything into one large file you have now. I alphabetized, spell-checked,
polished and put everything into a standard format. The format is all titles
in capitals and song information at the end of each song.
Thanks to all who emailed lyrics to me: (In alphabetical order, first name):
Anthony Petrosino Jr. - petrosa@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu
Diego Barros - alien@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au
Gareth Waddell - gareth@esoft.uucp
Janne Karila - karila@cc.helsinki.fi
Kevin Kinder - kvk@iexist.att.com
Matt - atmrm@acad2.alaska.edu
Monty - montys@mapme6.map.tek.com
Paul Maclauchlan - paul@moore.com
Rich McGee - rich%csusb@nic.csu.net
Susan DeSerio - deserio@kwacha.enet.dec.com
Suzy Shaw - suzshaw@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
Tom Theaker - tomt@hpindwa.cup.hp.com
Warren Brake - warren@irma.cs.mun.ca
warren@pooky.cs.mun.ca
Also thanks to all those anonymous contributors who over the years have typed
all these lyrics at their keyboards unselfishly. Without their efforts this
compilation would have been almost impossible.
How is this file organized:
Alphabetically by song title. The song titles appear exactly as on the
albums. The album name and year follow each song lyric. Just about every
released song was typed exactly as it appeared on the album. Songs starting
with 'The' are in the 'T' section. 'The River' e.g., is in the 't' section,
not the 'r'. Released material appears first. Following this are un-released
and 'outakes' songs, and 'cover' songs that Bruce has frequently played in
concert that were written by others. Unreleased and also 'B' side lyrics were
mainly typed after listening to the song. 'B' Side songs can be found in the
released section. All cover songs will have the song writer's name in
parenthesis.
How do I find my favorite song or album in this large file:
Just type the name exactly as it appears on the album or single using a
word processor 'search' feature, of course. If you don't have a search
feature, just page through until you get to the song. To find all the
songs on an album do the same thing - type the album title exactly. There
are many, but not all, UN-released lyrics here. To find an un-released
song go to the end of the list of released songs, Or search for the word:
unreleased. (Using your word processor.) That will bring you to the
beginning of the un-released section. A line of: *************************
seperates the two listings.
Please send any other lyrics not found here to my email address.
Does a file exist with all the lyrics grouped by album, instead of by
song title?
Yes, but you have to look around at the popular sites for lyrics. You,
can use the lyrics in this file to create other files organized in any way
you see fit. Please post it to the appropriate archives and also contact me
at my internet address.
What about typos or misspellings? How do I know if every word
Springsteen wrote has been included?
I corrected obvious misspellings. However, words such as runnin',
drivin', etc. were left alone. As for missing words or lines, it would
be very difficult to compare each song here word for word with the album
version. However, most likely anyone that has taken time to type out a
song must be a dedicated fan. Someone that truly enjoys what they're doing
is not likely to make many errors. However, if you really must have total
accuracy for a few songs that you truly like, compare the number of typed
lines and/or the words with the album.
Miscellaneous notes:
Please send me any other lyrics you have. This will be highly appreciated!
You can send entire files you have and I will sort out the one's to be
included. They will be added in future updates. Also, please send any
interviews and concert monologues that you may have transcribed from a
live concert tape or other sources. It would be great to have other files
with interviews, monos, trivia, record sources, criticisms, folklore,
stories, or whatever. I hope this inspires others to be creative and come
up with other files of Bruce material.
Feel free to make copies of this file and send it to anyone you like.
If you have other lyrics please do not add them to this list and upload
it again. Doing so would create many different versions of this file at
many archive sites. Only one person should add new lyrics every few
months and create an updated version with a new version number. So send
new lyrics on to me. Please use the same file name found on this file if
uploading this to any BBS or archive site.
If you received this via email please remove all email 'header' information.
Start of file is at words - Complete Collection Of....
Please send ideas, suggestions, comments or a note saying 'hi' to my email
addresses: Lou@phantom.com (Internet).
Compuserve: 71051,3236. A O L(PC Link): Bdybilder.
All lyrics up to and including 1992's Human Touch and Lucky Town are
included here. All the 1975-1985 Live songs (except for a few) appear on a
released album.
On the actual albums, each new line of lyric starts with a capital letter.
Because email systems move some characters to the next line, you may see
lines that do not start with capitals. Those few words belong on the line
above. Therefore, you may have to move some lines around to make a song
appear as it does on the album lyric sheets.
Following this info section is some general info about all the albums.
Since 1972, Bruce Has:
- performed a total of 1039 live shows
- performed 318 different songs
- performed in 29 different countries, 319 different cities, and 501
different venues.
note - these are approximate figures.
South Street in Freehold, NJ - Spent most of childhood. Next to Doug
Slattery's Sinclair station.
Bruce Frederick Springsteen - 9/23/49
Bought first guitar in a pawn shop for $18 in 1964.
Jailhouse Rock was first record he bought.
The Backstreets email newsletter has many loyal fans that discuss anything
to do with Bruce. To subscribe send a note with your email address to:
Internet: backstreets-request@fuggles.acc.virginia.edu
backstreets-request@uvaarpa.virginia.edu
BITNET: bs-req@virginia
UUCP: ...!uunet!virginia!backstreets-request
This is the FTP site to obtain chords for some of Bruce's songs:
ftp.nevada.edu (131.216.1.11)
cd pub/guitar
mget *.crd
Feel free to send me any spare concert tickets! :>
Finally, this entire file is dedicated to everyone who has enjoyed the
Boss's music over the years and in the future. You all know the special
meaning he and his music has for us.
Following is information about each album, in alphabetical order:
BORN IN THE U.S.A.
Roy Bittan - synthesizer, piano, background vocals
Clarence Clemmons - saxaphone, percussion, background vocals
Danny Federici - organ, glockenspiel, piano on "Born In The USA"
Garry Tallent - bass, horn, background vocals
Steve van Zandt - acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmony vocals
Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica
Max Weinberg - drums, background vocals
Richie Rosenberg - Trombone
La Bamba - background vocals on "Cover Me" and "No Surrender"
Ruth Jackson - background vocals on "My Hometown"
All songs words and music by Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Charts : Billboard #001, entered Jun 23, 1984
BORN IN THE USA
BOBBY JEAN
NO SURRENDER
BORN IN THE U.S.A.
I'M ON FIRE
DANCING IN THE DARK
GLORY DAYS
I'M GOIN' DOWN
COVER ME
WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY
DARLINGTON COUNTY
DOWNBOUND TRAIN
MY HOMETOWN
BORN TO RUN 1975
All songs written and arranged by Bruce Springsteen.
Produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Mike Appel.
Recorded, mixed and masterd at Record Plant Studio, NYC.
Born To Run recorded at 914 Sound Studio, Blauvelt NY.
Wayne Andre - Trombone
Mike Appel - Vocal
Roy Bittan - Keyboards
Michael Brecker - Horn
Randy Brecker - Horn
Ernest Carter - Drums
Clarence Clemons - Sax, Vocal
Richard Davis - Bass
Danny Federici - Keyboards, Vocal
David Sanborn - Sax
David Sancious - Keyboards, Sax
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/hrc/b
Garry Tallent - Bass, Horn
Steve Van Zandt - Guitar, Vocal
Max Weinberg - Drums
BORN TO RUN
JUNGLELAND
THUNDER ROAD
NIGHT
SHE'S THE ONE
MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER
TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT
BORN TO RUN
BACKSTREETS
CHIMES OF FREEDOM 1988
Words and music by Bruce Springsteen except Chimes of Freedom - words by
Bob Dylan.
Roy Bittan - synthesizer, piano
Clarence Clemmons - saxaphone, percussion
Danny Federici - organ, synthesizer
Garry Tallent - bass
Patty Scialfa - vocals, guitar
Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar
Max Weinberg - drums
Some of the proceeds of this album were donated to Amnesty
International.
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN 1978
Roy Bittan - Keyboards
Clarence Clemons - Sax, Vocal
Danny Federici - Keyboards, Vocal
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/hrc/b
Garry Tallent - Bass, Horn
Steve Van Zandt - Guitar, Vocal
Max Weinberg - Drums
All songs by Bruce Springsteen
Charts : Billboard #005, entered Jun 17, 1978
FACTORY
SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT
STREETS OF FIRE
PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
ADAM RAISED A CAIN
BADLANDS
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
CANDY'S ROOM
THE PROMISED LAND
RACING IN THE STREET
GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK N.J. 1973
All selections written and arranged by Bruce Springsteen.
Recorded at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY.
Vincent "Loper" Lopez, Clarence Clemmons, Garry Tallent, David Sancious,
Harold Wheeler (Piano on Blinded By The Light and Spirit In The Night).
Clarence Clemons - Sax, Vocal
Richard Davis - Bass
Vini Lopez - d/v/hrn
David Sancious - Keyboards, Sax
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/hrc/b
Garry Tallent - Bass, Horn
Harold Wheeler - Piano
THE ANGEL
SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT
DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82nd STREET?
IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY
FOR YOU
GROWIN' UP
LOST IN THE FLOOD
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS
HUMAN TOUCH 1992
Musicians (except where noted):
Roy Bittan - Keyboards, Producer
Michael Fisher - Percussion
Bobby Hatfield - vbc
Mark Isham - Trumpet
Randy Jackson - Bass
Bobby King - vbc
Jon Landau - Producer
Douglas Lunn - Bass
Ian McLagan - Piano
Samuel Moore - vbc
Tim Pierce - vbc
Chuck Plotkin - Producer
Jeff Porcaro - Drums, Percussion
David Sancious - Organ (Hammond)
Toby Scott - Engineer
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/b
Kurt Wortman - Drums
All songs by Bruce Springsteen (1992) except
"Cross My Heart" - music by Bruce Springsteen, lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
and Sonny Boy Williamson
"Roll of the Dice" and "Real World" - by Bruce Springsteen and Roy Bittan
"Pony Boy" - traditional, arrangement & additional lyrics by Springsteen.
Charts : Billboard #001, entered Nov 29, 1986
REAL WORLD
57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN' ON)
HUMAN TOUCH
I WISH I WERE BLIND
MAN'S JOB
ROLL OF THE DICE
SOUL DRIVER
ALL OR NOTHIN' AT ALL
CROSS MY HEART
GLORIA'S EYES
PONY BOY
REAL MAN
THE LONG GOODBYE
WITH EVERY WISH
LUCKY TOWN 1992
All songs by Bruce Springsteen
Produced by Bruce Springsteen with Jon Landau and Chuck Plotkin
Additional production by Roy Bittan: "Leap of Faith", "The Big Muddy",
"Living Proof"
Recorded by Toby Scott
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
Mastered by Bob Ludwing
Roy Bittan - Keyboards, Bass
Randy Jackson - Bass
Jon Landau - Producer
Lisa Lowell - vbc
Gary Mallabar - Drums
Ian McLagan - Organ (Hammond)
Chuck Plotkin - Producer
Patti Scialfa - vbc
Toby Scott - Engineer
Bruce Springsteen - v/g/b/prd
Soozie Tyrell - vbc
Artist : Bruce Springsteen
Charts : Billboard #003, entered Oct 9, 1982
LIVING PROOF
BETTER DAYS
IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND
LEAP OF FAITH
LOCAL HERO
LUCKY TOWN
MY BEAUTIFUL REWARD
BOOK OF DREAMS
THE BIG MUDDY
SOULS OF THE DEPARTED
NEBRASKA 1982
All words and music written by Bruce Springsteen
Mastered at Atlantic Studios by Dennis King
REASON TO BELIEVE
NEBRASKA
MY FATHER'S HOUSE
STATE TROOPER
OPEN ALL NIGHT
USED CARS
MANSION ON THE HILL
ATLANTIC CITY
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN
JOHNNY 99
THE RIVER 1980
All words and music by Bruce Springsteen.
Recorded at The Power Station, NYC. Mixed at Clover Recording Studios, LA.
Roy Bittan - Keyboards
Clarence Clemons - Sax, Vocal
Danny Federici - Keyboards, Vocal
Howard "Eddie" Kaylan - Vocal
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/hrc/b
Garry Tallent - Bass, Horn
Steve Van Zandt - Guitar, Vocal
Mark Volman - Vocal
Max Weinberg - Drums
Charts : Billboard #001, entered Nov 1 , 1980
THE RIVER
CADILLAC RANCH
YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH)
DRIVE ALL NIGHT
I'M A ROCKER
CRUSH ON YOU
FADE AWAY
HUNGRY HEART
I WANNA MARRY YOU
INDEPENDENCE DAY
JACKSON CAGE
OUT IN THE STREET
RAMROD
SHERRY DARLING
STOLEN CAR
THE PRICE YOU PAY
THE TIES THAT BIND
TWO HEARTS
POINT BLANK
WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY
THE WILD, THE INNOCENT & THE E STREET SHUFFLE 1973
All songs written and arranged by Bruce Springsteen.
Recorded at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY
Richard Blackwell - Percussion
Clarence Clemons - Sax, Vocal
Danny Federici - Keyboards, Vocal
Vini Lopez - d/v/hrn
David Sancious - Keyboards, Sax
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/hrc/b
Garry Tallent - Bass, Horn
Albany Tellone - Sax
THE E STREET SHUFFLE
INCIDENT ON 57th STREET
KITTY'S BACK
NEW YORK CITY SERENADE
WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY
ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
TUNNEL OF LOVE 1987
All words and music by Bruce Springsteen (1987).
Recorded in New Jersey ("One Step Up" recorded at A&M Studios. LA, CA)
Mixed at A&M Studios, LA, CA.
Tunnel Of Love, Mixed at The Hit Factory - NYC.
Roy Bittan - Keyboards
Clarence Clemons - Sax, Vocal
Danny Federici - Keyboards, Vocal
Nils Lofgren - Guitar, Vocal
Bruce Springsteen - g/v/hrc/b
Garry Tallent - Bass, Horn
Max Weinberg - Drums
James Wood - Harmonica
CAUTIOUS MAN
SPARE PARTS
AIN'T GOT YOU
TOUGHER THAN THE REST
TUNNEL OF LOVE
TWO FACES
ALL THAT HEAVEN WILL ALLOW
VALENTINE'S DAY
BRILLIANT DISGUISE
WHEN YOU'RE ALONE
ONE STEP UP
WALK LIKE A MAN
Mar 1973 Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ
Feb 1974 The Wild, The Innocent And The E-Street Shuffle
Oct 1975 Born To Run
May 1978 Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Dec 1979 No Nukes - Various Artists Concert - Includes
Two Springsteen Tracks : "Devil With The Blue Dress On" and
"Stay" - with Jackson Browne
Oct 1980 The River - Double album
Sep 1982 Nebraska
Jun 1984 Born In The USA
May 1985 We Are The World - Various Artists Compilation -
Includes Springsteen's - "Trapped."
Dec 1986 Live 1975-85 5 LP's - 3 CD's - 3 Tapes Of Live Tracks
In Box Set - with Color Booklet
Oct 1987 Tunnel Of Love
Oct 1987 A Very Special Xmas - Various Compilations -
Includes "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
Nov 1987 Tunnel Of Love - Picture Disc CD
1988 Interview Picture Disc
Oct 1988 Folkways: A Vision Shared - Various Compilations -
Includes "Vigilante Man" and "I Ain't Got No Home"
1988 Chimes of Freedom special 4 track 12" album
1990 The Last Temptation Of Elvis - Various Artists
Compilation - Includes "Viva Las Vegas"
Mar 1992 Human Touch
Mar 1992 Lucky Town
Chronological Album List |Date| Label | Number
===============================+====+==========+========
In Concert/MTV Plugged |1993|Phantom |
Unplugged |1992| |
Lucky Town |1992|Columbia |53001
Human Touch |1992|Columbia |53000
57 Channels (And Nothin' On) |1992|CBS |74416
Video Anthology 1978-1988 |1989|CBS |49010
Video Anthology 1978-88 |1988| |
Conversation |1988|Audio Visu|018
Chimes of Freedom |1988|CBS |44445
Tunnel of Love |1987|Columbia |40999
Live 1975-1985 |1986|Columbia |40558
Born in the U.S.A. |1984|Columbia |38653
Nebraska |1982|Columbia |38358
Requested Around the World |1981|CBS |978
River, The |1980|Columbia |36854
Bruce Springsteen |1979|CBS |66353
Darkness on the Edge of Town |1978|Columbia |35318
Born to Run |1975|Columbia |33795
Wild, the Innocent and the E St|1973|Columbia |32432
Greetings from Asbury Park NJ |1973|Columbia |31903
Video Anthology '78-'88 |Z |CBS |49010
Plugged: In Concert 199 |Z |Alx |3322
Human Touch/Better Days |Z |CBS |74273
Anthology 1978-88 |Z |Sony |6325
Other albums where a Springsteen song appeared:
For Our Children "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips"
Roy Orbison and Friends: A black and White Night
Harry Chapin Tribute "Remember When The Music"
The heart of rock 1988. Columbia: C 44381 (on container:
6C 44381). Songs, performed by various artists.
"Brilliant disguise (4:12)"
Ruthless people: the original motion picture soundtrack.
Epic - 1986. E 40398 (container: SE 40398).
"Stand on it" (2:30)
"Ladies and gentlemen, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band....."
4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
Sandy the fireworks are hailin' over Little Eden tonight
Forcin' a light into all those stoned-out faces left stranded on this Fourth
of July
Down in town the circuit's full with switchblade lovers so fast so shiny so
sharp
And the wizards play down on Pinball Way on the boardwalk way past dark
And the boys from the casino dance with their shirts open like Latin lovers
along the shore
Chasin' all them silly New York girls
Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us, the pier lights our carnival life
forever
Love me tonight for I may never see you again, hey Sandy girl
Now the greasers they tramp the streets or get busted for trying to sleep on
the beach all night
Them boys in their spiked high heels ah Sandy their skins are so white
And me I just got tired of hangin' in them dusty arcades bangin' them
pleasure machines
Chasin' the factory girls underneath the boardwalk where they promise to
unsnap their jeans
And you know that tilt-a-whirl down on the south beach drag
I got on it last night and my shirt got caught
And that Joey kept me spinnin' I didn't think I'd ever get off
Oh Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us
The pier lights our carnival life on the water
Runnin' down the beach at night with my boss's daughter
Well he ain't my boss no more Sandy
Sandy the angels have lost their desire for us
I spoke to `em just last night and they said they won't set themselves on
fire for us anymore
Every summer when the weather gets hot they ride that road down from heaven
on their Harleys they come and they go
And you can see `em dressed like stars in all the cheap little seashore bars
parked making love with their babies out on the Kokomo
Well the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than
they do
This boardwalk life for me is through
You know you ought to quit this scene too
Sandy the aurora's rising behind us, the pier lights our carnival life
forever
Oh love me tonight and I promise I'll love you forever
>From "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle" 1973
57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN' ON)
Bruce Springsteen - bass
I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills
With a truckload of hundred thousand dollar bills
Man came by to hook up my cable TV
We settled in for the night my baby and me
We switched 'round and 'round 'til half-past dawn
There was fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Well now home entertainment was my baby's wish
So I hopped into town for a satellite dish
I tied it to the top of my Japanese car
I came home and I pointed it out into the stars
A message came back from the great beyond
There's fifty-seven channels and nothin' on
Well we might'a made some friends with some billionaires
We might'a got all nice and friendly if we'd made it upstairs
All I got was a note that said "Bye-bye John
Our love is fifty-seven channels and nothin' on"
So I bought a .44 magnum it was solid steel cast
And in the blessed name of Elvis well I just let it blast
'Til my TV lay in pieces there at my feet
And they busted me for disturbing the almighty peace
Judge said "What you got in your defense son?"
"Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on"
I can see by your eyes friend you're just about gone
Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on...
Human Touch 1992
AIN'T GOT YOU
I got a fortune of heaven in diamonds and gold
I got all the bonds baby that the bank could hold
I got houses 'cross the country honey end to end
And everybody buddy wants to be my friend
Well I got all the riches honey any man every knew
But the only thing I ain't got honey I ain't got you
I got a house full of Rembrandt and priceless art
And all the little girls they wanna tear me apart
When I walk down the street people stop and stare
Well you think I might be thrilled but baby I don't care
Cause I got more good luck honey than old King Farouk
But the only thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you
I got a big diamond watch sittin' on my wrist
I try to tempt you baby but you just resist
I made a deal with the devil babe I won't deny
Until I got you in my arms I can't be satisfied
I got a pound of caviar sitting home on ice
I got a fancy foreign car that rides like paradise
I got a hundred pretty women knockin' down my door
And folks wanna kiss me I ain't even seen before
I been around the world and all across the seven seas
Been paid a king's ransom for doin' what comes naturally
But I'm still the biggest fool honey this world ever knew
'Cause the only thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you
Tunnel Of Love 1987
ADAM RAISED A CAIN
In the summer that I was baptized my father held me to his side
As they put me to the water he said how on that day I cried
We were prisoners of love a love in chains
He was standin' in the door I was standin' in the rain
With the same hot blood burning in our veins
Adam raised a Cain
All of the old faces ask you why you're back
They fit you with position and the keys to your daddy's Cadillac
In the darkness of your room your mother calls you by your true name
You remember the faces the places the names
You know it's never over it's relentless as the rain
Adam raised a Cain
In the Bible Cain slew Abel and East of Eden he was cast
You're born into this life paying for the sins of somebody else's past
Daddy worked his whole life for nothing but the pain
Now he walks these empty rooms looking for something to blame
You inherit the sins you inherit the flames
Adam raised a Cain
Lost but not forgotten from the dark heart of a dream
Adam raised a Cain
Darkness on the Edge of Town 1978
ALL OR NOTHIN' AT ALL
Said you'd give me just a little kiss
And you'd rock me for a little while
Well you'd slip me just a piece of it
Listen up little child
I Want it all or nothin' at all
I Want it all or nothin' at all
Said you'd take me for a little dance
If you had a little time on your hands
Well all I do is push and shove
Just to get a little piece of your love
I want it all or nothin' at all
I want it all or nothin' at all
Well now I don't wanna be greedy
But when it comes to love there ain't no doubt
You just ain't gonna get what you want
With one foot in and one foot out
You got to give it all or nothin' at all
All or nothin' at all
Now I only got a little time
So if you're gonna change your mind
Then shout out what you're thinking of
If what you're thinkin' of is love
I want it all or nothin' at all
I want it all or nothin' at all
Human Touch 1992
ALL THAT HEAVEN WILL ALLOW
Max Weinberg - percussion
I got a dollar in my pocket there ain't a cloud up above
I got a picture in a locket that says baby I love you
Well if you didn't look then boys then fellas don't go lookin' now
Well here she comes a-walkin' all that heaven will allow
Say hey there mister bouncer now all I wanna dance
But I swear I left my wallet back home in my workin' pants
C'mon Slim slip me in man I'll make it up to you somehow
I can't be late I got a date with all that heaven will allow
Rain and storm and dark skies well now they don't mean a thing
If you got a girl that loves you and who wants to wear your ring
So c'mon mister trouble we'll make it through you somehow
We'll fill this house with all the love all that heaven will allow
Now some may wanna die young man young and gloriously
Get it straight now mister hey buddy that ain't me
'Cause I got something on my mind that sets me straight and walking proud
And I want all the time all that heaven will allow
Tunnel Of Love 1987
ATLANTIC CITY
Well, they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night
Now, they blew up his house, too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready for a fight
Gonna see what them racket boys can do
Now, there's trouble bustin' in from outta state
And the D.A. can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
And the gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of his teeth
Well now, ev'rything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe ev'rything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus
Now, baby, ev'rything dies, honey, that's a fact...
Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold
But with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sand's turnin' to gold
Put on your stockin's baby, `cause the night's getting cold
And maybe ev'rything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe ev'rything that dies someday comes back
Now, I been lookin' for a job, but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers and don't
get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well, I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end
So, honey, last night I met this guy and I'm gonna
do a little favor for him
Well, I guess everything dies, baby, that's a fact...
Nebraska 1982
BACKSTREETS
One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends
Trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in
Catching rides to the outskirts tying faith between our teeth
Sleeping in that old abandoned beach house getting wasted in the heat
And hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
With a love so hard and filled with defeat
Running for our lives at night on them backstreets
Slow dancing in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing
Where desperate lovers park we sat with the last of the Duke Street Kings
Huddled in our cars waiting for the bells that ring
In the deep heart of the night to set us loose from everything
to go running on the backstreets, running on the backstreets
We swore we'd live forever on the backstreets we take it together
Endless juke joints and Valentino drag where dancers scraped the tears
Up off the street dressed down in rags running into the darkness
Some hurt bad some really dying at night sometimes it seemed
You could hear the whole damn city crying blame it on the lies that killed us
Blame it on the truth that ran us down you can blame it all on me Terry
It don't matter to me now when the breakdown hit at midnight
There was nothing left to say but I hated him and I hated you when you went
away
Laying here in the dark you're like an angel on my chest
Just another tramp of hearts crying tears of faithlessness
Remember all the movies, Terry, we'd go see
Trying to learn how to walk like heroes we thought we had to be
And after all this time to find we're just like all the rest
Stranded in the park and forced to confess
To hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
We swore forever friends on the backstreets until the end
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Born to Run 1976
BADLANDS
Lights out tonight trouble in the heartland
Got a head-on collision smashin' in my guts man
I'm caught in a crossfire that I don't understand
But there's one thing I know for sure I don't give a damn
For the same old played out scenes I don't give a damn
For just the in-betweens honey I want the heart I want the soul
I want control right now talk about a dream
Try to make it real you wake up in the night
With a fear so real spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well don't waste your time waiting
Badlands you gotta live it every day
Let the broken hearts stand
As the price you've gotta pay
We'll keep pushin' till it's understood
And these badlands start treating us good
Workin' in the field till you get your back burned
Workin' `neath the wheels till you get your facts learned
Baby I got my facts learned real good right now
You better get it straight darling
Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king
And a king ain't satisfied till he rules everything
I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got
Now I believe in the love that you gave me
I believe in the faith that could save me
I believe in the hope and I pray that some day
It will raise me above these
Badlands...
For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
I wanna find one face that ain't looking through me
I wanna find one place, I wanna spit in the face of these
Badlands...
Darkness on the Edge of Town 1980
BECAUSE THE NIGHT
Take me now baby here as I am
Pull me close try an understand
I work all day out in the hot sun
Stay with me now till the mornin' comes
Come on now try and understand
The way I feel when I'm in your hands
Take me now as the sun descends
They can't hurt you now
They can't hurt you now
They can't hurt you now
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us
What I got I have earned
What I'm not I have learned
Desire and hunger is the fire I breathe
Just stay in my bed till the morning comes
Come on now try and understand
The way I feel when I'm in your hands
Take me now as the sun descends
They can't hurt you now
They can't hurt you now
They can't hurt you now
Because the night...
Your love is here and now
The vicious circle turns and burns without
Though I cannot live forgive me now
The time has come to take this moment and
They can't hurt you now
Because the night...
Springsteen-Patti Smith 1978
BETTER DAYS
Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes tickin' away
Yeah, just sittin' around waitin' for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin' away.
I'm tired of waitin' for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come roarin' 'round the bend.
I got a new suit of clothes a pretty red rose
And a woman I can call my friend
These are better days baby
Yeah there's better days shining through
These are better days baby
Better days with a girl like you
Well I took a piss at fortune's sweet kiss
It's like eatin' caviar and dirt
It's a sad funny ending to find yourself pretending
A rich man in a poor man's shirt
Now my ass was draggin' when from a passin' gypsy wagon
Your heart like a diamond shone
Tonight I'm layin' in your arms carvin' lucky charms
Out of these heard luck bones
These are better days baby
These are better days it's true
These are better days
There's better days shining through
Now a life of leisure and a pirate's treasure
Don't make much for tragedy
But it's a sad man my friend who's livin' in his own skin
And can't stand the company
Every fool's got a reason to feelin' sorry for himself
And turn his heart to stone
Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell
And I feel like I'm comin' home
These are better days baby
There's better days shining through
These are better days
Better days with a girl like you
These are better days baby
These are better days it's true
These are better days
Better days are shining through
Randy Jackson, bass
Lisa Lowell, backing vocals
Patti Scialfa, backing vocals
Soozie Tyrell, backing vocals
Lucky Town 1992
BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder feelin' kinda older I tripped the
merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing the calliope crashed to the
ground
Some all-hot half-shot was headin' for the hot spot snappin' his fingers
clappin' his hands
And some fleshpot mascot was tied into a lover's knot with a whatnot in her
hand
And now young Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws
his
lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-menot whispers daddy's within earshot save the
buckshot turn up the band
And she was blinded by the light. Cut loose like a deuce
Another runner in the night. Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tight, but she'll make it alright
Some brimstone baritone anticyclone rolling stone preacher from the east
He says: "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in its funny bone, that's where
they
expect it least"
And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner all alone watchin' the
young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone to remind him
of
the feeling of romance
Yeah he was blinded by the light. Cut loose like a deuce
Another runner in the night. Blinded by the light
He got down but she never got tight, but he's gonna make it tonight
Some silicone sister with her manager's mister told me I got what it takes
She said I'll turn you on sonny to something strong if you play that song
with
the funky break
And go-cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart to see if it was safe
to
go outside
And little Early-Pearly came in by her curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a
ride
Oh, some hazard from Harvard was skunked on beer playin' backyard bombardier
Yes and Scotland Yard was trying hard, they sent a dude with a calling card,
he
said, do what you like, but don't do it here
Well I jumped up, spit in the air, fell on the ground, asked wich was the way
back home
He said take a right at the light, keep going straight until right, and then
boy you're on your own
And now in Zanzibar a shootin' star was ridin' in a side car hummin' a lunar
tune
Yes, and the avatar said blow the bar but first remove the cookie jar, we're
gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon
And some kidnapped handicap was complaining that he caught the clap from some
mousetrap he bought last night
Well I unsnapped his skull cap and between his ears I saw a gap but he'd
figured he'd be all right
He was just blinded by the light. Cut loose like a deuce
Another runner in the night. Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh but mama that's where the fun is
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
BOBBY JEAN
Well I came by your house the other day, your mother said you went away
She said there was nothing that I could have done
There was nothing nobody could say
Me and you we've known each other ever since we were sixsteen
I wished I would have known I wished I could have called you
Just to say goodbye Bobby Jean
Now you hung with me when all the others turned away turned up their noise
We liked the same music we liked the same bands we liked the same clothes
We told each other that we were the wildest, the wildest things we'd ever
seen
Now I wished you would have told me I wished I could have talked to you
Just to say goodbye Bobby Jean
Now we went walking in the rain talking about the pain from the world we hid
Now there ain't nobody nowherer nohow gonna ever understand me the way you
did
Maybe you'll be out there on that road somewhere
In some bus or train traveling along
In some motel room there'll be a radio playing
And you'll hear me sing this song
Well if you do you'll know I'm thinking of you and all the miles in between
And I'm just calling one last time not to change your mind
But just to say I miss you baby, good luck goodbye, Bobby Jean
Born In The USA 1984
BOOK OF DREAMS
I'm standing in the backyard
Listening to the party Inside
Tonight I'm drinkin' in the forgiveness
This life provides
The scars we carry remain but the pain slips away it seems
Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams
I'm watchin' you through the window
With your girlfriends from back home
You 're showin' off your dress
There's laughter and a toast
>From your daddy to the prettiest bride he's ever seen
Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams
In the darkness my fingers slip across your skin
I feel your sweet reply
The room fades away and suddenly I'm way up high
Just holdin' you to me
As through the window the moonlight streams
Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams
Now the ritual begins
'Neath the wedding garland we meet as strangers
The dance floor is alive with beauty
Mystery and danger
We dance out 'neath the stars' ancient light into the darkening trees
Oh won't you baby be in my book of dreams
Lucky Town 1992
BORN IN THE U.S.A.
Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up
Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A.
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the U.S.A....
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said "Son, don't you understand"
I had a brother at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A., I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A., Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A., I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born In The USA 1984
BORN TO RUN
In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin' out over the line
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
Wendy let me in I wanna be your friend
I want to guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs round these velvet rims
and strap your hands across my engines
Together we could break this trap
We'll run till we drop, baby we'll never go back
Will you walk with me out on the wire
`Cause baby I'm just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta find out how it feels
I want to know if love is wild, girl I want to know if love is real
Beyond the Palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard
The girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist
I wanna die with you Wendy on the streets tonight
In an everlasting kiss
The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
Everybody's out on the run tonight but there's no place left to hide
Together Wendy we'll live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Someday girl I don't know when we're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go and we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us baby we were born to run
Born to Run 1976
Live, acoustic version appears on Chimes of Freedom album, 1988.
BRILLIANT DISGUISE
Roy Bittan - piano
Max Weinberg - percussion
Danny Federici - organ
I hold you in my arms as the band plays
What are those words whispered baby just as you turn away
I saw you last night out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what I've got in this new thing
I've found
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise
I heard somebody call your name from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow
Well I've tried so hard baby but I just can't see
What a woman like you is doing with me
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise
Now look at me baby struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart when out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if it's you I don't trust 'cause I damn sure don't trust
myself
Now you play the loving woman I'll play the faithful man
But just don't look too close into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise
Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what he's sure of
Tunnel Of Love 1987
CADILLAC RANCH
Well there she sits buddy just a-gleaming in the sun
There to greet a working man when his day is done
I'm gonna pack my pa and I'm gonna pack my aunt
I'm gonna take them down to the Cadillac Ranch
Eldorado fins, whitewalls and skirts
Rides just like a little bit of heaven here on earth
Well buddy when I die throw my body in the back
And drive me to the junkyard in my Cadillac
Cadillac, Cadillac
Long and dark shiny and black
Open up your engines let `em roar
Tearing up the highway like a big old dinosaur
James Dean in that Mercury `49
Junior Johnson runnin' through the woods of Caroline
Even Burt Reynolds in that black Trans Am
All gonna meet down at the Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac, Cadillac...
Hey little girlie in the blue jeans so tight
Drivin' alone through the Wisconsin night
You're my last love you're my last chance
Don't let `em take me to the Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac, Cadillac...
The River 1980
CANDY'S ROOM
In Candy's room there are pictures of her heroes on the wall
But to get to Candy's room you gotta walk the darkness of Candy's hall
Strangers from the city call my baby's number and they bring her toys
When I come knocking she smiles pretty she knows I wanna be Candy's boy
There's a sadness hidden in that pretty face
A sadness all her own from which no man can keep Candy safe
We kiss my heart's pumpin' to my brain
The blood rushes in my veins fire rushes towards the sky
We go driving driving deep into the night
I go driving deep into the light in Candy's eyes
She says baby if you wanna be wild you got a lot to learn, close your eyes
Let them melt let them fire let them burn
`Cause in the darkness there'll be hidden worlds that shine
When I hold Candy close she makes these hidden worlds mine
She has fancy clothes and diamond rings
She has men who'll give her anything she wants but they don't see
That what she wants is me, oh and I want her so
I'll never let her go no no no
She knows that I'd give all that I got to live
All that I want all that I live to make Candy mine
Tonight
Darkness on the Edge of Town 1978
CAUTIOUS MAN
Bill Horton was a cautious man of the road
He walked lookin' over his shoulder and remained faithful to its code
When something caught his eye he'd measure his need
And then very carefully he'd proceed
Billy met a yound girl in the early days of May
It was there in her arms he let his cautiousness slip away
In their lovers twilight as the evening sky grew dim
He'd lay back in her arms and laugh what had happened to him
On his right hand Billy tatooed the word love and on his left hand was the
word fear
And in which hand he held his fate was never clear
Come Indian summer he took his young lover for his bride
And with own hands built a great house down by the riverside
Now Billy was an honest man he wanted to do what was right
He worked hard to fill their lives with happy days and loving nights
Alone on his knees in the darkness for steadiness he'd pray
For he knew in a restless heart the seed of betrayal lay
One night Billy awoke froma terrible dream callin' his wife's name
She lay breathing beside him in a peaceful sleep a thousand miles away
He got dressed in the moonlight and down to the highway he strode
When he got there he didn't find nothing but road
Billy felt a coldness rise up inside him that he couldn't name
Just as the words tattooed 'cross his knuckles he knew would always remain
At their bedside he brushed the hair from his wife's face as the moon shone
on her skin so white
Filling their room with the beauty of God's fallen light
Tunnel Of Love 1987
COVER ME
The times are tough now, just getting tougher
This old world is rough, it's just getting rougher
Cover me, come on baby, cover me
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Promise me baby you won't let them find us
Hold me in your arms, let's let our love blind us
Cover me, shut the door and cover me
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Outside's the rain, the driving snow
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light, bolt the door
I ain't going out there no more
This whole world is out there just trying to score
I've seen enough I don't want to see any more,
Cover me, come on and cover me
I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
From "Born in the U.S.A" 1984
CROSS MY HEART
First time I crossed my heart I was beggin' baby, please
At your bedside, down on my knees
When I crossed my heart
When I crossed my heart
I crossed my heart, pretty baby over you
Second time I crossed my heart rain came in from the south
I was lyin' there with something sweet and salty in my mouth
When I crossed my heart
When I crossed my heart
When I crossed my heart, pretty darlin' over you
Well, you may think the world's black and white
And you're dirty or you're clean
You better watch out you don't slip
Through them spaces in between
Where the night gets sticky and the sky gets black
I grabbed you, baby, and you grabbed me back
And we crossed our hearts
We crossed our hearts
Yeah, I crossed my heart...
Little boys, little girls
They know their wrongs from their rights
Once you cross your heart
You ain't ever supposed to lie
Well, life ain't nothin' but a cold hard ride
I ain't leavin' 'til I'm satisfied
I cross my heart
Yeah, I cross my heart
Well, I cross my heart, pretty darlin' over you
Human Touch 1992
CRUSH ON YOU
My feets were flyin' down the street just the
other night
When a Hong Kong special pulled up at
the light
What was inside, man, was just c'est
magnifique
I wanted to hold the bumper and let her
drag me down the street
(Chorus)
Ooh, ooh, I gotta crush on you
Ooh, ooh, I gotta crush on you
Ooh, ooh, I gotta crush on you tonight
Sometimes I spot a little stranger
standing 'cross the room
My brain takes a vacation just to give my
heart more room
For one kiss, darling I swear everything I
would give
Cause you're a walking, talking reason to
live
(Chorus)
Well now she might be the talk of high
society
She's probably got a lousy personality
She might be a heiress to Rockefeller
She might be a waitress or a bank teller
She makes the Venus de Milo look like
she's got no style
She make Sheena of the Jungle look
meek and mild
I need a quick shot, Doc, knock me off my
feet
Cause I'll be minding my own business
walking down the street... watchout!
(Chorus)
The River 1980
DANCING IN THE DARK
I get up in the evening, and I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the moring, I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired, man I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help
You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
Message keeps getting clearer, radio's on and I'm moving round the place
I check myself out in the mirror I wanna change my clothes my hair my face
Man I ain't getting nowhere just sitting in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere baby I just know that there is
You can't start a fire...
You sit around getting older there's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders come baby this laughs on me
Stay on the streets of this town and they'll be carving you up alright
They say you got to stay hungry hey baby I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write
this book
I need a love reaction come on now baby give me just one look
You can't start a fire..
Born In The USA 1984
DARLINGTON COUNTY
Driving in to Darlington County
Me and Wayne on the Fourth of July
Driving in to Darlington County
Looking for some work on the county line
We drove down from New York City
Where the girls are pretty but they just want to know your name
Driving in to Darlington City
Got a union connection with an uncle of Wayne's
We drove eight hundred miles without seeing a cop
We got rock and roll music blasting off the T-top singing
Sha la la la la la la la la, Sha la la la la la la
Hey little girl standing on the corner
Today's your lucky day for sure all right
Me and my buddy we're from New York City
We got two hundred dollars we want to rock all night
Girl you're looking at two big spenders
Why the world don't know what me and Wayne might do
Our pa's each own one of the World Trade Centers
For a kiss and a smile I'll give mine all to you
Come on baby take a seat on my fender
It's a long night and tell me what else were you gonna do
Just me and you we could
Sha la la...
Little girl sitting in the window
Ain't seen my buddy in seven days
County man tells me the same thing
He don't work and he don't get paid
Little girl you're so young and pretty
Walk with me and you can have your way
And we'll leave this Darlington City
For a ride down that Dixie Highway
Driving out of Darlington County
My eyes seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
Driving out of Darlington County
Seen Wayne handcuffed to the bumper of a state trooper's Ford
Sha la la...
From "Born in the U.S.A." 1984
DOWNBOUND TRAIN
I had a job, I had a girl
I had something going mister in this world
I got laid off down at the lumber yard
Our love went bad, times got hard
Now I work down at the carwash
Where all it ever does is rain
Don't you feel like you're a rider on a downbound train
She just said "Joe I gotta go
We had it once we ain't got it any more"
She packed her bags left me behind
She bought a ticket on the Central Line
Nights as I sleep, I hear that whistle whining
I feel her kiss in the misty rain
And I feel like I'm a rider on a downbound train
Last night I heard your voice
You were crying, crying, you were so alone
You said your love had never died
You were waiting for me at home
Put on my jacket, I ran through the woods
I ran till I thought my chest would explode
There in the clearing, beyond the highway
In the moonlight, our wedding house shone
I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door
My head pounding hard, up the stairs I climbed
The room was dark, our bed was empty
Then I heard that long whistle whine
And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried
Now I swing a sledge hammer on a railroad gang
Knocking down them cross ties, working in the rain
Now don't it feel like you're a rider on a downbound train
From "Born in the U.S.A." 1984
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
They're still racing out at the Trestles
But that blood it never burned in her veins
Now I hear she's got a house up in Fairview
And a style she's trying to maintain
Well if she wants to see me
You can tell her that I'm easily found
Tell her there's a spot out `neath Abram's Bridge
And tell her there's a darkness on the edge of town
Everybody's got a secret Sonny
Something that they just can't face
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
They carry it with them every step that they take
Till some day they just cut it loose
Cut it loose or let it drag `em down
Where no one asks any questions
Or looks too long in your face
In the darkness on the edge of town
Some folks are born into a good life
Other folks get it anyway anyhow
I lost my money and I lost my wife
Them things don't seem to matter much to me now
Tonight I'll be on that hill `cause I can't stop
I'll be on that hill with everything I got
Lives on the line where dreams are found and lost
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost
For wanting things that can only be found
In the darkness on the edge of town
From "Darkness on the Edge of Town" 1978
DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82nd STREET?
Hey bus driver keep the change, bless your children, give them names,
Don't trust men who walk with canes,
drink this and you'll grow wings on your feet
Broadway Mary, Joan Fontaine, advertiser on a downtown train
Christmas crier bustin' cane, He's in love again.
Where dock worker's dreams mix with panther's schemes to someday own the
rodeo
Tainted women in Vistavision perform for out-of-state kids at the late
show.
Wizard imps and sweat sock pimps, interstellar mongrel nymphs
Rex said that lady left him limp. Love's like that (sure it is).
Queen of diamonds, ace of spades newly discovered lovers of the everglades
They take out a full page ad in the trades to announce their arrival
And Mary Lou she found out how to cope, she rides to heaven on a gyroscope
The Daily News asks her for the dope
She says "Man, the dope's that there's still hope"
Senorita, Spanish rose, wipes her eyes and blows her nose
Uptown in Harlem she throw a rose to some lucky, young matador.
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
DRIVE ALL NIGHT
When I lost you honey sometimes I think
I lost my guts too
And I wish God would send me a word
send me something I'm afraid to lose
Lying in the heat of the night like
prisoners all our lives
I get shivers down my spine and all
I wanna do is hold you tight
(Chorus)
I swear I'll drive all night just to buy you
some shoes
And to taste your tender charms
And I just wanna sleep tonight again in
your arms
Tonight there's fallen angels and they're
waiting for us down in the street
Tonight there's calling strangers, hear
them crying in defeat.
Let them go, let them go, let them go, do
their dances of the dead (let'em go right ahead)
You just dry your eyes girl, and c'mon
c'mon c'mon let's go to bed, baby, baby, baby
(Chorus)
There's machines and there's fire waiting
on the edge of town
They're out there for hire but baby they
can't hurt us now
Cause you've got, you've got, you've got,
you've got my love, you've got my love
Through the wind, through the rain, the
snow, the wind, the rain
You've got, you've got my, my love
heart and soul
The River 1980
FACTORY
Early in the morning factory whistle
blows,
Man rises from bed and puts on his
clothes,
Man takes his lunch, walks out in the
morning light,
It's the working, the working, just the
working life.
Through the mansions of fear, through
the mansions of pain,
I see my daddy walking through them
factory gates in the rain,
Factory takes his hearing, factory gives
him life,
The working, the working, just the
working life.
End of the day, factory whistle cries,
Men walk through these gates with death
in their eyes.
And you just better believe, boy,
somebody's gonna get hurt tonight,
It's the working, the working, just the
working life.
Darkness On The Edge of Town 1978
FADE AWAY
Well now you say you've found another
man who does things to you that I can't
And that no matter what I do it's all over
now between me and you girl
But I can't believe what you say
No I can't believe what you say
'cause baby
(Chorus)
I don't wanna fade away
Oh I don't wanna fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
Cause darlin' I don't wanna fade away
Well now you say that you've made up
your mind it's been such a long, long
time since it's been good with us
And that somewhere back along the line
you lost your love and I lost your trust
Now rooms that once were so bright are
filled with the coming night, darlin'
(Chorus)
You say it's not easy for you
And that you've been so lonely
While other girls go out doing what they
want to do
You say that you miss the nights when
we'd go out dancing
The days when you and I walked as two
Well girl I miss them too
Oh I swear that I do
Oh girl
Now baby I don't wanna be just another
useless memory holding you tight
Or just some other ghost out on the street
to whom you stop and politely speak
when you pass on by vanashing into the
night
left to vanish into the night
No baby
(Chorus)
The River 1980
FIRE
I'm driving in my car, I turn on the radio
I'm pulling you close, you just say no
You say you don't like it, but girl I know you're a liar
`Cause when we kiss, Fire
Late at night I'm takin' you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you don't love me, girl you can't hide your desire
`Cause when we kiss, Fire
You had a hold on me, right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin' actin' like a fool
Well your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool
Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
Baby you can bet their love they didn't deny
Your words say split but your words they lie
`Cause when we kiss, Fire
On 'Live Album 1975-1985' 1978
FOR YOU
Princess cards she sends me with her regards
Barroom eyes shine vacancy, to see her you gotta look hard
Wounded deep in battle, I stand stuffed like some soldier undaunted
To her Cheshire smile. I'll stand on file, she's all I ever wanted
But you let your blue walls get in the way of these facts
Honey, get your carpetbaggers off my back
You wouldn't even give me time to cover my tracks
You said "Here's your mirror and your ball and jacks"
But they're not what I came for, and I'm sure you see that too
I came for you, for you, I came for you, but you did not need my urgency
I came for you, for you, I came for you, but your life was one long
emergency
And your cloud line urges me, and my electric surges free
Crawl into my ambulance, your pulse is getting weak
Reveal yourself all now to me girl while you've got the strength to speak
`Cause they're waiting for you at Bellevue with their oxygen masks
But I could give it all to you now if only you could ask
And don't call for your surgeon even he says it's too late
It's not your lungs this time, it's your heart that holds your fate
Don't give me money, honey, I don't want it back
You and your pony face and your union jack
Well take your local joker and teach him how to act
I swear I was never that way even when I really cracked
Didn't you think I knew that you were born with the power of a locomotive
Able tomleap tall buildings in a single bound?
And your Chelsea suicide with no apparent motive
You could laugh and cry in a single sound
And your strength is devastating in the face of all these odds
Remember how I kept you waiting when it was my turn to be the god?
You were not quite half so proud when I found you broken on the beach
Remember how I poured salt on your tongue and hung just out of reach
And the band they played the homecoming theme as I caressed your cheek
They ragged, jagged melody she still clings to me like a leach
But that medal you wore on your chest always got in the way
Like a little girl with a traphy so soft to buy her way
We were both hitchhikers but you had your ear tuned to the roar
Of some metal-tempered engine on an alien, distant shore
So you, left to find a better reason than the one we were living for
And it's not that nursery mouth I came back for
It's not the way you're stretched out on the floor
`Cause I've broken all your windows and I've rammed through all your doors
And who am I to ask you to lick my sores? And you should know that's true
I came for you, for you, I came for you, but you did not need my urgency
I came for you, for you, I came for you, but your life was one long
emergency
And your cloud line urges me, and my electric surges free
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
GLORIA'S EYES
I was your big man I was your prince charming
King on a white horse hey now look how far I've fallen
I tried to trick you yeah but baby you got wise
You cut me cut me right down to size
Now I'm just a fool in Gloria's eyes
Swore I'd get you back I was so sure
I'd get you back like I done so many times before
A little sweet talk to cover over all of the lies
You came runnin' back but to my surprise
Well there was somethin' gone in Gloria's eyes
Well in the dark when it was just me and you
I asked the question that I knew the answer to
Is that a smile my little dolly on the shelf
Tell me is that a smile
Of is it something else?
Now I work hard to prove my love is true
Now I work hard and I bring it on home to you
At night I pray as silently you lie
Some day my love again will rise
Like a shining torch in Gloria's eyes
I was your big man your prince charming
King on a white horse now look how far I've fallen
Human Touch 1992
GLORY DAYS
I had a friend was a big baseball player back in highschool
He could throw that speedball by ya, make you look like a fool
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar I was walking in he was
walking out
We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks, but all we kept talking
about
Glory Days, yeah they'll pass you by
Glory Days, in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory Days, glory days
There's this girl that lives up the block, back in school she could turn
all the boys heads
Sometimes on Friday I'll stop by and have a few drinks after she put her kids
to bed
Her and her husband Bobby, well they split up, I guess it's two years gone by
We just sit around talking about the old times, she says when she feels
like crying she starts laughing thinking about
Glory Days...
Think I'm going down to the well tonight and I'm gonna drink till I get my
fill
I hope when I get older I don't sit around thinking about it, but I probably
will
Yeah just sitting back trying to recapture a little of the glory of
Well the time slips away and leaves you with nothing, mister, but boring
stories of
Glory Days...
All right boys keep it rocking now
We gonna go home now
Let's go!
Born In The USA 1984
GROWIN' UP
I stood stonelike at midnight suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul
untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said`Sit down'I stood
up
Ooh-ooh growin' up
The flag of piracy flew from my mast my sails were set wing to wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate she couldn't sail but she sure could
sing
I pushed B-52 and bombed `em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on
standing
I broke all the rules strafed my old high school never once gave thought to
landing
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said`Come down'I threw
up
Ooh-ooh growin' up
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard
to hold your breath
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared I was the cosmic kid
Well my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little
place in the stars
I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said`Sit down'I stood
up
Ooh-ooh growin' up
Ooh-ooh growin' up
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN
My name is Joe Roberts I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville barracks number 8
I always done an honest job as honest as I could
I got a brother named Frankie and Frankie ain't no good
Now ever since we was young kids it's been the same come down
I get a call over the radio Frankie's in trouble downtown
Well if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way
Yeah me and Frankie laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band
Played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family well he just ain't no good
Well Frankie went in the army back in 1965
I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on droppin' till it was like we were gettin'
robbed
Frankie came home in `68, and me, I took this job
Yeah we're laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band
Played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin' teach him how to walk that line
Man turns his back on his family he ain't no friend of mine
Well the night was like any other, I got a call `bout quarter to nine
There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad bleedin' hard from his head
There was a girl cry'n' at a table and it was Frank, they said
Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights
Well I musta done one hundred and ten through Michigan county that night
It was out at the crossroads, down `round Willow bank
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates. Behind the wheel was Frank
Well I chased him through them county roads
Till a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his tail-lights disappear
Me and Frankie laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band
Played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
>From "Nebraska" 1982
HUMAN TOUCH
You and me we were the pretenders
We let it all slip away
In the end what you don't surrender
Well the world just strips away
Girl, ain't no kindness in the face of strangers
Ain't gonna find no miracles here
Well you can wait on your blesses my darling
I got a deal for you right here
I ain't looking for praise or pity
I ain't coming 'round searching for a crutch
I just want someone to talk to
And a little of that Human Touch
Just a little of that Human Touch
Ain't no mercy on the streets of this town
Ain't no bread from Heavenly skies
Ain't nobody drawing wine from this blood
It's just you and me tonight
Tell me, in a world without pity
Do you think what I'm askin's too much
I just want something to hold on to
And a little of that Human Touch
Just a little of that Human Touch
Oh girl that feeling of safety that you prize
Well it comes at a hard hard price
You can't shut off the risk and the pain
Without losing the love that remains
We're all riders on this train
So you've been broken and you've been hurt
Show me somebody who ain't
Yeah, I know I ain't nobody's bargain
But, hell, a little touch up and a little paint...
You might need something to hold on to
When all the answers, they don't amount to much
Somebody that you could just to talk to
And a little of that Human Touch
Baby, in a world without pity
Do you think what I'm askin's too much
I just want to feel you in my arms
Share a little of that Human Touch
Feel a little of that Human Touch
Give me a little of that Human Touch
Human Touch 1992
HUNGRY HEART
Got a wife and kids in Baltimore Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back
Like a river that don't know where it's flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going
Everybody's got a hungry heart
Everybody's got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody's got a hungry heart
I met her in a Kingstown bar
We fell in love I knew it had to end
We took what we had and we ripped it apart
Now here I am down in Kingstone again
Everybody's got a hungry heart...
Everybody needs a place to rest
Everybody wants to have a home
Don't make no difference what nobody says
Ain't nobody like to be alone
Everybody's got a hungry heart...
The River 1980
I'M A ROCKER
I got a 007 watch and it's a one and only
It's got a I-Spy beeper that tells me when
you're lonely
I got a Batmobile so I can reach ya' in a
fast shake
When your world's in crisis of an
impendin' heartbreak
Now don't you call James Bond or Secret
Agent Man
Cause they can't do it, like I can
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker - every day
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker
If you're hanging from a cliff or you're tied
to the tracks, girl
Columbo split and you can't find Kojak
True love is broken and your tears are
fallin' faster
You're sufferin' from a pain in your heart
or some other natural disaster
Now I don't care what kind of shape
you're in
If they put up a roadblock, I'll parachute in
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker - I'm in love
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker - every day
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker - with you
So you fell for some jerk who was tall,
dark and handsome
Then he kidnapped your heart and now
he's holdin' it for ransom
Well, like a mission impossible I'm gonna
go and get it back
You know I would'a taken better care of it,
baby, than that
Sometimes I get so hot girl, well, I can't
talk
But when I'm with you I cool off , and I walk
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker, and I talk
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker, every day
I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker, every day
The River 1980
I'M GOIN' DOWN
We sit in the car outside your house
I can feel the heat coming 'round
I go to put my arm around you
and you give me a look like I'm way out of bounds
well you let out one of your bored sighs
Well lately when I look into your eyes
I'm goin down
We get dressed up and we go out, baby, for the night
We come home early burning, burning in some fire fight
I'm sick and tired of you setting me up
Setting me up just to knock-a knock-a knock-a me down
I pull you close but when we kiss I can feel a doubt
I remember back when we started
My kisses used to turn you inside out
I used to drive you to work in the morning
Friday night I'd drive you all around
You used to love to drive me wild
But lately girl you get your kicks from just driving me down
Born In The USA 1984
I WANNA MARRY YOU
I see you walking, baby, down the street
Pushing that baby carriage at your feet
I see the lonely ribbon in your hair
Tell me I am the man for whom you put it
there
You never smile girl, you never speak
You just walk on by, darlin' week after
week
Raising two kids alone in this mixed up
world
Must be a lonely life for a working girl
(Chorus)
Little girl, I wanna marry you
Oh yeah, little girl, I wanna marry you
Yes I do
Little girl, I wanna marry you
Now honey, I don't wanna clip your
wings
But a time comes when two people
should think of these things
Having a home and a family
Facing up to their responsibilities
They say in the end true love prevails
But in the end true love can't be no
fairytale
To say I'll make your dreams come true
would be wrong
But maybe, darlin', I could help them
along
(Chorus)
My daddy said right before he died
That true, true love was just a lie
He went to his grave a broken heart
An unfulfilled life, makes a man hard
Oh, darlin'
There's something happy and there's
something sad
'Bout wanting somebody, oh so bad,
I wear my love darlin', without shame
I'd be proud if you would wear my name
The River 1980
I WISH I WERE BLIND
Bobby Hatfield - harmony vocals
I love to see the cottonwood blossom in the early spring
I love to see the message of love that the bluebird brings
But when I see you walking with him down along the strand
I wish I were blind when I see you with your man
I love to see your hair shining in the long summer's light
I love to watch the stars fill the sky on a summer night
The music plays, you take his hand
I watch how you touch him as you start to dance
And I wish I were blind when I see you with your man
We struggle here but all our love's in vain
And these eyes that once filled me with your beauty now fill me with pain
And the light that once entered here is banished from me
And this darkness is all, baby, that my heart sees
And though the world is filled with the grace and beauty of God's hand
Oh I wish I were blind when I see you with your man
Human Touch 1992
IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND
We said we'd walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
If as we're walkin a hand should slip free
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
We swore we'd travel darlin' side by side
We'd help each other stay in stride
But each lover's steps fall so differently
But I'll wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me
Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So let's make our steps clear that the other may see
And I'll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me
Now there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There 'neath the oak's bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin' I'll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me
Lucky Town 1992
I'M ON FIRE
Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
I'm on fire
Tell me now baby is he good to you
Can he do to you the things that I do
I can take you higher
I'm on fire
Sometimes it's like someone tooh a knife baby
edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
through the middle of my soul
At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
and a freight train running through the
middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
I'm on fire
Born In The USA 1984
INCIDENT ON 57th STREET
Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night with bruised arms and
broken rhythm and a beat-up old Buick but dressed just like dynamite,
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street,
But they said, "Johnny, it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days
are cheap."
And the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a cheater."
Well, the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a liar."
And from out of the shadows cam e a young girl's voice, said: "Johnny don't
cry."
Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.
I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so
crowded and there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All the golden heeled fairies in a real bitch-fight pull thirty-eights and
kiss their girls goodnight.
Goodnight, it's alright, Jane
Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame,
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby,
Or we may walk until the daylight, maybe.
Well, like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fine
Like a late Juliet she knew she'd never be true but then she really didn't
mind,
Upstairs a band was playin' and the singer was singin' something about going
home,
She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight, but just don't
leave me alone."
And Johnny cried, "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down the cops have found the
vein."
Them bare foot boys left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys, they said their homes ain't no good,
They left the corners, threw away their switchblade knives and kissed each
other goodbye.
Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down the
street,
He called down, "Hey little heroes, summer's long but I guess it ain't very
sweet around here anymore,
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat, Johnny sits up alone and watches her
dream on, dream on,
And the sister prays for lost souls then breaks down in the chapel after
everyone's gone.
Jane moves over to share her pillow but opens her eyes to see Johnny up and
putting his clothes on,
She says, "Those romantic young boys, all they ever want to do is fight,
Those romantic young boys, they're callin' through the window:
Hey, Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny whispered, "Goodnight, it's all tight Jane,
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight now baby
Or we may walk until the daylight, baby."
Goodnight, it's alright Jane, I'm gonna meet you tomorrow night on Lover's
Lane,
We can find it out on the street tonight, baby,
Or we may walk until it's daylight, maybe.
>From "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle"
1973
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Well Papa go to bed now it's getting late
Nothing we can say is gonna change anything now
I'll be leaving in the morning from St. Mary's Gate
We wouldn't change this thing even if we could somehow
`Cause the darkness of this house has got the best of us
There's a darkness in this town that's got us too
But they can't touch me now and you can't touch me now
They ain't gonna do to me what I watched them do to you
So say goodbye it's Independence Day
It's Independence Day all down the line
Just say goodbye it's Independence Day
It's Independence Day this time
Now I don't know what it always was with us
We chose the words and yeah we drew the lines
There was just no way this house could hold the two of us
I guess that we were just too much of the same kind
Well say goodbye it's Independence Day
All boys must run away come Independence Day
So say goodbye it's Independence Day
All men must make their way come Independence Day
Now the rooms are all empty down at Frankie's joint
And the highway she's deserted down to Breaker's Point
There's a lot of people leaving town now
Leaving their friends their homes
At night they walk that dark and dusty highway all alone
Well Papa go to bed now it's getting late
Nothing we can say can change anything now
Because there's just different people coming down here now
And they see things in different ways
And soon everything we've known will just be swept away
So say goodbye it's Independence Day
Papa now I know the things you wanted that you could not say
But won't you just say goodbye it's Independence Day
I swear I never meant to take those things away
The River 1980
IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY
I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra
I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernova
I could walk like Brando right into the sun
Then dance just like a Casanova
With my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet
Silver star studs on my duds like a Harley in heat
When I strut down the street I could feel its heartbeat
The sisters fell back and said "Don't that man look pretty"
The cripple on the corner cried out "Nickels for your pity"
Them downtown boys sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city
I was the king of the alley I could talk some trash
I was the prince of the paupers crowned downtown at the beggar's bash
I was the pimp's main prophet I kept everything cool
A backstreet gambler with the luck to lose
And when the heat came down it was left on the ground
The devil appeared like Jesus through the steam in the street
Showin' me a hand I knew even the cops couldn't beat
I felt his hot breath on my neck as I dove into the heat
It's so hard to be a saint when you're just a boy
And the sages of the subway sit just like the living dead
As the tracks clack out the rhythm their eyes fixed straight ahead
They ride the line of balance and hold on by just a thread
But it's too hot in these tunnels you can get hit up by the heat
You get up to get out at your next stop but they push you back down in
your seat
Your heart starts beatin' faster as you struggle to your feet
Then you're outa that hole and back up on the street
And them South Side sisters sure look pretty
The cripple on the corner cries out "Nickels for your pity"
And them downtown boys sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
JACKSON CAGE
Driving home she grabs something to eat
Turns a corner and drives down her street
Into a row of houses she just melts away
Like the scenery in another man's play
Into a house where the blinds are closed
To keep from seeing things she don't wanna know
She pulls the blinds and looks out on the street
The cool of the night takes the edge off the heat
In the Jackson Cage
Down in Jackson Cage
You can try with all your might
But you're reminded every night
That you been judged and handed life
Down in Jackson Cage
Every day ends in wasted motion
Just crossed swords on the killing floor
To settle back is to settle without knowing
The hard edge that you're settling for
Because there's always just one more day
And it's always gonna be that way
Little girl you've been down here so long
I can tell by the way that you move you belong to
The Jackson Cage
Down in Jackson Cage
And it don't matter just what you say
Are you tough enough to play the game they play
Or will you just do your time and fade away
Down into the Jackson Cage
Baby there's nights when I dream of a better world
But I wake up so downhearted girl
I see you feeling so tired and confused
I wonder what it's worth to me or you
Just waiting to see some sun
Never knowing if that day will ever come
Left alone standing out on the street
Till you become the hand that turns the key down in
Jackson Cage
Down in Jackson Cage
Well darlin' can you understand
The way that they will turn a man
Into a stranger to waste away
Down in the Jackson Cage
The River 1980
JOHNNY 99
Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month
Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none
He came home too drunk from mixin' Tanqueray and wine
He got a gun shot a night clerk now they call'm Johnny 99
Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you don't stop
Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatenin' to blow his top
When an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind
Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99
Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was Mean John Brown
He came into the courtroom and stared young Johnny down
Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence son fit the crime
Prison for 98 and a year and we'll call it even Johnny 99
A fist fight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnny's girl away
His mama stood up and shouted "Judge don't take my boy this way"
Well son you got a statement you'd like to make
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away
Now judge I had debts no honest man could pay
The bank was holdin' my mortgage and they were gonna take my house away
Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man
But it was more `n all this that put that gun in my hand
Well your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead
So if you can take a man's life for the thoughts that's in his head
Then sit back in that chair and think it over judge one more time
And let `em shave off my hair and put me on that killin' line
From "Nebraska" 1982
JUNGLELAND
The rangers had a homecoming in Harlem late last night
And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine over the Jersey state line
Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge
Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain
The Rat pulls into town rolls up his pants
Together they take a stab at romance and disappear down Flamingo Lane
Well the Maximum Lawman run down Flamingo chasing the Rat and the barefoot
girl
And the kids round here look just like shadows always quiet, holding hands
>From the churches to the jails tonight all is silence in the world
As we take our stand down in Jungleland
The midnight gang's assembled and picked a rendezvous for the night
They'll meet `neath that giant Exxon sign that brings this fair city light
Man there's an opera out on the Turnpike
There's a ballet being fought out in the alley
Until the local cops, Cherry Tops, rips this holy night
The street's alive as secret debts are paid
Contacts made, they vanished unseen
Kids flash guitars just like switch-blades hustling for the record machine
The hungry and the hunted explode into rock'n'roll bands
That face off against each other out in the street down in Jungleland
In the parking lot the visionaries dress in the latest rage
Inside the backstreet girls are dancing to the records that the D.J. plays
Lonely-hearted lovers struggle in dark corners
Desperate as the night moves on, just a look and a whisper, and they're gone
Beneath the city two hearts beat
Soul engines running through a night so tender in a bedroom locked
In whispers of soft refusal and then surrender in the tunnels uptown
The Rat's own dream guns him down as shots echo down them hallways in the
night
No one watches when the ambulance pulls away
Or as the girl shuts out the bedroom light
Outside the street's on fire in a real death waltz
Between flesh and what's fantasy and the poets down here
Don't write nothing at all, they just stand back and let it all be
And in the quick of the night they reach for their moment
And try to make an honest stand but they wind up wounded, not even dead
Tonight in Jungleland
>From "Born to Run" 1978
KITTY'S BACK
Catlong sighs holdin' Kitty's black tooth,
She left to marry some top cat, ain't it the cold truth,
And there hasn't been a tally since Sally left the alley,
Since Kitty left with Big Pretty things have got pretty thin,
It's tight on this fence since them young dudes are musclin' in.
Jack Knife cries cause Baby's in a bundle,
She goes runnin' nightly, lightly through the jungle,
And them tin cans are explodin' out of the ninety degree heat,
Cat somehow lost his baby down on Bleeker Street,
It's sad but it sure is true
Cat shrugs his shoulders, sits back and sighs.
Catlong lies back bent on a trash can,
Flashin' lights cut the night, dude in the white says he's the man,
Well you better move fast when you're young or you're not long around,
Cat somehow lost his Kitty in the city pound,
So get right, get tight, get down.
Who's that down at the end of the alley, she's been gone so long,
Here she comes, here she comes, here she comes, here she comes,
Kitty's back in town, here she comes now, Kitty's back in town,
Cat knows Kitty's been untrue and that she left him for a city dude,
Well she's so soft, she's so blue,
When he looks into her eyes he just sits back and sighs,
OOh what can I do, ooh what can I do?
OOh what can I do, ohh what can I do? Alright.
OOh alright, ooh alright, ooh alright, ooh alright.
>From "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle" 1973
LEAP OF FAITH
All over the world the rain was pourin'
I was scratchin' where it itched
Oh heartbreak and despair got nothing but boring
So I grapped you baby like a wild pitch
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
It takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
In your heart you must trust
Now your legs were heaven your breasts were the altar
Your body was the holy land
You shouted "jump" but my heart faltered
You laughed and said "Baby don't you understand?"
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
It takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
In your heart you must trust
Now you were the Red Sea I was Moses
I kissed you and slipped into a bed of roses
The waters parted and love rushed inside
I was Jesus' son sanctified
Tonight the moon's looking young but I'm feelin' younger
'Neath a veil of dreams sweet blessings rain
Honey I can feel the first breeze of summer
And in your love I'm born again
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
It takes a leap of faith you gotta show some guts
It takes a leap of faith to get things going
In your heart you must trust
Roy Bittan, keyboards
Lisa Lowell, backing vocals
Patti Scialfa, backing vocals
Soozie Tyrell, backing vocals
Lucky Town 1992
LIVING PROOF
Well now on a summer night in a dusky room
Come a little piece of the Lord's undying light
Crying like he swallowed the fiery moon
In his mother's arms it was all the beauty I could take
Like the missing words to some prayer that I could never make
In a world so hard and dirty so fouled and confused
Searching for a little bit of God's mercy
I found living proof
I put my heart and soul I put 'em high upon a shelf
Right next to the faith the faith that I'd lost in myself
I went down into the desert city
Just tryin' so hard to shed my skin
I crawled deep into some kind of darkness
Lookin' to burn out every trace of who I'd been
You do some sad sad things baby
When it's your you 're tryin' to lose
You do some sad and hurtfull things
I've seen living proof
You shot through my anger and rage
To show me my prison was just an open cage
There were no keys no guards
Just one frightened man and some old shadows for bars
Well now all that's sure on the boulevard
Is that life is just a house of cards
As fragile as each and every breath
Of this boy sleepin' in our bed
Tonight let's lie beneath the eaves
Just a close band of happy thieves
And when that train comes we'll get on board
And steal what we can from the treasures of the Lord
It's been along long drought baby
Tonight the rain's pourin' down on our roof
Looking for a little bit of God's mercy
I found living proof
Roy Bittan, keyboards
Lucky Town 1992
LOCAL HERO
I was driving through my hometown
I was just kinda killin' time
When I seen a face staring out of a black velvet painting
>From the window of the five and dime
I couldn't quite recall the name
But the pose looked familiar to me
So I asked the salesgirl "Who was that man
Between the doberman and Bruce Lee?"
She said "Just a local hero"
"Local hero" she said with a smile
"Yeah a local hero he used to live here for a while"
I met a stranger dressed in black
At the train station
He said "Son your soul can be saved"
There's a beautiful women nights of low livin'
And some dangerous money to be made
There's a big town 'cross the whiskey line
And if we turn the right card up
They make us boss the devil pays off
And them folks that are real hard up
They get their local hero
Somebody with the right style
They get their local hero
Somebody with just the right smile
Well I learned my job I learned it well
Fit myself with religion and a story to tell
First they made me the king then they made me pope
Then they brought the rope
I woke to a gypsy girl sayin' "Drink this"
Well my hands had lost all sensation
These days I'm feeling all right
'Cept I can't tell my courage from my desperation
>From the tainted chalice
Well I drunk some heady wine
Tonight I'm layin' here
But there's something in my ear
Sayin' there's a little town just beneath the floodline
Needs a local hero
Somebody with the right style
Lookin' for a local hero
Someone with the right smile
Local hero local hero she said with a smile
Local hero he used to live here for a while
Lisa Lowell, backing vocals
Patti Scialfa, backing vocals
Soozie Tyrell, backing vocals
Lucky Town 1992
LOST IN THE FLOOD
The ragamuffin gunner is returnin' home like a hungry runaway
He walks through town all alone
He must be from the fort he hears the high school girls say
His countryside's burnin' with wolfman fairies dressed in drag for homicide
The hit and run, plead sanctuary, `neath a holy stone they hide
They're breakin' beams and crosses with a spastic's reelin' perfection
Nuns run bald through Vatican halls pregnant, pleadin' immaculate conception
And everybody's wrecked on Main Street from drinking unholy blood
Sticker smiles sweet as gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud
And I said "Hey gunner man that's quicksand, that's quicksand that ain't mud
Have you thrown your senses to the war or did you lose them in the flood?"
That pure American brother, dull-eyed and empty-faced
Races Sundays in Jersey in a Chevy stock super eight
He rides `er low on the hip, on the side he's got Bound For Glory in red,
white and blue flash paint
He leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him Jimmy The
Saint
Well the blaze and noise boy, he's gunnin' that bitch loaded to blastin'
point
He rides head first into a hurricane and disappears into a point
And there's nothin' left but some blood where the body fell
That is, nothin' left that you could sell
Just junk all across the horizon, a real highwayman's farewell
And he said "Hey kid, you think that's oil? Man, that ain't oil that's blood"
I wonder what he was thinking when he hit that storm
Or was he just lost in the flood?
Eighth Avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air
Some storefront incarnation of Maria, she's puttin' on me the stare
And Bronx's best apostle stands with his hand on his own hard ware
Everything stops, you hear five, quick shots, the cops come up for air
And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, they're shootin' up the street
And that cat from the Bronx starts lettin' loose but he gets blown right off
his feet
And some kid comes blastin' round the corner but a cop puts him right away
He lays on the street holding his leg screaming something in Spanish
Still breathing when I walked away
And somebody said "Hey man did you see that? His body hit the street with
such
a beautiful thud"
I wonder what the dude was sayin' or was he just lost in the flood?
Hey man, did you see that, those poor cats are sure messed up
I wonder what they were gettin' into, or were they just lost in the flood?
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
LUCKY TOWN
House got too crowded clothes got too tight
And I don't know just where I'm going tonight
Out where the sky's been cleared by a good hard rain
There's somebody callin' my secret name
I'm going down to Lucky Town
Going down to Lucky Town
I wanna lose these blues I've found
Down in Lucky Town
Down in Lucky Town
Had a coat of fine leather and snakeskin boots
But that coat always had a tread hangin' loose
Well I pulled it one night and to my surprise
It led me right past your house and on over the rise
I'm going down to Lucky Town
Down to Lucky Town
I'm gonna lose these blues I've found
Down in Lucky Town
Down in Lucky Town
I had some victory that was just failure in deceit
Now the joke's comin' up through the soles of my feet
I been a long time walking on fortune's cane
Tonight I'm steppin' lightly and feelin' no pain
Well here's to your good looks baby now here's to my health
Here's to the loaded places that we take ourselves
When it comes to luck you make your own
Tonight I got dirt on my hands but I'm building me a new home
Down in Lucky Town
Down in Lucky Town
I'm gonna lose these blues I've found
Down in Lucky Town
B. Springsteen, bass
Lucky Town 1992
MAN'S JOB
Bobby King - vocals
Sam Moore - vocals
Well you can go out with him
Play with all of his toys
But takin' care of you darlin'
Ain't for one of the boys
Oh there's somethin' in your soul
That he's gonna rob
And lovin' you baby lovin' you darlin'
Lovin' you woman is a man's man's job
Lovin' you's a man's job baby
Lovin' you's a man's job
Lovin' you's a man's job baby
Lovin' you's a man's job
Well now his kisses may thrill
Those other girls that he likes
But when it comes to treatin'
A real woman right
Well of all of his tricks
No they won't be enough
'Cause lovin' you baby lovin' you woman
Lovin' you darlin' is a man's man's job
Lovin' you's a man's job baby
Lovin' you's a man's job
Lovin' you's a man's job baby
Lovin' you's a man's job
You're dancin' with him he's holding you tight
I'm standing here waitin' to catch your eye
Your hand's on his neck as the music sways
All my illusions slip away
REPEAT RIFF FROM INTRO TWICE
Now if you're lookin' for a hero
Someone to save the day
Well darlin' my feet
They're made of clay
But I've got something in my soul
And I wanna give it up
But gettin' up the nerve
Gettin' up the nerve
Gettin' up the nerve is a man's man's job
Lovin' you's a man's job baby
Lovin' you's a man's job
Lovin' you's a man's job woman
Lovin' you's a man's job
Human Touch 1992
MANSION ON THE HILL
There's a place out on the edge of town, sir,
Risin' above the factories and the fields
Now, ever since I was a child, I can remember
That mansion on the hill
In the day you can see the children playing
On the road that leads to those gates of hardened steel
Steel gates that completely surround, sir,
The mansion on the hill
At night my daddy'd take me and we'd ride
Through the streets of a town so silent and still
Park on a back road along the highway side
Look up at that mansion on the hill
In the summer all the lights would shine
There'd be music playin', people laughin' all the time
Me and my sister, we'd hide out in the tall cornfields
Sit and listen to the mansion on the hill
Tonight down here in Linden Town
I watch the cars rushin' by, home from the mill
There's a beautiful full moon rising
Above the mansion on the hill
From "Nebraska" 1982
MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS
Mary queen of Arkansas, it's not too early for dreamin'
The sky is grown with cloud seed sown and a bastard's love can be redeeming
Mary, my queen, your soft hulk is reviving
No, you're not too late to desecrate, the servants are just rising
Well I'm just a lonely acrobat, the live wire is my trade
I've been a shine boy for your acid brat and a wharf rat of your state
Mary, my queen, your blows for freedom are missing
You're not man enough for me to hate or woman enough for kissing
The big top is for dreamers, we can take the circus all the way to the
border
And the gallows wait for martyrs whose papers are in order
But I was not born to live to die and you were not born for queenin'
It's not too late to infiltrate, the servants are just leavin'
Mary queen of Arkansas, your white skin is deceivin'
You wake and wait to lie in bait and you almost got me believin'
But on your bed Mary I can see the shadow of a noose
I don't understand how you can hold ma so tight and love me so damn loose
But I know a place where we can go, Mary
Where I can get a good job and start all over again clean
I got contacts deep in Mexico where the servants have been seen
Greetings from Asbury Park - N.J. 1975
MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER
Hey, Eddie, can you lend me a few bucks
And tonight can you get us a ride
Gotta make it through the tunnel
Got a meeting with a man on the other side
Hey Eddie, this guy, he's the real thing
So if you want to come along
You gotta promise you won't say anything
`Cause this guy don't dance
And the word's been passed this is our last chance
We gotta stay cool tonight, Eddie
`Cause man, we got ourselves out on that line
And if we blow this one
They ain't gonna be looking for just me this time
And all we gotta do is hold up our end
Here stuff this in your pocket
It'll look like you're carrying a friend
And remember, just don't smile
Change your shirt, `cause tonight we got style
Well Cherry says she's gonna walk
`Cause she found out I took her radio and hocked it
But Eddie, man, she don't understand
That two grand's practically sitting here in my pocket
And tonight's gonna be everything that I said
And when I walk through that door
I'm just gonna throw that money on the bed
She'll see this time I wasn't just talking
Then I'm gonna go out walking
Hey Eddie, can you catch us a ride?
From "Born to Run" 1976
MY BEAUTIFUL REWARD
Well I sought gold and diamond rings
My own drug to ease the pain that living brings
Walked from the mountain to the valley floor
Searching for my beautiful reward
Searching for my beautiful reward
>From a house on a hill a sacred light shines
I walk through these rooms but none of them are mine
Down empty hallways I went from door to door
Searching for my beautiful reward
Searching for my beautiful reward
Well your hair shone in the sun
I was so high I was the lucky one
Then I came crashing down like a drunk on a barroom floor
Searching for my beautiful reward
Searching for my beautiful reward
Tonight I can feel the cold wind at my back
I'm flyin' high over gray fields my feathers long and black
Down along the river's silent edge I soar
Searching for my beautiful reward
Searching for my beautiful reward
Ian McLagen, Hammond organ
Lucky Town 1992
MY FATHER'S HOUSE
Last night I dreamed that I was a child
Out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls
I heard the wind rustling through the trees
And ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin' at my heels
I broke through the trees, and there in the night
My father's house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell, shaking in his arms
I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride
From out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light
I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who I'd come for
She said "I'm sorry, son, but no one by that name lives here anymore"
My father's house shines hard and bright
It stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining `cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned
From "Nebraska" 1982
MY HOMETOWN
I was eight years old and running with a dime in my hand
Into the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man
I'd sit on his lap in that big old Buick and steer as we drove through town
He'd tousle my hair and say son take a good look around
This is your hometown, this is your hometown
This is your hometown, this is your hometown
In `65 tension was running high at my high school
There was a lot of fights between the black and white
There was nothing you could do
Two cars at a light on a Saturday night in the back seat there was a gun
Words were passed in a shotgun blast
Troubled times had come to my hometown
My hometown, my hometown, my hometown
Now Main Street's whitewashed windows and vacant stores
Seems like there ain't nobody wants to come down here no more
They're closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks
Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain't coming back to
Your hometown, your hometown, your hometown, your hometown
Last night me and Kate we laid in bed talking about getting out
Packing up our bags maybe heading south
I'm thirty-five we got a boy of our own now
Last night I sat him up behind the wheel and said son take a good look
around
This is your hometown
Born in the U.S.A. 1984
NEBRASKA
I saw her standin' on her front lawn just twirlin' her baton
Me and her went for a ride sir and ten innocent people died
From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed-off .410 on my lap
Through to the badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path
I can't say that I'm sorry for the things that we done
At least for a little while sir me and her we had us some fun
The jury brought in a guilty verdict and the judge he sentenced me to death
Midnight in a prison storeroom with leather straps across my chest
Sheriff when the man pulls that switch sir and snaps my poor neck back
You make sure my pretty baby is sittin' right there on my lap
They declared me unfit to live said into that great void my soul'd be
hurled
They wanted to know why I did what I did
Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world
From "Nebraska" 1982
NEW YORK CITY SERENADE
Billy, he's down by the railroad tracks, sittin' low in the back seat of his
Cadillac,
Diamond Jackie, she's so intact, she falls so softly beneath him,
Jackie's heels are stacked, Billy's got cleats on his boots,
Together they're gonna boogaloo down Broadway and come back home with the
loot,
It's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute, it's a mad dog's
promenade,
So walk tall, or baby don't walk at all.
Fish lady, fish lady, fish lady she baits them tenement walls,
She won't take cornerboys, ain't got no money, and they're so easy,
I said, "Hey baby won't you take my hand, walk me down Broadway,
I'm a young man and I talk real loud, yeah, baby walk real proud for you.
So shake it away, so shake away your street life, shake away your city life,
And hook up to the train, hook up to the night train, hook it up hook up to
the,
hook up to the train,
But I know that she won't take the train, no she won't take the train,
No she won't take the train, no she won't take the train
She's afraid them tracks are gonna slow her down,
And when she turns this boy'll be gone
So long, sometimes you just gotta walk on.
Hey vibes man, hey jazz man play me your serenade
Any deeper blue and you're playin' in your grave
Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the blues boy,
Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the darlin' yearlin' sharp boy,
Straight for the church note ringin', vibes man sting a trash can
Listen to your junk man, listen to your junk man,
Listen to your junk man, listen to your junk man,
He's singin', singin', singin', singin'.
All dressed up in satin, walkin' past the alley.
Watch out for you junk man, watch out for your junk man,
Watch out for your junk man.
>From "The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle"
1973
NIGHT
You get up every morning at the sound of the bell
You get to work late and the boss man's giving you hell
Till you're out on a midnight run
Losing your heart to a beautiful one
And it feels right as you lock up the house
Turn out the lights and step out into the night
And the world is busting at its seams
And you're just a prisoner of your dreams
Holding on for your life `cause you work all day
To blow `em away in the night
The rat traps filled with soul crusaders
The circuits lined and jammed with chromed invaders
And she's so pretty that you're lost in the stars
As you jockey your way through the cars
And sit at the light, as it changes to green
With your faith in your machine off you scream into the night
And you're in love with all the wonder it brings
And every muscle in your body sings as the highway ignites
You work nine to five and somehow you survive till the night
Hell all day they're busting you up on the outside
But tonight you're gonna break on through to the inside
And it'll be right, it'll be right, and it'll be tonight
And you know she will be waiting there
And you'll find her somehow you swear
Somewhere tonight you run sad and free
Until all you can see is the night
From "Born to Run" 1976
NO SURRENDER
We busted out of class had to get away from those fools
We learned more from a three-minute record than we ever learned in school
Tonight I heart the neighborhood drummer sound
I can feel my heart begin to pound
You say you're tired and you just want to close your eyes and follow your
dreams down
We made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter's night with a vow to defend
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Now young faces grow sad and old and hearts of fire grow cold
We swore blood brothers against the wind
I'm ready to grow young again
And hear your sister's voice calling us home across the open yards
Believin' we could cut someplace of our own
With these drums and these guitars
We made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Blood brothers in the stormy night with a vow to defend
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Now on the street tonight the lights grow dim
The walls of my room are closing in
But it's good to see your smiling face and to hear your voice again
We could sleep in the twilight by the river side
With a wide open country in our hearts
And these romanics dreams in our heads
We made a promise...
Born In The USA 1984
ONE STEP UP
Patti Scialfa - vocals
Woke up this morning my house was cold
Checked out the furnace she wasn't burnin'
Went out and hoped in my old Ford
Hit the engine but she ain't turnin'
We've given each other some hard lessons lately
But we ain't learnin'
We're the same sad story that's a fact
One step up and two steps back
Bird on a wire outside my motel room
But he ain't singin'
Girl in white outside a church in June
But the church bells they ain't ringing
I'm sitting here in this bar tonight
But all I'm thinkin' is
I'm the same old story same old act
One step up and two steps back
It's the same thing night on night
Who's wrong baby who's right
Another fight and I slam the door on
Another battle in our dirty little war
When I look at myself I don't see
The man I wanted to be
Somewhere along the line I slipped off track
I'm caught movin' one step up and two steps back
There's a girl across the bar
I get the message she's sending
Mmm she ain't lookin' to married
And me well honey I'm pretending
Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms
The music was never-ending
We danced as the evening sky faded to black
One step up and two steps back
Tunnel Of Love - 1987
OPEN ALL NIGHT
Well, I had the carburator, baby, cleaned and checked
With her line blown out she's hummin' like a turbojet
Propped her up in the backyard on concrete blocks
For a new clutch plate and a new set of shocks
Took her down to the carwash, check the plugs and point
Well, I'm goin' out tonight. I'm gonna rock that joint
Early north Jersey industrial skyline
I'm a all-set cobra jet creepin' through the nighttime
Gotta find a gas station, gotta find a pay phone
This turnpike sure is spooky at night when you're all alone
Gotta hit the gas, baby. I'm running late
This New Jersey in the mornin' like a lunar landscape
Now, the boss don't dig me, so he put me on the night shift
It's an all-night run to get back to where my baby lives
In the wee, wee hours your mind gets hazy
Radio relays towers, won't you lead me to my baby?
Underneath the overpass, trooper hits his party light switch
Good night, good luck. One, two power shift
I met Wanda when she was employed
Behind the counter at Route Sixty Bob's Big Boy Fried Chicken
On the front seat, she's sittin' in my lap
We're wipin' our fingers on a Texaco road map
I remember Wanda up on scrap metal hill
With them big brown eyes that make your heart stand still
Well, at five a.m., oil pressure's sinkin' fast
I make a pit stop, wipe the windshield, check the gas
Gotta call my baby on the telephone
Let her know that her daddy's comin' on home
Sit tight, little mama, I'm comin' `round
I got three more hours, but I'm coverin' ground
Your eyes get itchy in the wee, wee hours
Sun's just a red ball risin' over them refinery towers
Radio's jammed up with gospel stations
Lost souls callin' long distance salvation
Hey, mister deejay, won'tcha hear my last prayer?
Hey, ho, rock'n'roll, deliver me from nowhere
From "Nebraska" 1982
OUT IN THE STREET
Put on your best dress baby
And darlin', fix your hair up right
Cause there's a party, honey
Way down beneath the neon lights
All day you've been working that hard line
Now tonight you're gonna have a good
time
I work five days a week girl
Loading crates down on the dock
I take my hard earned money
And meet my girl down on the block
And Monday when the foreman calls time
I've already got Friday on my mind
When that whistle blows
Girl, I'm down the street
I'm home, I'm out of my work clothes
When I'm out in the street
I walk the way I wanna walk
When I'm out in the street
I talk the way I wanna talk
When I'm out in the street
When I'm out in the street
When I'm out in the street, girl
Well, I never feel alone
When I'm out in the street, girl
In the crowd I feel at home
The black and whites they cruise by
And they watch us from the corner of their eye
But there ain't no doubt girl, down here
We ain't gonna take what they're handing out
When I'm out in the street
I walk the way I wanna walk
When I'm out in the street
I talk the way I wanna talk
Baby, out in the street I don't feel sad or blue
Baby, out in the street I'll be waiting for you
When the whistle blows
Girl, I'm down the street
I'm home, I'm out of my work clothes
When I'm out in the street
I walk the way I wanna walk
When I'm out in the street
I talk the way I wanna talk
When I'm out in the street
Pretty girls, they're all passing by
When I'm out in the street
>From the corner, we give them the eye
Baby, out in the street I just feel all right
Meet me out in the street, little girl, tonight
Meet me out in the street
Meet me out in the street
The River 1980
PART MAN PART MONKEY
They prosecuted some poor sucker in these United States
for teachin' that man descended from the apes
They coulda settles that case without a fuss or fight
If they'd seen me chasin' you sugar
Thru the jungle last night
They'd a called in that jury and a one two three said
'Part man part monkey, definitely'
Well the church bell rings from the corner steeple
Man in a monkey suit swears he'll do no evil
Offers his lover's prayer but his soul lies
Dark and driftin and unsatisfied
Well hey bartender tell me what'd ya see
Part man part monkey looks like to me
Well the night is dark the moon is full
The flowers of romance exert their pull
We talk a while my fingers slip
I'm hard and cracking like a whip
Well did God make man in a breath of holy fire
Or did he crawl on up out of the muck and mire
Well the man on the street
Believes what the bible tells him so
But you can ask me mister because I know
Tell them soul-suckin' preachers to come on down and see
Part man part monkey, baby that's me
Roy Bittan: keyboards
Michael Fisher: Percussion
Omar Hakim: Drums
Randy Jackson: bass
David Sancious: Hammond Organ
Bruce Springsteen: Guitar/Vocals
PONY BOY
Patti Scialfa - vocals
Pony boy pony boy
Won't you be my pony boy
Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-up whoo
My pony boy
Ride with me ride with me
Won't you take a ride with me
Underneath the starry sky
My pony boy
O'er the hills and through the trees
We'll go ridin' you and me
Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-away
My pony boy
Down into the valley deep
'Neath the eaves we will sleep
Sky of dreams up above
My pony boy
Human Touch 1992
RACING IN THE STREET
I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a 396
Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor
She's waiting tonight down in the parking lot
Outside the Seven-Eleven store
Me and my partner Sonny built her straight out of scratch
And he rides with me from town to town
We only run for the money got no strings attached
We shut `em up and then we shut `em down
Tonight tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow `em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
We're goin' racin' in the street
We take all the action we can meet
And we cover all the northeast state
When the strip shuts down we run `em in the street
From the fire roads to the interstate
Some guys they just give up living
And start dying little by little piece by piece
Some guys come home from work and wash up
Then go racin' in the street
Tonight tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow `em all out of their seats
Calling out around the world
We're going racin' in the street
I met her on the strip three years ago
In a Camaro with this dude from L.A.
I blew that Camaro off my back and drove that little girl away
But now there's wrinkles around my baby's eyes
And she cries herself to sleep at night
When I come home the house is dark
She sighs "Baby did you make it all right"
She sits on the porch of her daddy's house
But all her pretty dreams are torn
She stares off alone into the night
With the eyes of one who hates for just being born
For all the shut-down strangers and hot rod angels
Rumbling through this promised land
Tonight my baby and me we're gonna ride to the sea
And wash these sins off our hands
Tonight tonight the highway's bright
Out of our way mister you best keep
`Cause summer's here and the time is right
We're goin' racin' in the street
Darkness on the Edge of Town 1978
POINT BLANK
Do you still say your prayers little darlin'
do you go to bed at night
Prayin' that tommorow, everything will be
alright
But tommorow's fall in number in number
one by one
You wake up and you're dying you don't
even know what from
Well they shot you point blank you been
shot in the back
Baby point blank you been fooled this
time little girl that's a fact
Right between the eyes baby, point blank
right between the pretty lies that they tell
Little girl you fell
You grew up where young girls they grow
up fast
You took what you were handed and left
behind what was asked
but what they asked baby wasn't right
you didn't have to live that life,
I was gonna be your Romeo you were
gonna be my Juliet
These days you don't wait on Romeo's
you wait on that welfare check
and on all the pretty things that you can't
ever have and on all the promises
That always end up point blank, shot
between the eyes
Point blank like little white lies you tell to
ease the pain
You're walkin' in the sights, girl of point
blank
and it's one false move and baby the
lights go out
Once I dreamed we were together again
baby you and me
Back home in those old clubs the way we
used to be
We were standin' at the bar it was hard to
hear
The band was playin' loud and you were
shoutin' somethin' in my ear
You pulled my jacket off and as the
drummer counted four
You grabbed my hand and pulled me out
on the floor
You just stood there and held me, then
you started dancin' slow
And as I pulled you tighter I swore I'd
never let you go
Well I saw you last night down on the
avenue
Your face was in the shadows but I knew
that it was you
You were standin' in the doorway out of
the rain
You didn't answer when I called out your
name
You just turned, and then you looked
away like just another stranger waitin' to
get blown away
Point blank, right between the eyes
Point blank, right between the pretty lies
you fell
Point blank, shot right through the
heart
Yea point blank, you've been twisted up
till you've become just another part of it
Point blank, you're walkin' in the sights
Point blank, livin' one false move just one
false move away
Point blank, they caught you in their
sights
Point blank, did you forget how to love,
girl, did you forget how to fight.
Point blank they must have shot you in
the head
Cause point blank, bang bang baby
you're dead.
The River 1980
PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
I've been working real hard, trying to get
my hands clean,
Tonight we'll drive that dusty road from
Monroe to Angeline,
To buy you a gold ring and pretty dress of
blue,
Baby just one kiss will get these things for
you,
A kiss to seal our fate tonight,
A kiss to prove it all night.
(Chorus)
Prove it all night,
Girl there's nothing else that we can do,
Sp prove it all night, prove it all night,
And girl I'll prove it all night for you.
Everybody's got a hunger, a hunger they
can't resist,
There's so much that you want, you
deserve much more than this,
But if dreams came true, oh, wouldn't that
be nice,
But this ain't no dream we're living
through tonight,
Girl, you want it, you take it, you pay the
price.
(Chorus)
Prove it all night, prove it all night girl and
call the bluff,
prove it all night, prove it all night and girl,
I prove it all night for your love.
Baby, tie your hair back in a long white
bow,
Meet me in the fields out behind the
dynamo,
You hear the voices telling you not to go,
They made their choices and they'll
never know,
What it means to steal, to cheat, to lie,
What it's like to live and die.
(Chorus)
To prove it all night...
Darkness On the Edge of Town 1978
RAMROD
Hey, little dolly with the blue jeans on
I wanna ramrod with you honey, till half-
past dawn
Let your hair down sugar and pick up this
beat
Come on and meet me tonight down on
Bluebird Street
I've been working all week, I'm up to my
neck in hock
Come Saturday night I let my ramrod rock
She's a hot stepping hemi with a four on
the floor
She's a roadrunner engine in a '32 Ford
Late