The E Street Shuffle
Sparks fly on E Street when the boy prophets walk it handsome and hot, All the little girls' souls grow weak when the manchild gives them a double shot, The schoolboy pops pull out all the stops on a Friday night, The teenage tramps in skin-tight pants do the E Street dance and everything's alright, Little kids down there either dancin' or hooked up in a scuffle, Dressed in snake-skin suits packed with Detroit muscle They're doin' the E Street Shuffle. Now those E Street brats in twilight duel flashlight phantoms in full star stream, Down fire trails on silver nights with blonde girls pledged sweet sixteen, The newsboys say the heat's been bad since Power Thirteen gave a trooper all he had in a summer scuffle, And Power's girl, Little Angel, been on the corner keepin' those crazy boys out of trouble, Little Angel steps the shuffle like she ain't got no brains, She's deaf in combat down on Lover's Lane She drives all them local boys insane. Little Angel says, "Oh, everybody form a line. Oh, everybody form a line." Sparks fly on E Street when the boy-prophets walk it handsome and hot, All them little girls' souls grow weak when the manchild gives them a double shot, Little Angel hangs out at Easy Joe's. it's a club where all the riot squad goes when they're cashin' in for a cheap hustle, But them boys are still on the corner loose and doin' that lazy E Street Shuffle, As them sweet summer nights turn into summer dreams Little Angel picks up Power and he slips on his jeans as they move on out down to the scene All the kids are dancin'.Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Sandy, the fireworks are hailin' over Little Eden tonight, Forcin' a light into all those stoney faces left stranded on this warm July, Down in town the circuit's full of switchblade lovers so fast, so shiney, so sharp, As 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 on the shore, Chasin' all them silly New York virgins by the score. Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us, Those pier lights, our carnival life forever, Oh love me tonight for I may never see you again, Hey, Sandy girl, my baby. Now the greasers, they tramp the streets or get busted for sleepin' on the beach all night, Them boys in their 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 all promised 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 it kept me spinnin', they didn't think I'd ever get off. Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us, Those pier lights, our carnival life on the water, Runnin' laughin' underneath the boardwalk with the boss's daughter, I remember, Sandy girl, my baby. Sandy, the waitress I was seein' lost her desire for me, I spoke with her last night, she said she won't set herself on fire for me anymore, She worked that joint under the boardwalk, she was always the girl you saw boppin' down the beach with the radio, Kids say last night she was dressed like a star in one of the cheap little seaside bars and I saw her parked with her loverboy out on the Kokomo, Did you hear, the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do, For me, this boardwalk life is through, you ought to quit this scene too. Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us, Those pier lights, our carnival life forever, Oh, love me tonight and I promise I'll love you forever, Oh, I mean it Sandy girl.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.Wild Billy's Circus Story
The Machinist climbs his ferris wheel like a brave and the fire-eater's lyin' in a pool of sweat victim of the heatwave, Behind the tent the hired hand tightens his legs on the sword swallowers blade, Circus town's on the shortwave Well the runway lies ahead like a great false dawn, Fat lady, big mama, Missy Bimbo sits in her chair and yawns, And the man-beast lies in his cage sniffin' popcorn and the midget licks his fingers and suffers Missy Bimbo's scorn Circus town's been born. And a press roll drummer go, ballerina to-and-fro cartwheelin' up on that tightrope, With a cannon blast, lightin' flash, movin' fast through the tent, Mars bent, He's gonna miss his fall, oh God save the human cannonball. And the flying Zambini's watch Marguarita do her neck twist, And the ringmaster gets the crowd to count along: 95, 96, 97. A ragged suitcase in his hand, he steals silently away from the circus grounds, And the highway's haunted by the carnival sounds They dance like a great greasepaint ghost on the wind, A man in baggy pants, a lonely face, a crazy grin, runnin' home to some small Ohio town Jesus, send some sweet women to save all your clowns And circus boy dances like a monkey on barbed wire, and the barker romances with a junkie, she's got a flat tire, And now the elephants dance real funky and the band plays like a jungle fire, Circus town's on the live wire. And the strong man Sampson lifts the midget, little Tiny Tim, up on his shoulders, way up, and carries him on down the midway past the kids, past the sailors, to his dimly lit trailer, And the ferris wheel turns and turns like it ain't ever gonna stop, And the circus boss leans over and whispers into the little boy's ear, hey son you want to try the big top? All aboard, Nebraska's our next stop.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 came 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 barefoot 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, maybe." 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.Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Spread out now Rosie, doctor come cut loose her mama's reins, You know playin' Blind Man's Bluff is a little baby's game, You pick up Little Dynamite, I'll pick up Little Gun And together we're gonna go out tonight and make that highway run You don't have to call me lieutenant, Rosie, and I don't want to be your son, The only lover I'm ever gonna need's your soft, sweet little girl's tongue, And Rosie, you're the one. Dynamite's in the belfry, baby, playin' with the bats, Little Gun's downtown in front of Woolworth's tryin' out his attitude on all the cats, Papa's on the corner waitin' for the bus, Mama, she's home in the window, waitin' up for us, She'll be there in that chair when they wrestle her upstairs cause you know we ain't gonna come, I ain't here on business, baby, I'm only here for fun And Rosie, you're the one. Rosalita, jump a little higher Senorita, come sit by my fire I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar Rosalita, you're my stone desire. Jack the Rabbit and Weak Knee Willie, don't you know they're gonna be there, Sloppy Sue and Big Bone Billy, they'll be coming up for air, We're gonna play some pool, skip some school, act real cool, stay out all night, it's gonna feel alright, So Rosie come out tonight, little baby come out tonight Windows are for cheaters, chim'neys for the poor, Closets are for hangers, winners use the door, So use it Rosie, that's what it's there for. (Repeat Chorus) Now I know your mama, she don't like me cause I play in a rock and roll band, And I know your daddy, he don't dig me but he never did understand, Your papa lowered the boom, he locked you in your room I'm comin' to lend a hand, I'm comin' to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man Some day we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny But now you're sad, your momma's mad, and your papa says he knows that I don't have any money and your papa says he knows that I don't have any money and your papa says he knows that I don't have any money Well tell him this is his last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance, Cause Rosie the record company just gave me a big advance. And my tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy, And my machine, she's a dud, out stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey Well hold on tight, stay up all night, cause Rosie I'm comin' on strong, By the time we meet the morning light I will hold you in my arms I know a pretty little place in Southern California, down San Diego way, There's a little cafe, where they play guitars all night and day You can hear them in the back room strummin', so hold tight baby cause don't you know daddy's comin' Everybody sing. (Repeat Chorus)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.NOTES
Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez: Drums, background vocals, coronet on "The E Street Shuffle" Gary W. Tallent: Bass, tuba, background vocals Danny Federici: Accordion, background vocals, 2nd piano on "Incident on 57nd Street", and organ on "Kitty's Back" Clarence "Nick" Clemons: All saxes and background vocals David L. Sancious: Piano, organ (organ solo on "Kitty's Back"), electric piano, clavinet, soprano sax on "The E Street Shuffle", background vocals, and string arrangement on "New York City Serenade" Bruce Springsteen: All guitars, harmonica, mandolin, recorder, lead vocals Cameo appearences Richard Blackwell: Congas and percussions Albany "Al" Tellone (From Newark, N.J.): Bartione Sax on "The E Street Shuffle" Hell Hall and Al-B-Tellone: Equipment coordination All songs written and arranged b7y Bruce Springsteen Produced by: Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos for Laurel Canyon Ltd. Recorded at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York / Engineered by Louis Lahav Design: Teresa Alfieri & John Berg / Photography: David Gahr