Bruce Springsteen

I AIN'T GOT NO HOME - Folkways version
I AIN'T GOT NO HOME - Woody Guthrie
I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE - Peretti, Creators, Weiss - Elvis Presley
I JUST CAN'T CHANGE
I SOLD MY HEART TO THE JUNKMAN - Patty Labelle / The Bluebells
I WANNA BE WHERE THE BANDS ARE
I WANNA BE WITH YOU
I WANNA MARRY YOU
I WISH I WERE BLIND
I'M A COWARD (WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE)
I'M A ROCKER
I'M GOIN' DOWN
I'M ON FIRE
I'M TURNING INTO ELVIS
ICEMAN
IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND
IF I WAS THE PRIEST
a IN FREEHOLD 11-08-96
b IN FREEHOLD 07-18-99
IN MICHIGAN
INCIDENT ON 57th STREET
INDEPENDENCE DAY
INTO THE FIRE
IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY
IT'S MY LIFE (4 different versions)

I AIN'T GOT NO HOME
(Woody Guthrie)

I ain't got no home, I'm just a ramblin' around
Work when I can get it, I roam from town to town
The police make it hard wherever I may go
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I was farmin' shares and always I was done
My debts they was so many they wouldn't go around
Drought got my crops and Mr. Banker's at my door
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

Six children I have raised, they're scattered and they're gone
And my darling wife to heaven she has flown
She died of the fever upon the cabin floor
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I mined in your mines and I gathered in your corn
I been workin' mister since the day that I was born
I worry all the time like I never did before
Cause I ain't got no home in this world anymore

Now I just ramble around to see what I can see
This wide wicked world is a funny place to be
The gamblin' man is rich and the workin' man is poor
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I'm stranded on this road that goes from sea to sea
A hundred thousand others are stranded here with me
A hundred thousand others and a hundred thousand more
I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I AIN'T GOT NO HOME
(Woody Guthrie/Woody Guthrie)

I ain't got no home, I'm just a ramblin' around
A hard working ramblin' man, I go from town to town
The police make it hard wherever I may go
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I was farmin' on the shares and always I was poor
My crops I laid into the banker's door
And my wife took down and died upon the cabin floor
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I ain't got no home, I'm just a ramblin' around
A hard working ramblin' man, I go from town to town
The police make it hard wherever I may go
And I Ain't Got No Home in this world anymore

Now as I look around it's mighty plain to see
This wide wicked world is a funny place to be
The gamblin' man is rich and the workin' man is poor
And I ain't got no home in this world anymore

I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
(Peretti, Creators, Weis/Elvis Presley)

Wise men say only fools rush in
but I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I say would it be a sin
'cause I can't help falling in love with you

Like the river flows
flowing to the sea
darling so it goes
some things were meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too
'cause I can't help falling in love with you
No, I can't help falling in love with you

I JUST CAN'T CHANGE
(as performed at The Backdoor Club, Richmond, VA February 26/27, 1972)

Well, you can come by in the morning
It'll be alright
That's alright
Well if you wanna stop by this evening
I'll be home about nine
Well but don't you come around if you're gonna act strange
No don't do it to me

Because I just can't change, babe
I just can't change
No matter how I try, child
I just can't change

Well you tell me how much you miss me girl
Well I miss you too
Yes I do
And it's been so long since you kissed me
Don't you think I'm about due

Oh
But don't you, don't you be comin' 'round
If you're gonna try and rearrange
No don't do it to me

Because I just can't change, girl
I just can't change
No matter how I try, child
I just can't change

Yeah, well you come around whenever you want to
And don't you know I want you to because you're so fine to see
And you tell me how you've got the love
Yes I know you've got a lot of love
And you wanna give it to me
But sometimes you make me crazy
Trying to put them chains on me, babe
No, not me baby

And she calls so sweetly
So discreetly
And she says how you been baby
Are you busy and are you alone?
And I tell her
If you've got the money, then something can be arranged

Child
Oh I just can't change
No I just can't change
No matter how I try honey
I just can't change

Oh
I just can't change
You gotta take me as I am
Yeah, you gotta take me as I am
I just can't change baby
No I just can't change

I SOLD MY HEART TO THE JUNKMAN
(P. Labelle/Patty Labelle and The Bluebells)
intro

"...this is a very sad song, this next song we're gonna do.
The song is so sad that sometimes I have to leave the stage and
cry in the backstage a little bit while I'm singing this song. The reason
this song is so sad because this story happened to me just a little
while ago (not true, but true) (audience laughs) And it was, it was
a thing where I met this this beautiful girl, right? was she a
beautiful girl as she was, she was nice and ... and I gave her my whole
heart, every every bit, and she gave it back to me a month later all
beat up, so bad and so terrible looking that
I Sold My Heart To The Junkman !
Now I can never fall in love again...."
(starts song)

Well I gave my heart to you, open, so open and trusting
And you gave it back to me, it was broken up and busting
(sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman
(sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman
I can never fall in love again

Oh and I know you took my heart, you thought that you could use it
When you gave it back like a toy you broken and bruised
(sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman
(I sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman
I can never fall in love again

Now, it was a movie sad scene, I played my part
Ooh I wanted the happy ending, but all I got was a broken heart
(all he got was a broken heart)
(I sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman(I sold my heart) I sold my
heart to the junkman
I can never fall in love again

Now I swear it was a movie setting, baby I played my part
And all I wanted was a happy ending,
but now I'm left with a broken heart
(now he's left with a broken heart)
(I sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman
(I sold my heart) I sold my heart to the junkman
I can never fall in love again

I gave my heart to you, so open and trusting
And you gave it back to me, it was broken up and busting
(so I sold) I sold my heart to the junkman
(yes I sold) I sold my heart to the junkman
I can never fall in love again

Yes I did sold my heart to the junkman
Yes I did, yes I did
Sold my heart to the junkman
Now I can never fall in love again
Since I sold my heart to the junkman.

WHERE THE BANDS ARE
I hear the guitars ringin' out
Ringin' out down Union Street
I hear the lead singer shoutin' out, girl
I wanna be a slave to the beat
Yeah, tonight I wanna break my chains
Somebody break my heart
Somebody shake my brains
Downtown there's something that I wanna hear
There's a sound, little girl, keeps ringing in my ear

CHORUS
I wanna be where the bands are
I wanna be where the bands are
Where the bands are
I wanna be where the bands are

I get off from work and I grab something to eat
I turn the corner and I drive down your street
Little gray houses darling looks like nowhere
But hey I know you're hiding in there
Come on out for just a little while
You know that heart of stone, girl, it just ain't your style
Tonight I wanna feel the beat of the crowd
And when I tell you that I love you
I wanna have to shout it out loud
Shout it out loud

CHORUS

I hear the guitars ringin' out again
Ringin' on down Union Street
I hear the lead singer shoutin' out girl
I wanna be a slave to the beat
And I want something that'll break my chains
Something to break my heart
Something to shake my brains
There's a rocker's special on tonight
So meet me on down
'Neath the neon lights

CHORUS

I WANNA BE WITH YOU

Let the frozen cities crumble, crumble and fall
That's alright, I don't mind at all
Let 'em all tumble right into the sea
Well that's just fine, that's alright with me
Since you came down the line
I can't sleep at night, I got one thing on my mind
That's every day, every night
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, that's what I wanna do
'Cause you're just so out of sight
I wanna be with you, that's what I wanna do
Now I lost my job at the Texaco station
'Cause instead of pumping gas I'd dream of you
I got thrown out of my house, I got such a bad reputation
'Cause all I wanna do is be seen with you
They gave me my pay and said walk
I don't care what they say, go ahead and let 'em all talk

'Til the world falls apart
I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you
That's what I wanna do
Until they will rip out my heart
I wanna be with you, I wanna be with you
Well that's all I wanna do

Hold tight, love me just a little bit
Alright, a little bit more
Tonight, tonight give me just a little kiss
No I don't know, I don't know, I don't
I just can't understand it, you're not pretty at all
But I come when you whisper, I run when you call
When I see you on the street I fall on my face
I drop to my knees, I plead my case
Oh, oh I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, that's what I wanna do
Oh, oh I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, that's all I wanna do
Oh, oh I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you, darlin', don't you know
Oh, oh I wanna be with you
I wanna be with you because I love you so

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

I WISH I WERE BLIND
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 walkin' 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

I'M A COWARD (WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE)
I ain't afraid of no lions
I ain't afraid of no grizzly bear
I got in a wrestlin' match with old King Kong
He didn't even muss my hair
There's just one thing in the whole wide world
That make me doubt my stuff

I'm a coward when it comes to love

Now bring down old Hulk Hogan
King Kong Bundy too
Bring down old Big Mike Tyson
I'll show them what a real man can do
They say the tougher' get goin'
Now baby that's when the goin' get tough

But I'm a coward when it comes to love
I'm a coward when it comes to love
I'm a coward when it comes to love

You can bring on a different sexy girl
At every night of the week
Buddy that's okay
But I start tremblin', my knees get weak
Whenever I hear her say
"Do you love me baby?"
"Do you love me baby?"
"Do you love me baby?"

I got a muscle of iron
I got another muscle made of steel
But when we start kissin' 'n' huggin'
You may be the bravest man in the whole wide world
But Buddy, that ain't enough

I'm a coward when it comes to love
I'm a coward when it comes to love
I'm a coward when it comes to love

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

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

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 took 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

I'M TURNING INTO ELVIS
(beginning cut) ...kissed the babysitter
She screamed and I told her it was just the beast in me
And on my way out of the house I shot out my TV
I went down to the corner luncheonette and said
Sally "fried peanut butter and banana will do(?)" I'm turning into Elvis and there's nothing I can do

I threw out my wife and family I took off my wedding ring
I told my friends and neighbors to refer to me now as "King"
I put a chainlink fence around my ranch house and on the gate
a sign that reads "Graceland II"
I'm turning into Elvis and there's nothing I can do

I visited my mama's grave and I headed out to Hollywood and I signed a picture with MGM I play a rebellious beachboy racecar driver who fucks a nun in the end
In the last scene I whip out my big guitar
and show her a little Memphis-style kung-fu
I'm turning into Elvis and there's nothing I can do

But I drove on straight to Vegas and I stopped in the first old stripper bar
Found me a little hooker that looked just like Ann-Margaret
and we rumba'd in my sports car
Well me and my drinking buddies turned my lovin' home into a frikkin' zoo
I'm turning into Elvis and there's nothing I can do

Well he came to me last night in a dream looking just like he did in '57
He said "Son that guitar is a wonderful thing but it can be the living devils' friend
On the other hand there's sex-starved women,
millions of dollars, and anything you want to do."
I'm turning into Elvis and there's nothing I can do

ICEMAN
Sleepy town ain't got the guts to budge
Baby, this emptiness has already been judged
I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got

You're a strange part of me, you're a preacher's girl
And I don't want no piece of this mechanical world
Got my arms open wide and my blood is running hot

We'll take the midnight road right to the devil's door
And even the white angels of Eden with their flamin' swords
Won't be able to stop us from hitting town in this dirty old Ford

Well it don't take no nerve when you got nothing to guard
I got tombstones in my eyes and I'm running real hard
My baby was a lover and the world just blew her away

Once they tried to steal my heart, beat it right outta my head
But baby they didn't know that I was born dead
I am the iceman, fighting for the right to live
I say better than the glory roads of heaven better off riding
Hellbound in the dirt, better than the bright lines of the freeway
Better than the shadows of your daddy's church
Better than the waiting, baby better off is the search

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

IF I WAS THE PRIEST
Well there's a light on yonder mountain
And it's calling me to shine
There's a girl over by the water fountain
And she's asking to be mine
And ain't that Jesus, he's standing in the doorway
With a buckskin jacket, boots and spurs, so really fine
He says "We need you up in Dodge City, son
'Cause there's oh so many bad boys (just too many outlaw)
Tryin' to work the same line"

Well now if Jesus was the sheriff and I were the priest
If my lady was an heiress and my mama was a thief
Oh and Papa rode shotgun for the Fargo line
There's still too many outlaws
Tryin' to work the same line

Now old sweet Virgin Mary
She runs the Holy Grail saloon
Where for a nickel they'll give you whisky
And the personally blessed balloon
And the Holy Ghost, he's the host with the most
He runs the burlesque show
Where they let you in for free
But oh hit you for your soul when you go
And Mary serves Mass on Sunday
And then she sells her body on Monday
To the bootlegger who will pay the highest price
But he don't know he got stuck with a loser
Mary's a stone junkie, what's more she's a boozer
And she's only been made once or twice
By some kind of magic

Well things ain't been the same in Heaven
Ever since big bad Bobby came to town
He's been known to down eleven
And then ask for another round
And me I got scabs on my knees
>From kneeling way too long
I gotta take a stand, be the man, up where you belong
And forget about the old friends and the old times
Because there's just too many new boys
Tryin' to work the same line

Well now if Jesus was the sheriff and I were the priest
If my lady was an heiress and my mama was a thief
Oh and Papa rode shotgun for the Fargo line
There's still too many bad boys
Tryin' to work the same line

Now there's a light on yonder mountain
And it's calling me to shine
There's a girl by the water fountain
And she's asking to be mine
And Jesus, he's standing in the doorway
With his six-guns drawn, and ready to fan
He says "We need you son, up in Dodge City"
But I'm already overdue in Cheyenne

IN FREEHOLD
in freehold lyrics ......from St. Rose of Lima Catholic school in freehold, nj.....11-08-96

i was born right here on randolph street in freehold......
here right behind that big red maple in freehold....
well i went to school right here....
got laid and had my first beer.......in freehold
well my folks all lived and worked right here in freehold
i remember running up the street past the convent the church in freehold
chased my daddy down in these bars...
first fell in love with this guitar....here in freehold
well i had my first kiss at the ymca cantene on friday night
maria esponsia tell me where are you tonight...
you were 13 but way ahead of your time.......
i walked home with a limp but i felt fine......that night in freehold
well the girls at freehold regional they looked pretty fine....
had my heart broke at least a half a dozen times....
i wonder if they miss me they'd still get the itch...
if they had dumped me if they knew id strike it rich......straight out of
freehold
well tex rest in peace......
and marian gave us a hand in freehold
georgie ...we started up a rock n roll band in freehold (castiles...band)
well we learned really quick how to rock it...
ill never forget the feeling of that first 5 bucks in my pocket, that i
earned in freehold.........
well i got outta really hard and fast in freehold......
everybody wanted to kick my ass back there in freehold....
well if you were different black or brown, it was a bit of a redneck town,
back then in freehold...
well something broke my daddys back in freehold.........
in 69 he left and he never come back to freehold.....
said once he drove from calif. 3000 miles in 3 days....
called my relatives some dirty names, and pulled straight out of freehold....
sister had her first little baby at 17 in freehold.....
well people can be pretty mean....
honey you had a rough road to go......
but you aint made of nothin but soul.....
i love you more that you'll ever know...we both survived freehold
well my buddy mike he's the mayor now in freehold......
i remember when we used to have a lot more hair in freehold.........
well i left and swore id never walk these streets again jack...
tonight all i can say is "holy shit im back"...back in freehold
well this summer everything was green in freehold....
rode my kids on the fire engines through the streets of freehold......
i showed them where dad was born and raised......
and first felt the sun on his face.....there in freehold
well i still got a lot of good friends right here in town....
i can usually find me a free beer somewhere.....
with offers of free meals i am blessed......
should i go crazy blowing my money and ruin my life......
but at least ill never go hungry i guess....here in freehold...
well i got a good catholic education.....here in freehold...
led to an awful lot of masterbation here in freehold....
father it was just something i did for a smile.....
hell i still get a good one off once in a while.....
and dedicate it to freehold.....
dont get me wrong, i aint putting anybody down.......
hell in the end it all just goes and comes around....
its one helluva town ............FREEHOLD

IN FREEHOLD
in freehold lyrics ......from Continental Airlines Arena 7/18/99

I was born right here on Randolph street in Freehold
here right behind that big red maple in Freehold
well i went to school right here
got laid and had my first beer, in Freehold

well my folks all lived and worked right here in Freehold
I remember running up the street past the convent & the church in Freehold
chased my daddy down in these bars
first fell in love with this guitar, here in Freehold

I had my first kiss at the YMCA canteen on a Friday night
Maria Espinosa baby, where are you tonight
you were 13 but way ahead of your time
I walked home with a limp but I felt just fine, that night in Freehold

well the girls at Freehold Regional yeah, they all looked pretty fine
had my heart broke at least a half a dozen times
I wonder if they miss me, do they still get the itch...
if they had dumped me if they knew I'd strike it rich, straight out of Freehold

Well, a lot of folks gave us kids a hand in Freehold
Man, we started up our rock n roll band in Freehold
well we learned really quick how to rock it
I'll never forget the feeling of that first 5 bucks in my pocket, that I earned in Freehold

well I got outta here hard and fast in Freehold
everybody wanted to kick my ass back there in Freehold
well if you were different black or brown
it was a pretty redneck town, back there in Freehold

well now something broke my daddy's back in Freehold
he left and for 30 years he'd never come back
except once he drove from California in just 3 days
called my relatives some dirty names
drove straight out of Freehold
Now he's buried by the highway, buried in the dirt
his ghost just flippin' the bird, to everybody in Freehold

Well, my sister got pregnant at 17 in Freehold
Back then people they could be pretty mean
Now honey you had a rough road to go
now you ain't made of nothin' but soul
I love you more that you'll ever know, we both survived Freehold

well my buddy Mike he's the Mayor now in Freehold
I remember when we had a lot more hair in Freehold
I left and swore I'd never walk these streets again, jack
now all I can say is "holy shit I'm back", back in Freehold

Well I read something in the paper a couple weeks ago that seemed pretty funny
The town council was debating about putting up a statue,
a statue of me in my hometown, but it cost too much money
Well I'd like to thank the Town Council, my friends, for saving me from humiliation
By demonstrating the good hard common sense that we learned in Freehold

well this summer everything was green
rode my kids on the fire engines through the streets of Freehold
I brought them to where dad was born and raised.
and first felt the sun on his face, in Freehold

well I still got a lot of good friends right there
I can usually find a free beer somewhere
with free meals I am blessed
should I go crazy blow all my money, hit the tabloids,
become fodder for the talk shows, turn my life into a complete fuckin' mess..
at least ill never go hungry I guess...in Freehold...

well I got a good Catholic education here in Freehold
led to an awful lot of masturbation here in Freehold
now father it was just something I did for a smile
hell I still get a good one off once in a while
and dedicate it to Freehold

don't get me wrong, I ain't putting anybody down
in the end it all just goes and comes around
in my hometown, FREEHOLD

IN MICHIGAN
Well my mother rolled over and died in Michigan
My dog got hit by a truck and I cried in Michigan
I got drunk and puked up my guts in Michigan

But I'm alright, I'm alright, I'm alright, I'm alright
And man I'm riding here tonight in Michigan

I ran a race and came in dead last in Michigan
Yeah, I shot myself in the ass in Michigan
I was lookin' for someplace to feel free But they busted my for just being me
In Michigan

But alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
And baby I'm riding high tonight in Michigan

I ran into a little bad luck in Michigan
I met a woman and for seven days anf seven nights all we did is fuck in Michigan
I said Baby I'm running late but you got here one hell of a state
In Michigan
Oh Michigan

INCIDENT ON 57th STREET
Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in 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 sighed "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, there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight
Pull .38s and kiss the girls good night
Oh good night, 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 he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind
Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' 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"
Oh them barefoot boys left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys they say homes ain't no good
They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each other good-bye
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:
Good night, it's all tight Jane
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe

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
It's Independence Day all boys must run away
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

INTO THE FIRE

The sky was falling and streaked with blood
I heard you calling me, then you disappeared into the dust
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

You gave your love to see, in fields of red and autumn brown
You gave your love to me and lay your young body down
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need you near, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

It was dark, too dark to see, you held me in the light you gave
You lay your hand on me
Then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs, into the fire

May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love

May your love bring us love

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 hear 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 gasoline boys downtown sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city

I was the king of the alley, mama, 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
Just 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 out on the street

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

IT'S MY LIFE
March 4, 1977
April 7 1976
August 1, 1976
November 4, 1976

It's my life (March 4, 1977, Jacksonville & My Father's Place)

'Cause I remember in the summertime, me and this friend of mine used to get... used to get his old man's car and we used to, at night, take off down toward the shore, because I lived about twenty miles inland off a beach, and ah... We'd take off down this... this highway, route 33, heading down towards the beach and they... At the time, they wouldn't let us in the bars because we wasn't old enough, we used to... used to park outside on the street, sit on the hood of the car, get the cats to leave the doors open so we could hear the bands blasting out from inside, coming down from the city to play along the shore in the summertime.
And we'd stay there all night until around four o'clock and I'd head home. And I'd get out of the car, and my old man used to lock up the front door so I couldn't come in the front. He used to be sitting in kitchen all night long with the lights out, smoke a cigarette, drinking beer, waiting for me and my sister to come home.

So, I'd make it up on the porch. At first, I'd stand there in the driveway for a while and I'd... didn't have the guts to go in and I could look through the screen door and see the light of his cigarette butt at the table. Finally, I'd slick my hair back real tight and I'd try to make it up to my room. He'd always be calling me to come back and sit down with him in the dark in the kitchen, he'd always be sitting there telling me... asking me what I was doing with myself. And I remember this went on... He used to sit in that kitchen at night as long as I can remember, ever since I was a little kid, with my mom sitting in the front room just... with the TV on, watching TV 'til she fell asleep, got up to go to work the next morning. We'd sit there in the dark talking, and I could always hear his voice. I'd be squinting real hard and I could... I could never make out his face. We'd start talking, just about how things was going in general at first. And then... Pretty soon, he'd get around to asking me where I was getting my money from, what I thought I was doing with myself and how my whole life was turning into a waste. And we'd always end up screaming at each other at around four in the morning. My mother'd end up run... waking up, running in from the front room and try to keep us from fighting with each other. And I'd always end up running out the back door, back out in the street, telling him, screaming at him, telling him how he was going to have to learn to live with it pretty soon, because it was my life and I was going to do what I wanted to do...
It's a hard world to get a break in
Seems like the good things have all been taken
But now I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable someday
Hear what I say
Now I'm gonna ride the serpent
Gonna be no more time spent sweating rent
Hear my command, I'm breaking loose
Though it ain't no use
we're holding me down
For just hanging around
Cause baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want

I know... Know I will someday

Now there were women and their fortunes
And they just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry
taking all I can get with no regrets
When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me honey, that there's money out there
And you can believe, you can't be no saint and complain
I'm going to go on out now, and I'm going to take what's mine
Cause baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
But someday I'll treat you real fine

(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
It's my life
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want)
It's my life
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
It's my life
(It's my life and I'll think what I want)

It's My Life (April 7, 1976, Runners in the Night)

I used to live in a small town -- it was about ten thousand people, and uh... I used to live in this two-family house and at night, my father used to lock up the front door. So me and my sister, we used to come in around through the kitchen. And uh, he'd sit in the kitchen all night with all of the lights out, smoke a cigarette, drink some beer. My mother'd sit in the front room, watch the TV, you know.. If you came in, if you came in around ten or eleven, or even by midnight, it wasn't too bad. But if you came in around.. around two or three, he'd always stop me, want me to sit in the kitchen with him and talk to him about something. He'd start talking to me about what I was doing in school... or if I was looking for a job or something. Pretty soon we'd be arguing and screaming at each other, my mother'd be running in from the front room, try to keep us from fighting with each other and I'd be... I'd end up running back outside the house, running out the door telling him how it was my life, I could do what I want...
It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I'm dressed in these rags, I will wear sable someday

Hear what I say I'm going to make for certain
That's there's no more time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command, I'm breaking loose
There ain't no use in holding me down
Or sticking around
Now, baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

I know, I know, I know...
I just know...

There'll be women with their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry?
Taking all I can get with no regrets

When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me honey, there's money out there
And you can believe that I ain't no saint to complain
So go on out now, go on now, and take what's mine
'Cause baby (baby)
remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

Don't push me!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
I'll do what I want!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
It's my life!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
I know!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want

It's My Life (August 1, 1976, First Rendezvous in Red Bank)

I used to live in this two family house, on this main road used to go through town. Yeah, I know. My mom used to work downtown at some office building as a secretary. And my pop, he was a... he was a guard down at the jail sometimes. A lot of times, he'd just stay home. And when he'd be home, I remember, (???), he used to shut off all the lights in the house and just sit in the kitchen, drink his beer, smoke a cigarette. In the wintertime sometimes, he'd leave the gas stove on so that it got real hot in there and shut all the doors. My mom used to sit in the front room, watch TV all night. And I'd go out.

And if you came... If me and my sister if we came in... if we came in around ten or eleven, it was never too bad. But if we came in late, I knew my pop was sitting there waiting for me, sitting there in the dark for hours. And it put me and I tried to... tried to make it through the kitchen and run to make it up to my room. And just as I was, just as I was about through, he'd end up calling my name, tell me to sit down and talk to him for a little while. And we'd sit there in the dark. And meanwhile I could always hear his voice, but I could never see his face though...

We'd talk about mostly nothing, what I was doing in school, and how I could join the army. Start asking what I thought I was doing with myself and where I was getting my money from, and all of a sudden, you're no good. And pretty soon, we'd start screaming at each other. And my mom would be coming in from the front room keeping us from fighting each other. And I'd be running out the back door, telling him that it was my life, I could do what I wanted to do...
It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable someday

Hear what I say I'm going to make for certain
That's there's no more time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command, I'm breaking loose
There ain't no use in holding me down
Or sticking 'round
Cause, baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

I know, I know, I know...
I just know...

There'll be women with their fortunes
Who just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry?
Taking all I can get with no regrets

When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me honey, that there's money out there
And you can believe that I ain't no saint to complain
And I'm going to go on out now, and get what's mine
Baby (baby)
remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

Don't push me!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
Do what I want!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
It's my life!
It's my life and I'll do what I want
Do what I want, girl!
It's my mind and I'll think what I want

It's my Life (November 4, 1976, We Gotta Get Out of this Place)

I grew up in this small town about twenty miles... twenty miles in.. inland. I remember I was in this dumpy two-story, two-family house next door to this gas station. And... And my mom, she... she was a secretary, and she worked downtown. And my pop... I remember she, she married my pop as soon as he got out of the army. They got married, and she took that job. And my father, he worked a lot of different places. He worked in a rug mill for a while, he drove a cab for a while and... worked... he was a guard down at the jail for a while. I can remember when he worked down there, he used to always come home real pissed off, drunk, sit in the kitchen. At night, nine o'clock, he used to shut off all the lights, every light in the house, and he used to get real pissed off if me or my sister turned any of them on. And he'd sit in the kitchen with a six-pack, a cigarette. And mom, she'd set her hair and she... she would come downstairs and just turn on the TV, and sit in the chair, watch TV 'til she fell asleep. And she'd get up the next morning and go to work again. And my pop, sometimes he went to bed, sometimes he didn't. Sometimes he got up, sometimes he didn't get up. And... And I used to sleep upstairs. And I used to pull, in the summertime, when the weather got hot, I used to drag my mattress out the window and sleep on the roof next door to the gas station. And I'd watch these different guys... The station closed up at one, and these guys, they'd be pulling in and pulling out all night long. They'd be meeting people there, they'd be ripping off down the highway. And as soon as I hit sixteen, me and my buddy, we got this car and we started taking off. We used to take off down to the beach sleep under the... sleep on top of the beach houses. We used to spin up to the city, and just walk around the streets all night long 'til the cops catch us at Port Authority, call our pops. My pop, he'd never come and get me, I remember, he always sent my mother. Everytime I got in trouble, my mother'd come down, she'd always say 'your father, he don't even want to come.' And... And I used to always have to go back home and when I... And I'd stand there in that driveway, afraid to go in the house and I could see through the screen door, could see the light on my pop's cigarette, and I can remember I just couldn't wait until I was old enough to take him out once. But... I used to slick my hair back real tight, so he couldn't tell how long it was getting, and try to sneak through the kitchen. But the old man, he'd catch every night and he'd drag me back into that kitchen, he'd make me sit down at that table in the dark, and he would sit there telling me, and in the wintertime, he used to... he used to turn on the gas stove so, and close all the doors, so it got real hot in there. And I remember just sitting in the dark, him telling me... and telling me, telling me, telling me. And I could always hear that voice. No matter how long I sat there, I could never ever see his face.

We'd start talking about nothing much, how I was doing... Pretty soon, he asked me what I thought I was doing with myself. And we'd always end up screaming at each other. My mother, she'd always end up running in from the front room crying, and trying to pull him off me, try to keep us from fighting with each other. And I'd always end up... I'd always end up running out the back door and pulling away from him. Pulling away from him, running down the driveway screaming at him, telling him, telling him, telling him, how it was my life and I was going to do what I wanted to do...
It's a hard world to get a break in
All the good things have been taken
But I know there's ways to make certain these days
Though I come dressed in rags, I will wear sable, Sable!, someday
Someday...

Hear what I say
Man, I'm going to make for certain
Ain't gonna be no more of my time spent sweatin' rent
Hear my command, I'm cutting loose
It ain't no use in trying to hold me down
Or sticking 'round
Cause, baby (baby)
Remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

I will!

Girl, I will... I will, god I know it... I will...

Yeah...

There's women, who likes a-paying the rent, and their fortunes
And they'll just want to mother orphans
Are you going to cry when I'm bleeding them dry?
Taking all I can get with no regrets

When I, When I openly lie and live only money
'Cause you can believe me, that there's money out there
And you can believe you can't be no saint and complain
And I'm going to go on out, now!, and take what's mine
And baby (baby)
remember (remember)

It's my life and I'll do what I want
It's my mind and I'll think what I want
Show me I'm wrong
Hurt me sometime
Someday I'll treat you real fine

(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
It's my life!
(It's my mind and I'll think what I want)
Think what I want!
(It's my life and I'll do what I want)
Don't you push me!
(It's my mind) my life! (and I'll think what I want)

All right!

It's my life!