Incident on 57th Street Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
INCIDENT ON 57th STREET (From the album "The Wild, the Innocent...")
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NOTE: Taken from the book Springsteen Complete.
Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night with bruised arms and
[Bb] [Eb] [F] [Bb]
broken rhythm and a beat-up old Buick but dressed just like dynamite,
[Eb] [Bb] [F]
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street,
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
But they sigh, "Johnny, it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days
[Bb] [Eb] [Bb]
are cheap."
[F]
And the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a cheater."
[Eb] [Bb]
Well, the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a liar."
[Eb] [Bb]
And from out of the shadows cam e a young girl's voice, said: "Johnny don't
[Eb]
cry."
[Bb]
Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.
[Eb] [Bb]
I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so
[Eb]
crowded and there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
[Bb]
All the golden heeled fairies in a real b**ch-fight pull thirty-eights and
[F] [Eb]
kiss their girls goodnight.
[Bb] [F]
Goodnight, it's alright, Jane
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame,
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby,
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
Or we may walk until the daylight, maybe.
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
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
[Bb] [Eb]
leave me alone."
[F]
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
[Bb] [Eb]
puttin' his clothes on,
[F]
She says, "Those romantic young boys, all they ever want to do is fight,
[Eb] [Bb]
Those romantic young boys, they're callin' through the window:
[Eb]
Hey, Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"
[Bb] [Fsus] [F]
And Johnny whispered, "Goodnight, it's all tight Jane,
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
Or we may walk until the daylight, maybe."
[Bb] [Eb] [F]
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.
CHORD FORMATIONS:
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Bb x 1 3 3 3 1 (Bar on 1st)
Eb x 6 5 3 4 3 (Bar on 3rd)
F 1 3 3 2 1 1 (Bar on 1st)
Fsus 1 3 3 3 1 1 (Bar of 1st)
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