Racing in the Street is a ballad written by Bruce Springsteen, it was originally released on his album Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978). The song has been referred to as Springsteen’s best song by a number of commentators. I think it’s at least in the top 10 of my favourite Springsteen songs.
Darkness on the Edge of Town version:
“…And “Racing in the Streets” is still perhaps the best Springsteen song ever.”
– Rolling Stone magazine
Like so many times, before and since, the car is a symbol of freedom in Springsteen’s universe. Driving a car gives you the ultimate feeling of freedom in this world.
The song begins with two friends fixing up an old car. The story is made believable through Bruce’s attention to detail, he seems to know what he is talking about, “I got a ’69 Chevy with a 396, Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor”. The two friends needs the car to go racing, to earn money from street racing. As the story is told, they go from town to town and win easy money. They’re like cowboys in the old west, riding where the work is, no strings attached.
Live version from The Darkness Box, 2009:
The protagonist/the racer and his friend Sonny hasn’t stopped living, even if they have ordinary day jobs. They come home from work, get cleaned up and starts living, they go racing in the streets.
In the early 1980s, many years after the song’s initial release, MTV began showing a music video for the song. The video was a straight concert performance (from a Darkness Tour performance on July 8, 1978 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona) that included band introductions and numerous adoring females rushing the stage. While only adequate technically, the video captured the energy and playfulness of Springsteen and the E Street Band in concert, and was the first such introduction many casual fans had.
For many years, dating back virtually to when the song was written, “Rosalita” always closed the regular set in Springsteen concerts, often elongated to incorporate extended band introductions. It was the one “sure thing” in a Springsteen set list and celebrated as such. Steven Van Zandt used this time to shine on backing vocals, as his voice changed on performances of the song from the Born To Run Tours to the The River Tour.
However, on October 19, 1984 in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, during the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, this suddenly changed; “Rosalita” was dropped from the show..
The goodies:
Lyrics:
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’m gonna 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
Ah, 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
Ah, I ain’t here on business, baby, I’m only here for fun
And Rosie, you’re the one
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
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 Knees Willie, don’t you know they’re gonna be there
Ah, Sloppy Sue and Big Bones Billy, they’ll be comin’ up for air
We’re gonna play some pool, skip some school, act real cool
Stay out all night, it’s gonna feel all right
So Rosie, come out tonight, oh, baby, come out tonight
Windows are for cheaters, chimneys for the poor
Oh, closets are for hangers, winners use the door
So use it Rosie, that’s what it’s there for
And Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain’t no liar
Rosalita, you’re my stone desire
All right
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 coming to lend a hand
I’m coming to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man
Someday we’ll look back on this and it will all seem funny
But now you’re sad, your mama’s mad
And your papa says he knows that I don’t (have any money)
Whoa, your papa says he knows (that I don’t have any money)
Whoa, so your daddy says he knows I don’t have (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
Because the record company, Rosie, 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 café where they play guitars all night and all day
You can hear ’em in the back room strummin’
So hold tight, baby, ’cause don’t you know daddy’s comin’
Oh, everybody, so!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your love, ain’t no lie
Rosalita, you’re my stone desire
Oh, yeah
(Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Townes talks about doing his own songs and the honor he feels when someone sings his songs. Then he goes on to do a very fine version of Bruce Springsteen’s Racing in The Street.
I have around 30 albums by Townes and I still find something new everytime I hear him sing, one of the all time best.
Today’s video is just a teaser to remind us that the Springsteen tour is heading our way. The clip is pro-shot and from this years Pinkpop festival in Landgraaf, Netherlands.
Great audience contact, great band, fantastic song!
