Album: The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (1973)

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• 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
  And 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-eight's and kiss their girls goodnight
  
  Oh, 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
  Oh, 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 all of 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 (those romantic young boys)
  All they ever want to do is fight
  Those romantic young boys (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
  Oh, goodnight, it's alright, Jane
  I'm gonna meet you tomorrow night on lover's lane
  Oh, we can find it out on the street tonight, baby
  Or we may walk until the daylight, maybe
  
  Ah, goodnight, it's alright, Jane
  I'll meet you tomorrow night on lover's lane
  Oh, we may find it out on the street tonight, baby
  Or we may have to walk until the daylight, maybe (goodnight it's alright, Jane)
  
  (Goodnight, it's alright, Jane)
  (Goodnight, it's alright, Jane)
  (Goodnight, it's alright, Jane) Writer/s: Bruce Springsteen
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 17

• Denise from Geneva On The LakeDefinitely one of my favorite tunes, saw Bruce with David on piano & Suki on violin at Kent State, blew me away!! Me & the other 12 people I bought tickets for!! Still listen to my favorite first 2 lp's the most. I've seen him 25 times.
• Torty from TucsonTed - You can't help when you were born...but this track is not underrated. It is an incredibly highly rated track by fans, critics, and other musicians alike. One that I believe will be listened to with equal admiration by new generations like yours.
• Wayne from Prescott, AzMike is right, the version from the legendary Main Point concert of Feb 75 is truly transcendent. Look for the bootleg album called "The Saint, the Incident, and the Main Point Shuffle" or "Prodigal Son at the Main Point."
• Matt from Niles, OhTed, i completely agree. Greetings and the Wild and the Innocent are both very underrated in my opinion.
• Duane from Oak Harbor, WaI must agree with Ted on this. Clearly one of the best songs he ever wrote, but I never have heard it on the radio. I bought the album because I liked Rosalita...what a gem to find. It is too bad more can't hear it on the the classic rock stations. The ability to paint a picture with words and music is amazing. I saw him in concert a few years ago in Seattle. A solo show...him, a mic and an instrument. It was quite a show. I only wish I had coughed up the cash when I was younger and he was touring the with E-Street Band...I kick myself over and over to think I could have hear him sing out, "Puerta Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name?"
• John Powell from Valley Forge, PaUpstairs 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"
  
  Just great lyrics throughout, but I love that line. I also love the guitar solo at the fade. Is that Bruce playing it? It is very soulful.
  
  I saw him in NOLA in 1975, and was in the front row when he opened with it on piano. It was quite a moment!
• Mike from Philadelphia, PaTed - You are so correct it isn't even funny. Bruce's first 2 records are insanely great, and Incident is among the finest works he has ever recorded. Find the piano/violin version from The Main Point if you can. Truly special...
  
  I was born in 1968 in NJ and grew up "with" Bruce. I spent hours upon hours listening to the first 5 records, dissecting every word, and visualizing new worlds. His lyrics utilize every color of the palette, and the raw emotion of his voice on songs like Incident and Sandy is untouched.
  
  Keep listening -- you have great taste.
• Tim from Denver, CoThe battle cry in every writing class I've ever taken is "Show, Don't Tell." Bruce, apparently, has always known this. Really, does it get any better than this:
  "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..."
  
• Bill from Ruston, LaIn the opening days of his 1975 tour, he would do Incident with a violin player and piano-no band. It was amazing. I have seen over 800 rock concerts in my life and a few hundred operas. I have never seen any performance as powerful or as transcendent.
• Christie from Bergen County, NjVintage Springsteen...a showcase of his talents as poet, artist, storyteller, lyricist and musician...one of his best songs in my opinion...to finally hear it live (full band or piano version) would be a dream come true!
• Scott from Philadelphia, PaThis is my favorite Bruce album of all time. One of my favorite albums ever. There is a sensual realism to his storytelling at this time that is unmatched anywhere. His wandering melodies blend perfectly with his stream-of-consciousness lyrics. It is a masterpiece. To Ted - Many alternative rock radio stations back in the 70s and 80s played twofers. Two album songs were played back-to-back because they were often blended together on the album. Incident would be played immediately followed by Rosalita. The piano moves seamlessly from Incident into Rosie. Sheer joy to turn it up and sing every word at the top of my lungs.
• Justin from Auckland, New ZealandFantastic song by a fantastic musician/songwriter. This would easily be one of his best, but the version on the dvd "live in barcelona with the E-Street Band" when he plays the piano is inspiring.
• Steve from Fenton, MoI agree this is one of Bruce's best songs. I regret I never got to see him perform it live. I think many people probably recognize the melody but can't remember the title.
• Paul from Dallas, TxI think this song is incredible. Springsteen seemed at his best when writing about New York City and Jersey. His music had a certain grittiness to it.
  Yes, very underrated.
  New York City Serenade, also way underrated.
• Ted from Glenview, IlI don't want to make an ignorant comment here because I wasn't even born when albums like "Nebraska" and "Born In The USA" were released, much less "The Wild, The Innocent and The E-Street Shuffle," so I'm not sure if this is true or not, but to me, it seems like this track is incredibly underrated. Actually, the entire album seems underappreciated. What does everyone else think?
• Reed from Hagerstown, Ini absolutely love this song. its probably my favorite springsteen song out of all of them.
• Bob from Boca Raton, FlBruce performed a beautiful acoustic version of this song during his E Street Band reunion tour. In some cities he would do both "Spirit In The Night" and "Incident", pleasing the old time fans in particular.

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