Traks Disk 1 (1998)
Nonostante siano stati pubblicati in un unico cofanetto, ho preferito dedicare a ciascuno dei quattro CD di Tracks
una pagina singola, sia perché ogni singolo disco può considerarsi un lavoro "finito", sia per non rendere troppo difficoltosa la consultazione della
pagina stessa e il suo caricamento troppo lento. Tutte le canzoni sono composte da Bruce Springsteen, tranne dove diversamente indicato.
Consiglio inoltre a tutti di visitare la pagina Tracks Liner Notes CD1 di Badlands, il sito di Gianluca Brovelli. Davvero un ottimo lavoro che, come dicono gli autori stessi "È un supplemento nel più puro senso della parola, che speriamo allarghi le conoscenze e l'interesse dei nostri lettori per 66 canzoni scritte nell'arco di 27 anni."
Mary Queen Of Arkansas
Mary queen of Arkansas, it's not too early for dreamin'
The sky is grown with cloud seed sown and this bastard's love is redeeming
Mary, my queen, your soft hulk is reviving
Oh and you're not too late to desecrate, the servants are just rising
Well I'm just a lonely acrobat, the livewire is my trade
I've been a change man at your laundromat and a wharf rat of your state
Mary, my queen, your blows for freedom are missing
You're not man enough for me to hate or woman enough for kissing
The big top is for dreamers, we can take the circus all the way to the border
And the gallows wait for martyrs whose papers are in order
But I wasn't born to live to die and you were not born for queenin'
It's not too late, we can still infiltrate, the servants are just leavin'
Mary queen of Arkansas, your white skin is deceivin'
You wake and wait to lie in bait but you know you can't keep me from leavin'
Because on your bed, Mary, I see the shadow of a noose
I don't understand how you can hold me so tight and love me so loose
And I know a place where we can go, Mary
Where I can get a good job and start out all over again clean
I got contacts deep in Mexico where the servants have been seen
It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City
Well 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
Well I walked like Brando right into the sun
And danced just like a Casanova
Well with my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet
Silver star studs on my duds like a Harley in heat
When I bop down the street I can hear its heartbeat
And all the women fell back and said "Don't that man look pretty?"
The cripple on the corner cries out "Nickels for your pity"
And the gasoline boys downtown they sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city
Well I was the king of the alley, I could talk trash
I was the prince of the paupers, crowned downtown at the beggar's bash
I was the pimp's main prophet but 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
Showing 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
The tracks clack out the rhythm, their eyes fixed straight ahead
They ride the line of balance and hold on by just a thread
It's too hot in these tunnels, you can get hit up by the heat
I get up to get out at the next stop but they push me down in the seat
My heart starts beating faster as I struggle to my feet
And I get out of that hole and I'm back up on the street
Now the southside sisters sure look pretty
And the cripple on the corner knows I don't pay for no pity
And them gasoline boys, yeah, they sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city
Growin' Up
I stood stonelike at midnight suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strode all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "sit down" I stood up
Ooh... growin' up
The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing-to-wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate, she couldn't sail but she sure could sing
I pushed B-52 and bombed 'em with the blues with my gears set stubborn on standing
We broke all the rules, I strafed my old high school and never once gave thought to landing
I hid in the clouded warmth of the crowd but when they said "come down" I threw up
Ooh... growin' up
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to hold your breath
I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
Well my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars
I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd but when they said "pull down" I pulled up
Ooh... growin' up
Ooh... growin' up
Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?
Hey bus driver, keep the change, bless your children, give them names
Don't trust men who walk with canes
Drink this and in a week you'll have wings on your feet
Broadway Mary, Joan Fontaine, advertiser on the downtown train
Christmas crier bustin' cane
He's in love again
Where dock workers' dreams mix with panthers' schemes to someday own the rodeo
Tainted women in Vistavision perform for out-of-state kids at the late show
Wizard imps and sweat-sock pimps
Mixed with interstellar mongrel nymphs
Rex said his lady left him limp
Well you know love's like that
Well Mary Lou found out how to cope
She rides to heaven on a gyroscope
The Daily News asks her for the dope
And she says "Man, the dope's that there's still hope"
Well now queen of diamonds, ace of spades
Newly discovered lovers of the everglades
They take out a full-page ad in the trades to announce their arrival
Senorita, Spanish rose, wipes her eyes and blows her nose
Uptown in Harlem she throws a rose to some lucky young matador
Bishop Danced
Bishop danced with a thumbscrew woman
Did a double-quick back flip and slid across the floor
The Catholic traffic flowed freely 'cross the river
And fiddlestick fiddled quick out the front door
Oh baby dumpling, mama's in the back tree
If the bow breaks, mama might fall
Little sad and only baby don't be lonely
Mama knows 'rithmatic, knows how to take a fall
Mama knows 'rithmatic, knows how to take a fall
CHORUS:
And the kids are crying "Flapjacks, make 'em fat, early in the morning"
Little Jack, grab your hat, hear the breakfast call
Muskrat, bat a cat, kick him in the fireplace
There's someone in the kitchen blowing "Dinah" on their horn
There's someone in the kitchen blowing "Dinah" like they're born
Well maverick daddy got a one-eyed bride
She glides like a monkey-mule kicking on the back slide
Over hill, over hill, daddy don't you spill now
Papa got a switch stick, he's pumping little Bill
Papa got a switch stick, he's pumping little Bill
And Billy he's crying "Tomahawk, tomahawk, daddy better duck now"
The Mohawks, the Mohawks, they're still out there
in the woods
Monatuk, Ocanuk, runnin' through my dreams now
With fire on their fingertips and indian screams
With fire on their fingertips and feathers made of moonbeams
Well early in the morning the cannoneer cried
"I seen the sailor's warning in the western sky"
Well mountain man, if you can, cut me down a fir tree
Branches full of candlesticks for baby and me
And my darling cried, she said "Honey the weathervane lately it's been pointing the way to heaven"
Scatterbrains, scatterbrains, watch out where you fall
Champagne, champagne, a round for all the old choir boys
They're busting off the altar chasing Dinah through the hall
They're busting off the altar chasing Dinah through the hall
(CHORUS)
Santa Ana
From the tin rooftop the little boy did watch
The procession down through town
Through the museum where Daniel whupped the Devil
With them boys from the underground
Where the Giants of Science fight for tight control
Over the wildlands of New Mexico
Sam Houston's ghost's in Texas fighting for his soul
And the townsfolk rest uneasy beneath the guns of Kid Colt
And the kid says "Hey, where's Santa Ana?"
He who could romance the dumb into talking
Take a chance with me tonight, my contessa
If it don't work out I ain't lame, I can walk
Now some folks think cancer's taken to the streets of this town
Well Sandy eats her candy and then lays her money down
Them cats are in from the canyons to strut their stuff in town
But there's only secret sinners here
Lord, there's only secret thieves
Only a fool would try to save
What the desert chose to leave
And hey there senorita
With your playboys in their Spanish bandanas
French cream won't soften those boots, baby
French kisses will not break your heart
Oh painted night set free with light
Glows outside the Rainbow Saloon
Matching braces with a Spanish lady
'Neath a graduation moon
No more colleges, no more coronations
Some punk's idea of a teenage nation
Has forced Santa Ana to change his station
From soldier to cartoon
And the Giants of Science spend their days and nights
Not with wives, not with lovers, but searchin' for the lights
They spotted in the desert on their helicoptor flights
Just to be lost in the dust and the night
Hey my contessa, in your juke joint rags you always bring candy for the kids
Come waltz with me tonight senorita
'Cause only fools are alone on a night like this
Seaside Bar Song
Well Billy bought a Chevy '40 coupe deluxe
Chrome wheels, stick shift, give her gas, pop the clutch
Girls on the corner like a diamond they shine
Someday Billy I'm gonna make 'em all mine
Hey girl, you wanna ride in Daddy's Cadillac
'Cause I love the way your long hair falls down your back
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley's at the Seaside Bar
We'll run barefoot in the sand and listen to his guitar
You say your mama's gonna meet you when the morning comes
Yeah, papa's gonna beat you 'cause he knows you're out on the run
I'm gonna live a life of love and tonight you're the one
The highway is alive tonight so baby do not be frightened
There's something about a pretty girl on a sweet summer night
That gets this boy excited
The radio man finally understands and plays you something you can move to
You lay back, cut loose your drive power
Your girl leans over says, "Daddy can you turn that radio up any louder?"
The juke joint's hummin', everybody came down
Little Willie and the Soul Brooms layin' all his stuff now
Well don't let that daylight steal your soul
Get in your wheels and roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll
Oh that's alright now
Oh go on, go on, go on
Oh mama's gonna meet you when the morning comes
And your daddy's gonna beat you 'cause he knows you're out on the run
But I don't care, I wanna live a life of love while the night's still young
Zero And Blind Terry
The Skulls met the Pythons
Down at the First Street station
Alliances have been made in alleyways
All across the nation
These boys live off the milk of a silver jet
And the love of sweet young women
Now the Pythons are down from old Englishtown
And they're lookin' to do some livin'
Well the leader of the Pythons
Is a kid they just call Zero
Now Terry's pop says these kids are some kind of monsters
But Terry says "No, pop, they're just plain heroes"
Zero and Terry they found a love that burns like wildfire
Now Terry's daddy understood that this Zero was no good
A child, a thief and a liar
Well from out of the darkness that breaks the dawn
Zero rode like twilight
He said "Tonight's the night, blind Terry, come on"
Terry come on, tonight is the night
Pack your bags, baby
And together they ran like reindeers through the street
Like tomorrow the earth was gonna catch on fire
Now Terry's dad hired some troopers to kill Zero and bring Terry back home
They crawled up in the night
Like firelight
Now snow-white troopers from the council of crime
Rode silver foxes through Terry's field
Oh they met the Pythons down on Route 9 but they refused to yield
The Pythons fought with buzz guns
And the troopers with swords like light
And Zero and Terry they ran away
As the gang fought all through the night
Well now some folks say Zero and Terry got away
Others said they were caught and brought back
But still them young pilgrims to this day
Go to that spot way down by the railroad track
Where the Troopers met the Pythons
Old timers cry on a hot August night
If you look hard enough, if you try
You'll catch Zero and Terry and all the Pythons
Oh just hiking the streets of the sky
Just walkin', hiking the streets of the sky
Just hiking the streets of the sky
Hey Zero
Linda Let Me Be The One
The midnight boys are outside
Scraping tears up off the street
Standin' guard beneath the window
Where only Linda sleeps
The leader is a kid named Eddie
Walkin' like an angel in defeat
He trashes her old man's car, slashes Linda's name in the seat
And calls out
CHORUS:
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one
Linda will you let me be the one
In a room full of contenders
Eddie spars till he drops to his bed and surrenders
Draped in the scarves
He stole from Linda's bedroom
The night he layed at her feet
When the midnight boys were stranded
Down on Cason Street
(CHORUS)
In the basement of St. Mary's
Eddie hides from the rain
In with the stolen sisters 'til the streets are dry again
Talkin' fast cars and spare parts
Empty homes and broken hearts
Distant worlds with strange girls
And kneeling with Linda in the dark
(CHORUS)
Thundercrack
Her brains they rattle and her bones they shake
Whoah, she's an angel from the Innerlake
Thundercrack, baby's back
This time she'll tell me how she really feels
Bring me down to her lightning shack
You can watch my partner reelin'
CHORUS:
She moves up, she moves back
Out on the floor there just is no one cleaner
She does this thing she calls the "Jump Back Jack"
She's got the heart of a ballerina
She's straight from the Bronx
Hung off the line
She slips, she slides, she slops, she bops, she bumps, she grinds
Even them dance hall hacks
From the west side of the tracks
Move in close to catch her timin'
(CHORUS)
She ain't no little girl, she ain't got no curls
Her hair ain't brown and her eyes ain't either
Round and round and round and round
My heart's wood, she's a carpenter
She's an angel in the night, what she does is alright
Dance with me, partner, dance with me, partner
Dance with me, partner, till the dawn
Thundercrack, baby's back
This time she'll tell me how she really feels
Bring me down to her lightning shack
You can watch my partner reelin'
(CHORUS)
She ain't no little girl, she ain't got no curls
Her hair ain't brown and her eyes ain't either
Round and round and round and round
My heart's wood, she's a carpenter
She's an angel in the night, what she does is alright
Dance with me, partner, dance with me, partner
Dance with me, partner, all night
Rendezvous
I had a dream our love would last forever
I had a dream tonight my dream comes true
Well if you'll hold me tight
We'll be riders, girl, on the night
Ooh, I want a rendezvous
Haven't I told you, girl, how much I like you
I got a feeling that you like me too
Well if you hold me tight
We'll be riders, girl, on the night
Ooh, I want a rendezvous
You deserve so much more than this, girl
Well I'm ridin' on the power and livin' on the promise in your last kiss
Because I had a dream our love would last forever
I had a dream tonight my dream comes true
And if you'll hold me tight
We'll be riders, girl, on the night
Ooh, ooh, rendezvous
I want a rendezvous
I want a rendezvous
Give The Girl A Kiss
I ain't lookin' just for excitement
Baby that's just a fact
If you want to get to her heart
You better let her know just where you're at
CHORUS:
It ain't written in the sky above
No fortune teller told me this
You gotta tell her that you love her
Tell her that you need her
And give that girl a great big kiss
Give that girl a great big kiss
Now if you're such a fool you think
It don't matter, baby, what you say
Maybe you better tell her how you're feelin'
It ain't gonna happen any other way
(CHORUS)
Now baby all I wanna do
Is darlin' make sweet love to you
Now I don't know what the meaning is
Why you wanna hide the things you feel and say
But baby it's just a natural fact
Love was never meant to be that way
(CHORUS)
Now baby all I wanna do
Is darlin' make sweet love to you
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 runnin' 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 hittin' town in this dirty old Ford
Well it don't take no nerve when you got nothin to guard
I got tombstones in my eyes and I'm runnin' 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, fightin' for the right to live
I say better than the glory roads of heaven, better off ridin'
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
Bring On The Night
I lie in bed but baby I can't sleep no matter how hard I try
There's something bad, baby, wrong with me whenever I close my eyes
The dreams of Mary keep me awake with every little curve in place
When I walk home in the daybreak I pray come back home, baby, won't you give me
Darlin' bring on the night, oh yeah darlin', bring on the night
Oh now darlin', bring on the night
I walk the street, I'm lookin' for romance
I end up stumblin' in some stupid half-trance
As I watch the lovers mix with circumstance
We watch the disco dancers dance
I look for connection in some new eyes
But for protection they're tranquilized
Forbidding close inspection of who's tellin' who
Forbidding close inspection of who's tellin' who lies
Bring on the night, oh yeah darlin', bring on the night
Oh now darlin', bring on the night
Is it as simple as it seems
I don't know what I'm doin' here, is it as simple as it seems
Is it as simple as I fear, well if I'm right . . .
I look for connection in some new eyes
But for protection they're tranquilized
Forbidding close inspection of who's tellin' who
Forbidding close inspection of who's tellin' who
Baby of who's tellin' who lies
Bring on the night, oh yeah darlin', bring on the night
Oh now baby, bring on the night, oh now darlin' bring on the night
Come home darlin', bring on the night
Oh now darlin' bring on the night
So Young And In Love
There's flying angels on your fire escape
They lie to your mama for you, try to keep you safe
You're with them fire alley virgins on a midnight vamp
Lost your heart on Main Street to a beautiful tramp
You lost your mind
She's sent from above
You're so young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
Rat traps filled with soul crusaders
They're soppin' 'n' boppin' 'n' moppin' with Little Melvin and the Invaders
Missy's on the dance floor doin' her stuff
Leroy's dancin' doin' the continental strut
Sent from above
So young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
Everybody's reelin' when the band hits the ceilin'
Don't you know you wanna go
The kids start rockin' when the boys start knockin'
And everybody wants to go
Let's go!
Joint's shut down but you don't wanna go home
You're in the shady side of town and you're all alone
Papa's chewin' your ear off, you ain't got no cash
Mama's chewin' your ear off 'bout hangin' out with trash
So fine, sent from above
So young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
So young and in love
Hearts Of Stone
You stare in the mirror at the lines in your face
And you try to see, girl
The way things were when we were at your place
In the days it was just you and me, girl
And you cry because things ain't like before
Well don't you know they can't be that way anymore
But don't worry baby
CHORUS:
I can't talk now, I'm not alone
So put your ear close to the phone
'Cause this is the last dance
This is the last chance for hearts of stone
If there was something, baby, that I could do
Something that would last, honey, I would
But we all know, girl, especially you do
How you can't return to your past, no
So girl close your eyes and I'll be there
Hold me once more and we can go anywhere
Ah, we could...
(CHORUS)
And you cry because things ain't like before
Well don't you know they can't be like that anymore
Well I know it, baby
(CHORUS)
Don't Look Back
Cold rain runnin' down the front of my shirt
I'm flat on my back, wheels in the dirt
Angel makes her face up out on Baker Street
She's straddling the shifter in my front seat
There's nothing to lose, it's a heartbreak
The deck's stacked
So put your foot to the floor and darlin' don't look back
We're makin' night tracks through the blazin' rain
Blowin' pistons workin' the fast lane
Red line burnin', pocket's full of cash
Angel writes her name in lipstick on my dash
There's nothing to lose
It's a bad break but baby we're backed
Tonight we'll blow off their doors and honey we won't look back
We held it in our hearts in a pourin' rain
We made it through the heart of a hurricane
We tore it apart and put it together again
Well angel, won't you believe in love for me
C'mon and meet me tonight, darling, out in the street
We'll move with the city in the dark
You gotta walk it, talk it, in your heart
There's nothing to lose, it's a heartache
The deck's stacked
So put your foot to the floor, darlin'
Tonight we'll blow off their doors, baby
We're gonna even the score
And honey we won't look back
Notes
Bruce Springsteen Guitar, Vocals, Armonica All Tracks
Danny Federici Organ, Glockenspiel, Accordion Tracks 5 - 17
Garry Tallent Bass Tracks 6 - 17
Vini Lopez Drums Tracks 6 - 8, 10
David Sancious Piano, Organ Tracks 6 - 8, 10
Clarence Clemons Saxophone, Percussion Tracks 7 - 12, 14 - 16
Stevie Van Zandt Guitar Tracks 11 - 14, 16, 17
Roy Bittan Piano, Keyboards Tracks 9, 11 - 17
Max Weinberg Drums Tracks 9, 11 - 17
Produced By
John Hammond 1 - 4
Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos 6 - 8, 10
John Landau, Bruce Springsteen 9, 12,13, 15 - 17
Bruce Springsteen, John Landau, Mike Appel 11
Bruce Springsteen, John Landau, Stevie Van Zandt 14
1 - Mary Queen of Arkansas
- Recorded at CBS Studios (NY), 5/3/72.
Recorded and Mixed by Phil Giambalvo.
Assistant: S. Tonkel
2 - It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
- Recorded at CBS Studios (NY), 5/3/72.
Recorded and Mixed by Phil Giambalvo.
Assistant: S. Tonkel
3 - Growin' up
- Recorded at CBS Studios (NY), 5/3/72.
Recorded and Mixed by Phil Giambalvo.
Assistant: S. Tonkel
4 - Does This Bus Stop at 82 nd Street?
- Recorded at CBS Studios (NY), 5/3/72.
Recorded and Mixed by Phil Giambalvo.
Assistant: S. Tonkel
5 - Bishop Danced
- Recorded at Max's Kansas City (Live), 2/19/73
Mixed by Thom Panunzio
6 - Santa Ana
- Recorded at 914 Sound Recording, 6/28/73
Recorded by Louis Lehav
Mixed by Ed Thacker
7 - Seaside Bar Song
- Recorded at 914 Sound Recording, 6/28/73
Recorded by Louis Lehav
Mixed by Ed Thacker
8 - Zero and Blind Terry
- Recorded at 914 Sound Recording, 6/28/73
Recorded by Louis Lehav
Mixed by Ed Thacker
9 - Linda Let Me Be the One
- Recorded at the Record Plant (NY), 6/28/75
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine
Mixed by Ed Thacker
10 - Thundercrack
- Recorded at 914 Sound Recording, 6/28/73
Recorded by Louis Lehav
Mixed by Ed Thacker
11 - Rendezvous
- Recorded at the Record Plant (LA Remote) (Live)
Recorded by Toby Scott
Mixed bi Ed Thacker
12 - Give the Girl a Kiss
- Additional Musicians: Ed Manion (Baritone Sax),
Mark "The Lover Man" Pender (Trumpet), Richie "LA Bamba" Rosemberg (Trombone),
Mike Spengler (Trumpet), Jerry Vivino (Tenor Sax).
Recorded at the Record Plant (NY), 11/10/77,
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
13 - Iceman
- Recorded at the Record Plant (NY), 10/27/77,
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine
Mixed by Tom Panunzio
14 - Bring on the Night
- Recorded at the Power Station, 6/13/79,
Recorded by Neil Dorfsman
Mixed by Ed Thacker
15 - So Young and in Love
- Recorded at the Record Plant (NY), 1/6/74,
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine
Mixed by Ed Thacker
16 - Hearts of Stone
- Additional Musicians: Mario Cruz (Tenor Sax),
Ed Manion (Baritone Sax), Mark "The Lover Man" Pender (Trumpet),
Richie "LA Bamba" Rosemberg (Trombone), Mike Spengler (Trumpet).
Recorded at the Record Plant (NY), 10/14/77,
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine
Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
17 - Don't Look Back
- Recorded at the Record Plant (NY), 7/2/77,
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine
Mixed by Cuck Plotkin, Jimmy Iovine
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