Bruce Springsteen
The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story

CD 1 - The Promise - Thrill Hill Vault - Houston ’78 Bootleg: House Cut

  Racing In The Street (’78)
I got a 32 Ford, she's a 318
Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor
She'll be sitting tonight down in the parking lot
Down at the Seven-Eleven store
Me and my partner Sonny built her straight out of scratch
And he rides with me from town to town
We only run for the money ain't no strings attached
We shut 'em up and we shut 'em down
Tonight tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em all out of their seats
So come on out around the world
We're goin' racin' in the street

Well we take all the action we can meet
And we cover all the northeast states
When the strip shuts down we run 'em in the street
From the back roads to the turnpike gates
Now some guys they do it for the money
Other guys do it cause they don't know what else they can do
And me I sit with nothing left at home
I got tired of waking up in a world that somebody else owns
And so tonight tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For goin' racin' in the street

Well I met her on the strip three years ago
She was in a Camaro with this dude from L.A.
And I blew that Camaro off my back
And I stole that little girl away
But now there wrinkles round my baby's eyes
And she cries herself to sleep at night
When I come home the house is dark
She whispers "hey baby did you make it all right?"

Tonight tonight the strips just right
I wanna blow'em all out of their seats
And so come out now everyone
And we'll go racing in the street
Yes come on out now little one and we'll go dying in the street
Yes come on out now everyone and we'll go dying in the street
Look at me it's true
Baby what else can we do
Racing in the street

  Gotta Get That Feeling
Hey girl, won't you come on out tonight
Girl, where the stars will shine real bright
You've gotta get that feeling
We gotta get that feeling
Back again, yea back again

Tonight, there's something in the air
Tonight we ain't got money but I don't care
Just gotta get that feeling
Yea, I wanna get that feeling
Before the night is through
I Wan't you to get that feeling too

Hold me in your arms the night will take care of us
Come the rain or the storm love will be there with us

Tonight, the know there's something in the air
Tonight we ain't got money but I don't care
Just gotta get that feeling
Yea, I wanna get that feeling
Whoa, back again, you bak again
Gotta get that feeling
I wanna get that feeling
Gotta get that feeling
I wanna get that feeling

  Outside Looking In
It's all over now, the thing we had
I ain't sorry, girl, I just feel mad
You walk real pretty and you talk real fine
Night after night you wrote the lines

My life's the same story
Again and again
I' m on the outside looking in

Well every day just brings the same
You go out looking for some strange new games
Pretty soon them games ain't fun anymore
And it's something else that you're looking for
You've got all the answers
You and your friends
And I'm on the outside looking in
I'm on the outside looking in

How you'vegot the pretty things you wand
The sins of the angels baby they will haunt
Those pretty eyes that they all adore
But baby not me, not anymore
I do what I want to
I'll be what I am
I'm on the outside looking in

I'm on the outside looking in
Baby yes I am
Baby yes I am
Baby I'm on the outside looking in

  Someday (We’ll Be Together)
Your voice comes calling through the mist
I awake from a dream and my heart begins to drift
Tonight we're on our own
Tonight we're all alone, Oh-oh, tonight
Someday we'll be together and the night will fall around us
This love will last forever
Someday we'll be together, together

I can't sleep so I lay awake
listenin' to the sounds of the city below
I get dressed and walk the streets but I got nowhere to go
Tonight it's you I'm with
Tonight my only wish is, Oh-oh, tonight
Someday we'll be together and the night will fall around us
This love will last forever
Someday you'll be mine

Tonight we're on our own
Tonight we're all alone, Oh-oh, tonight

Someday we'll be together
And the night will fall around us
This love will last forever
Someday you'll be mine
Woah-whoaaa
Someday you'll be mine
(this love will last forever)
Someday you'll be mine
(Someday we'll be together)
(And the night will fall around us)
(This love will last forever)
(Someday you'll be mine)
(Someday we'll be together)

  ONE WAY STREET
Well,  If the sun should fall from the sky, tomorrow
If the rain brings a tear to your eye 
I would share your sorrow
If you must go then take your leave
Outlove was strong our love was sweet
But we were walking on the wild side
Running down a one way street

In the Night I see onlythe fire in your eyes
The morning light brings the shadow of your lies
So the change has come today
And for our wrongs we must pay
We were walking on the wild side
Running down a one way street

On my darling I must, I must confess
This can't belove, me I and just a man possessed
And so the tide has turned today
We can turn and walk away
'Cause we were walking on the wild side
Running down a one way street

Oh yes we are
Girl we're walking on the wild side
Running down a one way street

  BECAUSE THE NIGHT
Take me now, baby, here as I am
Pull me close, try and understand
Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
Love is a banquet on which we feed

Come on now try and understand
The way I feel when I'm in your hands
Take my hand come undercover
They can't hurt you now
They can't hurt you now, can't hurt you now
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us

Have I doubt when I'm alone
Love is a ring, the telephone
Love is an angel disguised as lust
Here in our bed until the morning comes

Come on now try and understand
The way I feel under your command
Take my hand as the sun descends
They can't touch you now
Can't touch you now, can't touch you now
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us

With love we sleep
With doubt the vicious circle
Turns and burns
Without you I cannot live
Forgive me now
The time has come to take this moment and
They can't hurt us now, can't hurt us now

Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to lust
Because the night belongs to lovers
Because the night belongs to us

  WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET
Turn on the Radio, turn off the lights
We'll bring an end darlin' to your endless night
Here on the wrong side of the street

I see your fortune in the lines in your face
I know you're looking for your saving grace
You're on the wrong side of the street

Fear and desire such a sweet confusion
Wellopen your eyes and throw down your illusions
And see you newer belonged here with us

You and your poetry and your cool cool world
You been working hard on the race of a martyr girl
Here on the wrong side of the street

You got the look and you own your world
But here you better check your diamonds and your pearls
You're on the wrong side of the street

You get bored of every day bringing the same
So you got out looking for some strange game
But pretty soon you don't know the score
Or what you're lookin' for

You get boredof every day bringing the same
So you go out and looking for
Some strange new game
But pretty soon you can't know the score
Or wha you're looking for

Turn on the radio turn off the lights
We'll brin an end darlin'
tothe endlessnight
Here on the wrong side of the street

Fear and desiresuch a sweet confusion
Well open your eyes and
throw down your illusions
And see tonight there's no one here
but you and me

  THE BROKENHEARTED
Well, darling, oh, won't you come a little closer
I promise pretty darling, I didn't know what I was sayin'
And now I pray that you won't say it's over
Come here, pretty baby, and rest your head on my shoulder
With just one kiss and we started
Now, don't leave me to the brokenhearted
The brokenhearted, the brokenhearted
And tell me that you need me

Well, now, baby, the lonely nights keep growing longer
And my love for you just keeps growing stronger
Like a wheel of chance so endlessly turning
My fate lay in your hands, my heart's forever burning
And a sweet fire your kiss started
Now, don't leave me to the brokenhearted
The brokenhearted, the brokenhearted
And tell me that you love me
Tell me that you want me, girl

The cruel mistakes I've made
The hard price that I paid
For good times and for laughter
Girl, I should've known
The indifference that I've shown
I'd pay forever after

And darling, now all I'm trying to say is passion
And love, they have a way of slipping into blackness
And cared for a certain way
The deck is cut, the card is turning
The hand is played
And all we ever hope for
Turns to ashes and drifts away
Now all that I love
Slipped into this darkness
Don't leave me to the brokenhearted
The brokenhearted
The brokenhearted

And tell me that you love me
Tell me that you need me
Tell that you've loved me
Tell me that you want me
Tell me that you need me
Tell me that you want me
Tell me that you love
Yeah tell me that you love me
Tell me that you love
Tell me that you want me
And come on, now, daring
Say it right, now, baby

  RENDEZVOUS
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, 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 riding 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
Ooohh, ooohh, ooohh, rendezvous, I want to rendezvous
I want to rendezvous, I want to rendez, I want to rendez, I want to rendezvous

  CANDY'S BOY
In Candy's room there are pictures of her saviour on the wall
But to get to Candy's room, you got to walk the darkness of Candy's hall
Strangers from the city call my baby's number, and they bring Candy toys
But when I come knockin', she smiles pretty, she knows tonight I'm gonna be Candy's boy

Well in the olden days when the Mongolian gangs rode herd out on route nine
We go ridin' in the rain, runnin' south, way down through the pines
Weekends in the sun in that cheap motel down by the Dynamo
We loved each other till their was nothing left, and drove that old car as hard and fast as she would go

Well I got a cold winter wind blowin' behind me and you
But Candy's got a man who takes care of her better than I do
Alright

Well there's machine and fire, waitin' for us on the edge of town
And there's some boys for hire, and there waitin' to blow me and Candy down
That's all right cause they can't touch us now baby you'll see
Cause you know I
But I know her name, and I will forever be Candy's boy...
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm ever, forever be Candy's boy
Alright

  SAVE MY LOVE
Now there's something coming through the air
That softly reminds me
Tonight I'll park out on the hill
And wait until they find me

You slip in through the ether
A voice is coming through
So keep me in your heart tonight
And I'll save my love for you

So turn up your radio and darling
Dial me in close
We're riding on the airwaves
And we're travelling coast to coast
Over river and highway
Your voice comes clear and true
And though we're far apart
Tonight I'll save my love for you

Hold me in your arms
And our doubts won't break us
If we open up our hearts
Love won't forsake us
Just let the music take us
And carry us home

There's a prayer coming through the air
And it's shot straight through my heart
It's tearing open the evening sky
And it's tearing me apart
Now I'll ride that signal down the line
Till I'm home again with you
So turn up the radio
And I'll save my love for you
Turn up the radio
And I'll save my love for you

  Ain’t Good Enough For You
Well you don’t like, don’t like the way I walk
And you don’t like, don’t like the way I talk
You criticize about me endlessly
Like it defies, how you got stuck with me

And you complain, about the clothes I wear
And you explain there’s other boys out there
And you complain my car makes too much noise
And you cry, I’m always out with the boys

I give up little darlin
Yeah no matter what I do, and you know it’s true
Ain’t good enough for you

You complain the way I love you at night
You explain I’m really not your type
If we go out, you say I’m such a bore
If you stay in, say “what are we living for?”

I don’t understand, there’s nothing I can do
There ain’t no way, no way to satisfy you
And in the night, I lean in for a kiss
You close the pitch, swing and a miss

I quit little darling
Yeah no matter what I do, yeah you know it’s true
Ain’t good enough for you

Hey hey little darling
No matter what I do, and you know it’s true
Ain’t good enough for you

I tried to change, I got a job in sales
I bought a shirt, uptown in Bloomindales
And babe I tried, to make the latest scene
Hip and cool, just like Jimmy Iovine

I bought a record with all the latest grooves
A book of love, with all the latest moves
I bought some flowers, and I waited at your door
And you came out, didn’t want to see me no more

I quit little darling
Yeah no matter what I do, and you know it’s true
Ain’t good enough for you

No matter what I do, girl you know it’s true
Ain’t good enough for you
No matter what I do, girl you know it’s true
Ain’t good enough for you

  FIRE
I'm driving in my car
I turn on the radio
I'm pulling you close
You just say no
You say you don't like it
But girl I know you're a liar
'Cause when we kiss
Fire

Late at night
I'm takin' you home
I say I wanna stay
You say you wanna be alone
You say you don't love me
Girl you can't hide your desire
'Cause when we kiss
Fire

You had a hold on me
Right from the start
A grip so tight
I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin'
Actin' like a fool
Well your kisses they burn
But your heart stays cool

Romeo and Juliet
Samson and Delilah
Baby you can bet
Their love they didn't deny
Your words say split
But your words they lie
'Cause when we kiss
Fire

  SPANISH EYES
Hey little girl, is your daddy home
Did de go away and leave you all alone
Baby I) been watching you for a long long time
Come close we could  have us some fun
And after the burning is done
Our ruins will shine through the nights
Where you took me with your Spanish eyes

He's your Saturday night special baby
Is he good to you
And does he have money, honey like i do
Can he do the things that I'll do for you
If your answer it isn't the so clear
Then maybe you should stay right here
And let your doubts slip away 'neath your sights
Let me kiss your Spanish eyes

When the music it plays and
the dancers away with sweet emotions
and the dance floor is filled with
Promises of complete devention
Come close and feel the motion
Bring it on in

Come on and stretch out baby
And call your daddy home
I'm running tonight I won't be long
I got something special baby
Just meant for you
Here where the road narrows and turns
And the only light's from
The Fire that burns
Here 'neath the coal black sky
When I look into your Spanish eyes
Into your Spanish eyes
Into your Spanish eyes

  IT'S A SHAME
We'lI walk the way you want me to
And I'll talk the way you want me to
And I've tried to do all I can just to please you
Wekk I worlk hard every day for you
And I bought home allmy pay for you
And I've cried my tears through the rain nightand again
Oh oh girl it's a shame
Oh oh girl it's a doggone shame
We worked so hard but it's all in vain
Oh oh girl it's a shame

Now I bought you gold and diamond rings
And I brought you home your pretty things
I thought I'd shown all the love I had for you
Yes I did but as hard as I try it all falls through
Well maybe I was born to be just your feel
Trying to satisfy your every desire each need you require
Oh oh girl it's a shame
Oh oh girl it's a doggone shame
We worked so hard but it's all in vain
Oh oh girl it's a shame

Oh oh girl it's a shame
Oh oh girl it's a doggone shame
We worked so hard but it's all in vain
Oh oh girl it's a shame

  COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT)
Put on your black Dress Baby and put your hair up right
there's a Party way down on Factory Town tonight
I'll be going down there, if you need a ride
Come on, come on, let's go tonight

A many Man failed, their Dreams denied
They walked through these Streets with Death in her eyes
and the man on the Radio say'd Elvis Presley died
Come on, come on, let's go tonight

Well now some came to witness some came to weep
Gone by death's strange glory, he stood in the street
Drawn together forever in the promise of an endless sleep
Come on, come on, let's go tonight

  TALK TO ME
Well every night I see a light up in your window
But every night you won't answer the door
But although you won't ever let me in
From the street I can see your silhouette sittin' close to him
What must I do
What does it take
To get you to

Talk to me
Until the night is over
Talk to me
Well until the night is over, yeah yeah yeah
I got a full week's pay
And baby I've been working hard each day
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm just asking girl
Talk to me

Well late at night I hear the music you're playing soft and low
Yes and late at night I see the two of you swayin' so close
I don't understand darling what was my sin
Why am I down here below while you're up there with him
What did I do
What did I say
What must I pay
To get you to

Talk to me
Until the night is over
Talk to me
Well until the night is over, yeah yeah yeah
I got a full week's pay
And baby I've been working hard each day
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm down on my bended knees
I'm just asking darling please won't you
Talk to me
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I don't understand darling what was my sin
Why am I down here below while you're up there with him
What did I do
What did I say
Why must I pay
To get you to

Talk to me
Until the night is over
Well until the night is over, yeah, yeah, yeah
I got a full weeks pay
And baby I've been working hard every day
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm down on my bended knees
I'm just asking darling please won't you
Talk to me

  The Little Things (My Baby Does)
The way she kisses so tenderly
The way she gives her love to me
I been felled by the graves 'n angels up above
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
That make me love her

The way she sighs when i hold her tight
Good times or bad we'll be all right
Faces on the street they push hard and they shove
Dissapear with the little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
That make me love her

The soft summer breeze fills here very sigh
Her eyes are blues than the summer sky

I been felled by the graces 'n angels up above
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
That make me love her

And when the night closes in
I'm driftin' and I can't find a friend
On the wings of the angels I'm saved my her love
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
That make me love her

The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does
The little things my baby does

  BREAKAWAY
Sonny abandoned his car last night
Had a meeting on the docks with a light blue monterey
To breakaway

Now the promises and the lies they demand it
Let the heartsthat have been broken stand as the price you pay
To breakaway, oh breakaway, oh ronde, ronde, ronde, ronde ray
Oh breakaway

Janie slipped from behind the bar last night
Cashed out and walked onto streets rainy and gray
To breakaway
Janie slid into a car last night in a parking lot, she gave her soul away
To breakaway

Now the promises and the lies they demand it
Let the heartsthat have been broken stand as the price you pay
To breakaway, oh breakaway, oh ronde, ronde, ronde, ronde ray
Oh breakaway

Bobby lay 'neath a sheet of stars last night
His back on blacktop still warm from the heat of the day
Breakaway
Bobby went down hard last night, saw a shooting star
As the evening light slipped away
Now the promises and the lies they demand it
Let the heartsthat have been broken stand as the price you pay
To breakaway, oh breakaway, oh ronde, ronde, ronde, ronde ray
Oh breakaway
Oh breakaway, oh breakaway

  THE PROMISE
Johnny works in a factory and Billy works downtown
Terry works in a rock and roll band
Lookin' for that million-dollar sound
I got a little job down in Darlington
But some nights I don't go
Some nights I go to the drive-in, or some nights I stay home
I followed that dream just like those guys do up on the screen
And I drive a Challenger down Route 9 through the dead ends and all the bad scenes
And when the promise was broken, I cashed in a few of my dream

Well now I built that Challenger by myself
But I needed money and so I sold it
I lived a secret I should'a kept to myself
But I got drunk one night and I told it
All my life I fought this fight
The fight that no man can never win
Every day it just gets harder to live
This dream I'm believing in
Thunder Road, oh baby you were so right
Thunder Road there's something dyin' on the highway tonight

I won big once and I hit the coast
But somehow I paid the big cost
Inside I felt like I was carryin' the broken spirits
Of all the other ones who lost
When the promise is broken you go on living
But it steals something from down in your soul
Like when the truth is spoken and it don't make no difference
Something in your heart goes cold
I followed that dream through the southwestern flats
That dead ends in two-bit bars
And when the promise was broken I was far away from home
Sleepin' in the back seat of a borrowed car
Thunder Road, for the lost lovers and all the fixed games
Thunder Road, for the tires rushing by in the rain
Thunder Road, Billy and me we'd always say
Thunder Road, we were gonna take it all and throw it all away

  CITY OF NIGHT
Taxicab, taxicab at the light
Won't you take me on a ride through this city at night
I got some money and I'm feelin' fine
I ain't in no hurry so just take your time

Some people wanna die young and gloriously
Well taxicab driver, hey that ain't me
I got a cute little baby down at 12th and Vine
And she opens for business just about closin' time

Ah hey hey, ah hey hey
City at night, city at night

I don't believe what I see in this street
I don't know how they can take the heat
Well baby I'm a liar, I'm a cheater and I don't care
I got my money, I can't take my fare

I'm ridin' tonight, I'm on my way
I can take it or live it, when it comes
Got my baby by the light of the sun
You know she brings it with her and then she comes

Hey, hey, city at night
Ride on

  THE WAY
The way your heart beats when I hold you tight
The way you sigh when we kiss goodnight
The way the wind blows through the trees
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

The way you warm me baby when I'm cold
The way you make me want you body and soul
The way the rivers run to the sea
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

The way you soothe me when I'm in pain
The way you make the blood rush in my veins
The way the winds rush through the trees
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

When I lose faith you take my hand
The way you make me feel like I'm a man
The way the sun belongs to the sea
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

The way you make me feel like I belong
And if I could girl though I know it'd be wrong
I'd lock you deep inside
'Till the last rains fall
And hide you from the emptiness of it all

Sometimes at night I lie awake
I pull you close and feel each breath you take
The way the rivers belong to the seas
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me