Incident On 57th Street lyrics

Song information

Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Album: The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle

Lyrics

Spanish johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in 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 sighed "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."
Well 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, there'll be action goin' down on shanty lane tonight
All them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight
Pull .38s and kiss the girls good night

Oh good night, 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 he'd never be true but then she didn't really mind

Upstairs 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"

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 say homes ain't no good
They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each
Other good-bye

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
All they ever want to do is fight"
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:
Good night, it's all tight jane
I'll meet you tomorrow night on lover's lane
We may find it out on the street tonight baby

[from http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk]

"The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album track list