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Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover version
Album Version:
Princess cards she sends me with her regards
Oh, barroom eyes shine vacancy, to see her you gotta look hard
Wounded deep in battle, I stand stuffed like some soldier undaunted
To her Cheshire smile, I'll stand on file, she's all I ever wanted
You let your blue walls get in the way of these facts, honey
Get your carpetbaggers off my back
Go give me time to cover my tracks
You said, "Here's your mirror and your ball and jacks"
But they're not what I came for
Oh I came for so much more
And I know you know that too (I came for you)
And I know you know that's true (I came for you)
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you, for you, I came for you
Crawl into my ambulance, your pulse is getting weak
Reveal yourself all to me now while you've got the strength to speak
'Cause they're waiting for you at Bellevue with their oxygen masks
But I could give it all to you now, if only you could ask
Don't call for your surgeon, even he says it's late
It's not your lungs this time, but your heart holds your fate
Don't give me my money back, don't want it anymore
It's not that nursery mouth I came back for
It's not the way you're stretched out on the floor
I've broken all your windows and I rammed through all your doors
And who am I to ask you to fight my wars?
You should know that's true (I came for you)
You should know that too (I came for you)
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you, for you, I came for you
[Instrumental break]
Don't call for your surgeon, even he says it's late
It's not your lungs this time, but your heart holds your fate
Don't give me my money back, don't want it anymore
It's not that nursery mouth I came back for
It's not the way you're stretched out on the floor
Broken all your windows and I rammed through all your doors
Who am I to ask you to fight my wars?
You should know that's true (I came for you)
You should know that too (I came for you)
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you, for you, I came for you
(I came for you)
(I came for you)
Single Version:
Princess cards she sends me with her regards
Oh, barroom eyes shine vacancy, to see her you gotta look hard
Wounded deep in battle, I stand stuffed like some soldier undaunted
To her Cheshire smile, I'll stand on file, she's all I ever wanted
You let your blue walls get in the way of these facts, honey
Get your carpetbaggers off my back
Go give me time to cover my tracks
You said, "Here's your mirror and your ball and jacks"
But they're not what I came for
Oh I came for so much more (I came for you)
And I know you know that too (I came for you)
And I know you know that's true (I came for you)
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you, for you, I came for you
Crawl into my ambulance, your pulse is getting weak
Reveal yourself all to me now while you've got the strength to speak
Don't call for your surgeon, even he says it's late
It's not your lungs this time, but your heart holds your fate
Don't give me my money back, don't want it anymore
It's not that nursery mouth I came back for
It's not the way you're stretched out on the floor
And who am I to ask you to fight my wars? (I came for you)
You should know that's true (I came for you)
You should know that too (I came for you)
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you, for you, I came for you
[Instrumental break]
Don't call for your surgeon, even he says it's late
It's not your lungs this time, but your heart holds your fate
Don't give me my money back, don't want it anymore
It's not that nursery mouth I came back for
It's not the way you're stretched out on the floor
And who am I to ask you to fight my wars? (I came for you)
You should know that's true (I came for you)
You should know that too (I came for you)
I came for you
I came for you
I came for you, for you, I came for you
(I came for you)
The above lyrics are for Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover version of FOR YOU. They released it on their 1980 album Chance. Their version features a rockier arrangement than Springsteen's.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version has a rockier arrangement than Springsteen's. It features Chris Thompson on vocals, Manfred Mann on keyboards, Pat King on bass and bass pedals, John Lingwood on drums, Trevor Rabin on guitar, Mick Rogers on guitar, Steve Waller on guitar, Geoff Whitehorn on guitar, and Robbie McIntosh on guitar.
Two studio versions of the track were released: an "Album Version" and a "Single Version". The first clocks at 5:36 and the second clocks at 3:52.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band have recorded three Bruce Springsteen songs, all from his debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.: SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT in 1975, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT in 1976, and FOR YOU in 1980. Manfred Mann's Earth Band did Springsteen quite a service by covering some of his songs during the period when he was a virtual unknown in most of Europe. The Hollies and their band leader Allan Clarke also helped in during the same period.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover of FOR YOU was released as a single in 1981. It did not achieve the success of their other Springsteen covers.
| Country | Chart | Peak position | Weeks in chart | Charting period |
| USA | 106 | 1981 |
The single was issued in North and South America, Europe, and New Zealand.
Besides its availability on the 1981 7-inch singles and some later compilations, the "Single Version" of Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover of FOR YOU was also released as a bonus track on the European 1999 and Japanese 2005 reissues of the Chance album.
Both versions of the track appeared on several Manfred Mann's Earth Band compilations albums, including:
The song also appeared on some various artists compilation albums.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
Please contact me if you have scans or info about any official release containing Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover of FOR YOU that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following releases (an Australian pressing also exists):
Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .
List of available versions of FOR YOU on this website:
FOR YOU [Album version]
