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Live 29 Dec 1980 version
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 said, "Ah, Johnny, it falls apart too easy and you know that hearts these days are cheap"
And then the pimps swung their axes, said, "Johnny, you're a cheater"
Yeah, and then the pimps swung their axes, said, "Johnny, you're a liar"
And from out of the shadows came a youfng girl's voice
Said, "Johnny, don't cry"
And Johnny sighed, "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 the barefoot boys in a real street fight, they pull thirty-eights and they kiss the girls goodnight"
Well, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Now let the black boys in to light the soul flame
Well, we may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk until the morning light, baby
Well, like a cool Romeo he made his move, she looked so fine
And like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true, she didn't really mind
Upstairs a band was playin' and the singer was singin' something about going home
And she sighed, "Ah, Johnny, you can leave me tonight, but just don't leave me alone"
And Johnny cried, "Puerto Rican Jane, well, the word is down that the cops have found the vein"
Them little barefoot boys, they left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys, they said homes ain't no good
They left the corners and they threw away all of their switchblade knives
And they kissed each other goodbye
Now, Johnny sat out on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down in the street
And he called down, "Hey, little heroes, summer's long, but I guess it ain't so sweet around here no more"
Now, Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat; Johnny sits up at night and watches her dream on
And the sister breaks down in the chapel after everybody's gone
And Janey moves over to share her pillow but she sees Johnny up and out of bed and putting his clothes on
And she sighs, "Them romantic young boys (them romantic young boys), all they ever want to do is fight"
Them romantic young boys (them romantic young boys), they shout through the window:
"Hey, Johnny, why don't you come on out and make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny sighs, "Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
I swear I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk 'til the morning light, maybe"
And Johnny sighs, "Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Well, I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
Well, we may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk 'til the morning light, maybe
Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
I swear I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight, maybe
Whoa, we may walk 'til the morning light, maybe
The above lyrics are for the live 29 Dec 1980 performance of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, during The River Tour. The song was played in a full-band album-style arrangement and featured a number of unique lyrical variations. This was the only performance of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET on The River Tour.
This live 29 Dec 1980 version of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET was first officially released on the War European EP in 1986, but the recording of the song has been altered prior to the official release, with reworked ending featuring a fake applause overdub.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band rounded up the 1980 leg of The River Tour with three concerts at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, on 28, 29, and 31 Dec 1980. The three shows were recorded live with the Record Plant Remote Truck by Toby Scott, assisted by David Bianco and Jim Scott, and later became one of the main sources for the Live/1975-85 box set which includes six recordings from these shows. Four additional recordings were released as B-sides and on compilation albums.
In July 2019 the complete 29 Dec 1980 concert was officially released on Live.BruceSpringsteen.net (see the "Official Live Downloads" section below for more details). The 24-track/30-IPS reel-to-reel master tapes were transferred and restored by Jamie Howarth in Spring 2019 using the Plangent Process. The audio was mixed by Jon Altschiller, with additional engineering by Danielle Warman, and mastered by Jon Altschiller.
The live 29 Dec 1980 version of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET was released on the War EP in 1986 in Europe and Mexico.
The live 29 Dec 1980 version of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET was also released on the B-side of the Fire single in 1987 in North America and the Philippines.
In 1987 the live 29 Dec 1980 version of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET was also included on Live Collection, a Japan-only EP released to promote the Live/1975-85 box set. The EP was released in both 12-inch vinyl and CD formats.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
Please contact me if you have scans for or info about any official release containing the live 29 Dec 1980 version of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET that's not mentioned on this page. I also need complete scans for the following releases:
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 INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET on this website:
INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET [Album version]
