INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET

Live 11 Aug 2003 version

[Spoken intro:] (chuckles) Gotta check this one before I play it. (chuckles) All right, we're gonna do a few requests. No, no, ones we know already, not ones shouted out! (chuckles) Hear it, Roy!

That's all right. (chuckles) Come on!

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
They sighed, "Johnny, it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap"
And the pimps swung their axes, said, "Johnny, you're a cheater"
Yeah, and the pimps swung their axes, said, "Johnny, you're a liar"
And then from out of the shadows came a young 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 them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight, pull thirty-eights and kiss the girls goodnight"

Well, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Let the black boys in to light the soul flame
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk 'til the morning light, maybe

Well, like a cool Romeo he made his moves, yeah, she looked so fine
And like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true, but she didn't really mind
Upstairs the band was playin', the singer was singin' something 'bout going 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"
Them 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, they threw away all of their switchblade knives
And they kissed each other goodbye

Now, Johnny was sitting on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down in the street
He called down, "Hey, little heroes, summer's long, but I guess it ain't so sweet around here no more"
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat; Johnny sits up alone, watches her dreamin' on
The sister prays for lost souls and breaks down in the chapel after everyone's gone
Janey moves over to share her pillow, opens her eyes to see Johnny up, putting his clothes on
She sighs, "Those romantic young boys (those romantic young boys), all they ever want to do is fight"
Those romantic young boys (those romantic young boys), they call in through the window:
"Hey, Spanish Johnny, wanna make a little easy money tonight?"
Johnny whispered, "Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
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"
Yeah, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Yeah, 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
Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Yeah, I said, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Yeah, I said, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Yeah, I said, goodnight, it's all right, Jane

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 11 Aug 2003 performance of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA, during The Rising Tour. The song was played in its traditional full-band arrangement.

Promotional poster for the Aug 2003 three-night stand at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Ticket stub for the 11 Aug 2003 show at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Handwritten setlist for the 11 Aug 2003 show at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Available Versions

List of available versions of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET on this website:

Page last updated: 12 Jan 2012