ATLANTIC CITY

Albums' version

Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night now they blew up his house too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready for a fight gonna see what them racket boys can do

Now there's trouble bustin' in from outta state and the D.A. can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade and the gamblin' commissions hangin' on by the skin of its teeth

CHORUS
Everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on fix your hair up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus

CHORUS

Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold but with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sand's turnin' to gold so put on your stockin's cause the night's getting cold and maybe everything dies
That's a fact but maybe everything that dies someday comes back

Now I been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers and don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end
So honey last night I met this guy and I'm gonna do a little favor for him
Well I guess everything dies baby that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your hair up nice and set up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City...

Published on Nebraska in 1982. A very early version of this song is FIST FULL OF DOLLARS from the Nebraska early demos, and an intermediate version also exists. The version recorded by Bruce in Jan 1982 was quite identical to the released one.

It was also released on singles in 1982 and 1994 with MANSION ON THE HILL and STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA.

The song debuted on 29 Jun 1984 at Civic Centre, St. Paul, MN. Played widely during the Born In The USA, Human Touch, and The Ghost Of Tom Joad tours. The song also appeared during the Reunion, The Rising, Devils & Dust, and Seeger Sessions tours.

Check also the live 25 Jun 2006 version.

Available on:

1. Nebraska (track 2)
2. Greatest Hits (track 6)
3. The Essential Bruce Springsteen (disc 1- track 15)
4. MTV UnPlugged (track 3)
5. Live In New York City (disc 1- track 4)

Liner notes by Bruce Springsteen in the Greatest Hits booklet:

Cut in my bedroom for $1000 (the cost of the 4 Track Tascam recorder), mixed through an old Gibson guitar echo unit to a beat box, Nebraska was my ultimate homemade demo. This song was about the early 80's gold rush when gambling hit South Jersey.

Liner notes from the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen tribute booklet:

"Atlantic City" was, maybe, the first song I learned on the guitar other than my own. I listened to Nebraska more than any other Springsteen record. It influenced me to sing about what hurt inside. And hope.

-Kurt Neumann