BACKSTREETS^©

Live 01 Jul 2000 version

One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends
Trying in vain to breathe the fire we were born in
Catching rides to the outskirts, tying faith between our teeth
Sleeping in that old abandoned beach house, getting wasted in the heat
And hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
With a love so hard and filled with defeat
Running for our lives at night out on those backstreets

Slow dancing in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing
Where desperate lovers park we sat with the last of the Duke Street Kings
Huddled in our cars waiting for the bells that ring
In the deep heart of the night to set us loose from everything
To go running on the backstreets, running on the backstreets
Well we swore we'd live forever
On the backstreets we'd take it together

Endless juke joints and Valentino drag
Where dancers scraped the tears up off the streets dressed down in rags
Running into the darkness, some hurt bad some really dying
At night sometimes it seemed you could hear that whole damn city crying
Blame it on the lies that killed us, on the truth that ran us down
You can blame it all on me Terry, it don't matter to me now
When the breakdown hit at midnight there was nothing left to say
'Cept I hated him and I hated you when you went away
Say yeah
Say yeah

Now laying here in the dark, you're like an angel on my chest
Just another tramp of hearts crying tears of faithlessness
Remember all the movies, Terry, that we'd go see
Trying to learn how to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be
Well after all this time to find we're just like all the rest
Stranded in the park and forced to confess
To hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
We swore forever friends
On the backstreets until the end

Till the end
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
It's alright
To go hiding on the backstreets tonight
Hiding on the backstreets, on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, on the backstreets
On the backstreets, on the backstreets
On the backstreets
Yeah!
Whoah, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Whoah whoah whoah whoah

Page last updated: 00 Xxx 2008

The Reunion Tour wrapped up with a 10-nights stand at Madison Square Gardens, New York City, NY, between 12 Jun and 01 Jul 2000. Footage from the last three nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000) was used in early 2001 for HBO's Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City TV special. Running 90 minutes, the film consisted of a 14-songs selection from the last two nights (29 Jun and 01 Jul 2000). It first aired on 07 Apr 2001 and was the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert.

In 2001, HBO received six Emmy Award nominations and won two for their acclaimed film.

• Nominee for "Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program"
• Winner of "Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multicamera) for VMC Programming"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special"
• Winner of "Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special"

The full HBO broadcast was released on Live In New York City, both the album (released on 03 Apr 2001) and the DVD (released on 06 Nov 2001). Note that the album includes 6 bonus tracks (20 in all), and the DVD includes an additional 5 plus one audio track that plays over the end credits (26 in all). These bonus tracks are taken from the three filmed nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000). Click here to display/hide detailed track listing with dates.

BACKSTREETS was frequently performed during The Reunion Tour, making a total of 59 apparitions. The song was "not" part of the HBO special, and was not included on the CD release. The 01 Jul 2000 version was however included on the Live In New York City DVD. The above lyrics are for that live 01 Jul 2000 performance at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.

List of available versions of BACKSTREETS on this website:

• Album's version (more details)

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