BREAK OUT^©

Version #2

I was born saved in heaven, it was nothing like the promised land
Raised in a good Christian house underneath a good Christian hand
I was schooled down and dirty, signed a note getting back to town
I was there where the workers slaved all week waiting for payday to come around

Break out, come on if you're coming 'cause baby I just can't stay
I want to take out the walls of this joint, I want to blow this town away

Now I ain't into fast livin', I ain't into dying young
And I ain't looking to be forgiven for any of the stupid things that I've done
For the ones who once had a notion, a notion it was good to be alive*
Feel the spark, the rush of emotion, I want to break out baby tonight

I wanna dream, that I got a place
I wanna scream in somebody's face
Make it seem, get out of this muddy race
All night long

Well all little kings lose their thrones tonight
All you little pretty things better learn to sleep alone tonight**
It was down in the cool dirty living with the man with the master plan
Some girl who can beg forgiveness and a ticket to the promised land

Down where they'll tear your guts out, making out what you're all about
And making while we were blasting like a motor, I want out, I want out, I want out

Want out to the outside, well I'm a small and dirty fool
I wanna shout, I'm bound for nothing, I wanna shout about something too
For the ones who once had a notion, it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive*
I feel the heat, the rush of devotion, I want to tear out baby tonight

I wanna do what ain't ever been done
I wanna win what ain't ever been won
I wanna lose what I've always won
Prove it all night long

I wanna know that I got a place
I wanna go where I can see your face
I wanna rock the roof off this place
I want you to know I wanna live

Page last updated: 27 Apr 2007

A Darkness On The Edge Of Town outtake of which two "very different" takes are in circulation:

• Version #1: An early "rough workout" take with very bluffed lyrics that was recorded in Sep 1977 at Atlantic Studios, New York City, NY
• Version #2: A "more developed" take with nearly finished lyrics that was recorded shortly afterwards at The Record Plant, New York City, NY

BREAK OUT is a machine-gun-quick rocker, and is believed to be an early prototype for BADLANDS. However, this might not be necessary true because the latter was recorded prior to BREAK OUT (Aug 1977). It is also somehow related to PROVE IT ALL NIGHT. These similarities are more apparent in version #2.

BREAK OUT is also known in collector circles under the title ALL NIGHT LONG.

As far as it's known, this outtake was never played live.

The above lyrics refer to version #2, which is much more developed than version #1. It is available on The Definitive Darkness Outtakes Collection (E Street Records) and The Iceman (Scorpio Records) bootlegs.

* These lyrics also appear in BADLANDS.
** These lyrics also appear in FRANKIE.