CLUB SOUL CITY^©

Gary U.S. Bonds' version

Pack up your bags
Don't look back
There's a little place
Out 'cross the railroad tracks
If you're broken-hearted
And you don't know what to do
But they got a place down there that's just for you

Club Soul, Club Soul City, yeah yeah yeah
Club Soul, Club Soul City, oh yeah

There's a waitress at the back bar
Goes with the the guy that runs the place
She's got hair like a weeping willow
And tears running down her face
She's seen a lot of guys like you coming around
Looking for something that they've lost
Or trying to lose something that they've found
Down at

Club Soul, Club Soul City, yeah yeah yeah
Club Soul, Club Soul City, oh yeah

So if you're down on your spirit
And there ain't no-one who cares
If you're lost and you're lonely
You won't be lonely down there
You can't miss it, it's just up the highway
On the front door there's a sign that says
Restricted to the losing kind

Club Soul, Club Soul City, yeah yeah yeah
Club Soul, Club Soul City, oh yeah
Club Soul, Club Soul City, yeah yeah yeah
Club Soul, Club Soul City, oh yeah

Page last updated: 20 Feb 2008

The above lyrics are for Gary U.S. Bonds' version of the Springsteen composition CLUB SOUL CITY. The song was released in in June 1982 on Bonds' album On The Line which was produced by Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt.

Brucebase mentions that CLUB SOUL CITY was recorded by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band in Jan or Feb 1982 at The Power Station recording studio in New York City, NY, and that probably the core of that same recording was used on Gary U.S. Bonds' album version -- The E Street Band, but with the Springsteen lead vocal overdub by Bonds'. The recording location complies with the credits on On The Line.

The Bonds track was also included on the Cover Me Bruce Springsteen tribute album and on several Bonds compilations:

Various artists -- Cover me LP - Rhino (RNIN 70700) - USA, 1986 Cassette - Rhino (?) - USA, 1986

Various artists -- Cover me LP - Rhino (R2 70700) - USA, 1989 Note that a few tracks vary between the LP release and the CD release of this tribute album.

List of available versions of CLUB SOUL CITY on this website:

• Springsteen's home demo (more details)
• Gary U.S. Bonds' version
• Killer Joe's version