COME ON

Live 23 May 1970 version

Come on, are you ready
The temperature's rising and summer's coming on
Well come on, don't let them get you right now
The time has come, it might be now

Come on, are you ready
The bells are ringing and the people are singing their song
Come on, don't you feel it
The world is crying for freedom, can't you hear it

Gather up your children
Bring them down to the riverside
And teach them well, show them good
They got no reason to hide
Hey!

[instrumental]

Gather up your children
Bring 'em down to the riverside
And teach them well, show them good
They got no reason to hide

Come on, you gotta be a man now
I wanna see you, I wanna see you raise your hands, now
Come on, don't you feel it
The world is crying for freedom
The world is crying for freedom, don't you hear it
Come on, I'll do my part!

Page last updated: 07 Jun 2011

Info

COME ON, also known under the extended title COME ON (THE WORLD IS CRYING FOR FREEDOM), is a song written by Bruce Springsteen in late 1969 and performed by Steel Mill in concert up through mid-1970. Not to be confused with the Darkness On The Edge Of Town outtake COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT).

The above lyrics are transcribed from the live 23 May 1970 performance of COME ON at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Possible Steel Mill Studio Recording

Steel Mill might have recorded COME ON at Challenger Eastern Surfboards in Asbury Park, NJ. The surfboard factory was also Bruce's home from late 1969 thru late 1970, and a makeshift studio environment of sufficient standard to produce reasonable quality recordings. Although the song might have been recorded as part of ongoing rehearsals at Challenger Eastern Surfboards, none of these 1969 and 1970 recordings is currently in circulation. Due to financial restrictions the reel-to-reel tapes were often reused. Consequently there is a distinct possibility that much of what was recorded at Challenger no longer survives, even in Springsteen's personal archive.

Live History

There are four confirmed live appearances of COME ON, all with Steel Mill in mid-1970. Audio recordings for the four performances are in circulation among collectors.

[Click here to display/hide detailed known performances list]

The 23 May 1970 Show

The 23 May 1970 show took place at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. It was a double bill show held in the university's VCU Gym, with Steel Mill headlining and Mercy Flight opening. This gig is infamous because it ended with drummer Vini Lopez arrested for unruly behaviour. An 80-minute audience recording of fair quality is in circulation, and does not represent the complete show, which contained at least 20 minutes more of music (2-4 songs).

Promotional poster for the 23 May 1970 show at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
[Taken from Brucebase]

Promotional ad for the 23 May 1970 show at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
[Taken from Brucebase]

Covers

Thirty-five years later, COME ON was recorded by Jersey Shore band Steel Mill Retro who released it on The Dead Sea Chronicles, their 2005 album of Bruce Springsteen songs originally performed by the original Steel Mill. See Steel Mill Retro's cover version for more details.

Available Versions

List of available versions of COME ON on this website:

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake). Some of the above info about the studio recording and the live performances of COME ON is taken from Brucebase.

Request

For comments, additions, or corrections, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.