GULF COAST HIGHWAY^©

1988 soundcheck version

Gulf coast highway, heading south
He worked the rice fields with their cold dark wells
He worked the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico
The only thing we ever owned is this old house here by the road

When we die, we're gonna catch some blackbird's wings
We will fly away to heaven, come some great blue bonnet spring

[stop]

Let's- that's it, it's the- it's the four... down
Da da da da da, da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da

Gulf coast highway, heads or tails
He worked the rice fields with their cool dark wells
He worked the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico
The only thing we'd ever owned was this old house here by the road

And when we die, we're gonna catch some blackbird's wing
And we will fly away to heaven, come some great blue bonnet spring

Highway 90, the jobs are gone
We tend the garden, we set the sun
Da da da da da, da da da da da da
The only thing we ever owned is this old house here by the road

And when we die, we'll catch some blackbird's wings
And we will fly away to heaven, come some great blue bonnet spring

And when she dies, she's gonna catch some blackbird's wings
And we will fly away to heaven come some great blue bonnet spring

(Ooh)

Page last updated: 19 Aug 2007

Bruce Springsteen performed this Nanci Griffith song [check out Nanci Griffith's original version for more details] during soundchecks in 1988 (Tunnel Of Love Express Tour). He never performed it during regular shows. At least one soundcheck performance was confirmed: 25 Jun 1988 at Wembley Stadium, London, UK. An eyewitness reports: "Gulf Coast Highway was played at the soundcheck of the Wembley Stadium gig on the TOL tour in 1988. I was outside waiting to get in and it sounded wonderful, I was a little disappointed they didn't play it on the night."

An mp3 of what appears to be a line feed recording from a soundcheck rehearsal of the song is in circulation among collectors. The recording features Bruce Springsteen performing/rehearsing GULF COAST HIGHWAY, backed up by Patti Scialfa. The recording is from a 1988 soundcheck, but the exact date and venue are unknown.

In concerts, during the intro to the song, Nanci Griffith references the singers who have "recorded" the song as a duet. She said that Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa did record a version of it. However, there is no other indications that Springsteen recorded the song in studio. Some assume that the above mentioned recording is of a studio outtake, but most probably it's from a 1988 soundcheck. It is unknown whether it is from the confirmed 25 Jun 1988 soundcheck or from some other 1988 soundcheck.

Thanks T Lauer, TattooDad, apollo81 (from Greasy Lake), and Promise61 (from Greasy Lake), Skin2Skin (from Greasy Lake), and Pete Russel for the info help. Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Request:
If you have any additional info about the origin of the above mentioned recording, or if you know of any other Springsteen studio/live recording of the song, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.