MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER

a.k.a. THE HEIST

Hey Eddie, can you lend me a few bucks
And tonight can you get us a ride
Gotta make it through the tunnel
Got a meeting with a man on the other side

Hey Eddie, this guy, he's the real thing
So if you want to come along
You gotta promise you won't say anything
'Cause this guy don't dance
And the word's been passed this is our last chance

We gotta stay cool tonight, Eddie
'Cause man, we got ourselves out on that line
And if we blow this one
They ain't gonna be looking for just me this time

And all we gotta do is hold up our end
Here stuff this in your pocket
It'll look like you're carrying a friend
And remember, just don't smile
Change your shirt, 'cause tonight we got style

Well Cherry says she's gonna walk
'Cause she found out I took her radio and hocked it
But Eddie, man, she don't understand
That two grand's practically sitting here in my pocket

And tonight's gonna be everything that I said
And when I walk through that door
I'm just gonna throw that money on the bed
She'll see this time I wasn't just talking
Then I'm gonna go out walking

Hey Eddie, can you catch us a ride?

Recorded between Mar and Jul 1975 at The Record Plant, New York City, and published on Born To Run. Seldomly played until 01 Jan 1979, then it disappeared to come back 20 years later on 21 May 1999 Earls Court, London in the Reunion tour, played often from there on.

The perfect introduction to JUNGLELAND (as reflected when played live, often before the classic album finale) it remains stylistically different to the rest of the album, yet not looking out of place. Stark and raw, Roy's piano adds soul and life, tinkling away in the background behind Bruce's emotive vocal.

Included on many singles in 1975, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1992, and 1996 with BORN TO RUN, COVER ME, JERSEY GIRL (live), IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND, THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD, NEBRASKA, and others...

Available on:

1. Born To Run (track 7)
2. Tribute 1997: One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen (disc 1- track 12), performed by Syd Straw

Liner notes from the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen tribute booklet:

I love to watch the movies in his songs, and I deeply admire the way he fills them in with humanity, painterly images and most of all, PASSION. I think that in another lifetime, I carried his guitar home from school...

-Syd Straw