NATURAL MAGIC

Live 07 Aug 1971 version

I'd climb a mountain if you want me to
I'd swim the ocean just to get to you
I do most anything that you asked me to do
Don't you know now darling my loving's for you
Oh but don't take me for the fool
Cause it would be the wrong thing to do
In the end it sure would be tragic
Because my baby's natural magic
Oh she's alright
Come on

I'd steal the moon from the midnight sky
Sprinkle it in stardust and tie'em in butterflies
I'd buy for you a sailing ship and I'd sit out on the sea
All I ask of you darling is you let me be free
And if that is too much to do
To keep my girl from singing the blues
In the end it sure would be tragic
Because my baby's natural magic
She's just alright

She's not the kind of girl that misses ??? and pretty
Always there to lend a certain touch
When she somethings she likes she'll have it
Never taken too much and always leavin' enough to get home
Yeah she does

I want you to climb on
Climb on
Climb on
Climb on
You know I love you

I'd climb a mountain if you want me too
I'd swim the ocean just to get to you
I'd do most anything that you asked me to do
Don't you know now darling my lovings for you
Oh but don't take me for some kind of fool
That would be the wrong thing for you to do
Oh it sure would be tragic
Cause my baby's natural magic
Oh yeah
In the end it would sure be tragic
Cause my baby's natural magic

Page last updated: 28 Jun 2007

Written by Bruce Springsteen in early or mid 1971, this love song is influenced by Van Morrison's early 1970's albums, Tupelo Honey and Moondance. It's an absolutely brilliant track, one of the best from the Bruce Springsteen Band. It is also known under the title MY BABY'S NATURAL MAGIC.

As far as it's known, the song was never recorded in studio. 3 live performances with the Bruce Springsteen Band are confirmed:

• 10 Jul 1971 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
• 22 or 29 Jul 1971 at D' Scene, South Amboy, NJ (early show)
• 07 Aug 1971 at Sunshine In, Asbury Park, NJ

The 10 Jul 1971 Community College gig was an outdoor event billed as the "2nd Annual Nothing's Festival", and headlined by the Bruce Springsteen Band. This was the first known live performance of the band. A poor to fair quality audience recording of the show is in circulation, but NATURAL MAGIC, which is cut at the end, is not available on any mainstream bootleg.

An early Bruce Springsteen handwritten setlist is recalled with some degree of confidence by one of the Bruce Springsteen Band members as emanating from either the 22 or the 29 Jul 1971 show at D' Scene, South Amboy, NJ. The setlist is for both an early and a late show, NATURAL MAGIC being part of the former.

click to enlarge

Good quality complete soundboard recording of three songs (including NATURAL MAGIC) from the 07 Aug 1971 Sunshine In show is in circulation and is available on The Bruce Springsteen Story Vol. 4 (E Street Records) bootleg, on which the liner notes incorrectly state that this is a 1972 performance.

The above lyrics refer to the 07 Aug 1971 performance at the Sunshine In, Asbury Park, NJ.

Most of the above info is taken from Brucebase.

The handwritten setlist for the Jul 1971 show at D' Scene was auctioned on the It's Only Rock 'N Roll online auction website in Jun 2006. The bid on this item started at $500.00, and reached $2221.44.