NEW YORK CITY SERENADE

Billy, he's down by the railroad tracks, sittin' low in the back seat of his Cadillac
Diamond Jackie, she's so intact, and she falls so softly beneath him
Jackie's heels are stacked, Billy's got cleats on his boots
Together they're gonna boogaloo down Broadway and come back home with the loot,
It's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute, it's a mad dog's promenade,
So walk tall
Baby don't walk at all

Fish lady, oh fish lady, fish lady, she baits them tenement walls
She won't take cornerboys, ain't got no money, and they're so easy,
I said, "Hey baby won't you take my hand, walk with me down Broadway,
Whoa Mama take my arm and move with me down Broadway yeah
I'm a young man and I'm talkin' real loud, yeah, baby walk it real proud for you
So shake it away, so shake away your street life, shake away your city life,
And hook up to the train, oh hook up to the night train
Hook it up, hook up to the, hook up to the train,
But I know that she won't take the train (no she won't take the train)
No she won't take the train (no she won't take the train)
Oh she won't take the train (no she won't take the train)
Oh she won't take the train (no she won't take the train)
She's afraid them tracks are gonna slow her down,
And when she turns this boy'll be gone
So long, sometimes you just gotta walk on
Walk on

Hey vibes man, hey jazz man, ah play me a serenade
Any deeper blue, you'll be playin' in your grave
Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the blues boy,
Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the darlin' yearlin' sharp boy,
Straight for the church note ringin', vibes man sting a trash can
Listen to your junk man, ah listen to your junk man,
Listen to your junk man, oh listen to your junk man,
He's singin' (singin')
He's singin' (singin')
He's singin' (singin')
All dressed up in satin, walkin' past the alley
(Singin')
Singin'
Singin'
Singin'
Singin'...
Oh yeah
Ooh ooh ooh...
Oh Yeah
Watch out for you junk man, watch out for your junk man,
Watch out for your junk man...

Recorded between Jul and Aug 1973 at the 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York City. Placed on The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle, and played often until 10 Aug 1975. Then silence until 11 Aug 1999 Continental Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ, where it reappeared. Played 5 times in the Reunion tour. Early versions are NEW YORK SONG and VIBES MAN.

One of Bruce's longest released tracks, this number was recently resurrected on the recent tour throughout the U.S.A. Complementing the jazzy feel of The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle, it features a very nice change of pace midway through the song. However, I've always felt this one is a bit disappointing, and was often thankful it was the last track on the album. Too long, too sprawling and too self-indulgent (note Dave Sancious' opening piano).

Available on:

1. The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle (track 7)