NEW YORK SONG

Blacky's down by the railroad tracks, he's sittin' low in the back seat of his Cadillac
And Diamond Jackie, she's so intact, she freezes beneath Black's attack
Jackie's shoes are shellacked, she's got cleats on her boots
Together they're gonna boogaloo down Broadway and come back with the loot
Because it's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute, it's a mad cat's promenade
It's New York City, the city that never sleeps

Well Angel Jackie prays, ain't she sweet
Her faith lies at midnight, between her teeth
She got a dirty big daddy, who through all the tears
Has supplied her with hope and kept her in fear
He's a lone profiteer, working down on the docks
He was born in 1943 and almost died of the shock
And now he drags her to some D-side joint
Where the atomic punks they rock
Until she breaks down and falls
Soft like a child, crying New York City, you're so wild
And in the night air you hear crying

And now the girls say anything, girls say anything
He was born on the border of the Kansas line
When he broke into town, it was hot, 90 degrees
He swore he'd bust that monster to it's knees
Folks say he was master of the universe
Some kid said he was the holder of the common keys
His throat was choked with lightning from some childhood disease
And with a burnt gun blast he's got people running from the streets
And he lies empty in Time Square just like street scum
Crying New York City, keep it young
Crying New York City, keep it young
From a tenement window you hear

Early version of NEW YORK CITY SERENADE. These lyrics refer to the version played on 24 Apr 1973 at The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA. Check also the alternative version.

Evolved from VIBES MAN into NEW YORK CITY SERENADE. This version is quite different to the final one recorded for The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle. This remains a much better live song than what came out of the studio.