OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Official studio version

It's all over now, the things we had
I ain't sorry, girl, I just feel mad
You walk real pretty and you talk real fine
But night after night babe I'm on the line
My life's the same story, again and again
I'm on the outside looking in (I'm on the outside looking in)

Well every day just brings the same
You go out looking for some strange new games
Pretty soon them games ain't fun anymore
And it's something else that you're looking for
You've got all the answers, you and your friends
And I'm on the outside looking in (I'm on the outside looking in)
Yes I'm on the outside looking in
Whoa!

Whoa!

Now you've got the pretty things you want
The sins of the angels baby they will haunt
Those pretty eyes that they all adore
But baby not me, not anymore
I do what I want to, I'll be what I am
I'm on the outside looking in (I'm on the outside looking in)
Yeah I'm on the outside looking in (I'm on the outside looking in)
Baby yes I am (I'm on the outside looking in)
Ah baby yes I am (I'm on the outside looking in)
Well baby I'm on the outside looking in

Page last updated: 29 May 2011

Intro

OUTSIDE LOOKING is a Bruce Springsteen song that was released in November 2010 on The Promise, an album of previously-unreleased songs from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions. The above lyrics are for that officially released studio version of the song.

Composition

The title of OUTSIDE LOOKING IN maybe have been inspired by The Animals' 1966 single INSIDE LOOKING OUT. Bruce Springsteen was greatly influenced by The Animals, and around the time he was recording Darkness On the edge Of Town, he was frequently covering their 1965 hit IT'S MY LIFE in concert, and he even considered it for inclusion on Darkness On the edge Of Town (see the live 12 Dec 1975 version for more details). Springsteen also performed WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE once in late 1976.

The Promise

The Promise is a Bruce Springsteen album that was released on 16 Nov 2010 as part of The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set, and separately as a 2-CD set. The album was also issued on a limited edition 3-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl.

The Promise is a collection of 22 previously-unreleased songs from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions. Depending on their level of completion back in 1977-1978, some were only remastered, some were overdubbed with 2010 vocals or music, and some were completely re-recorded in 2010. The album is mixed by Bob Clearmountain.

Notes:

• RACING IN THE STREET ('78) is an alternate take to the version found on the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album.
• THE PROMISE is a different version from the one found on 18 Tracks.
• CANDY'S BOY and COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) are early versions of CANDY'S ROOM and FACTORY.
• BECAUSE THE NIGHT, FIRE, and TALK TO ME are songs that Springsteen donated to other artists.
• BECAUSE THE NIGHT, RENDEZVOUS, and FIRE were previously released by Springsteen in live versions.
• THE WAY is a hidden/bonus track and has been circulating on bootlegs in a slightly different mix.
• GOTTA GET THAT FEELING, SOMEDAY (WE'LL BE TOGETHER), WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET, AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, and CITY OF NIGHT have been circulating on bootlegs in different versions and under different titles.
• OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, ONE WAY STREET, and SPANISH EYES have been circulating on bootlegs in different versions.
• THE BROKENHEARTED is known from the 1978 tour rehearsals.
• SAVE MY LOVE, IT'S A SHAME, THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES), and BREAKAWAY are songs that have never circulated or been documented.

Circulating Studio Versions

Prior to the release of The Promise in 2010, one studio take of OUTSIDE LOOKING IN had been circulating on bootlegs. It was recorded in June 1977 at Atlantic Studios in New York City, NY. It's a very rough early take. See the unofficial studio version for more details.

In the handwritten lyrics notebook that was reproduced in The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set, there's scan of a demo tape inlay that lists tracks recorded at Atlantic Studios, including OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. The tape is dated 01 Jun 1977.

Live History

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed OUTSIDE LOOKING IN twice on 07 Dec 2010 during a gig in front of a small crowd at Carousel House in Asbury Park, NJ. The gig was videotaped for a future webcast, but none of three takes of the song was included in the webcast. In a Backstreets.com review, Flynn McLean wrote: "Next up was 'Outside Looking In,' for which Bruce traded the Esquire for a sunburst acoustic guitar. Clarence missed his solo during the first take, prompting to Bruce say between takes, 'Sometimes we're so impressed with the E Street Band that we forget we're in the E Street Band.' Bruce also noted that Steve missed a chord. For the second take, however, all the parts were accounted for."

[Click here to display/hide list of 2010 live performances]

Covers

As far as it's known, no artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.

Available Versions

List of available versions of OUTSIDE LOOKING IN on this website:

• Official studio version
• Unofficial studio version

Credits

Thanks Claudio Dirani.

Request

If you have any corrections or additional info, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.

Subject:
Name and location:	This is how you will be credited, unless you specify differently in the message body.
E-mail address:	Please provide your email if you expect a response. It will not be disclosed to a third party.
Comments or message: (required) (plain text only, no tags)
Verification:	Please prove that you are not a robot spammer by typing the word that appears in the graphic on the left into the box beneath it.