SONG TO ORPHANS^©

Live 21 Nov 2005 version

Well multitude assembled and they tried to make the noise
Them black blind poet generals and restless loud white boys
But time's grew thin and the axis was somehow left incomplete
Where instead of child lions found the agein' junkie sheep

How many wasted have I seen signed "Hollywood or bust"
Left to ride them ever ghostly Arizona gusts
Cheerleader tramps and kids with big amps soundin' in the void
High society vamps and ex-heavyweight champs mistakin' soot for soil

So break me now big Mama as Old Faithful breaks the day
Believe me my good Linda, the aurora will shine your way
The confederacy's in my name now, and the hounds are held at bay
But the axis needs a stronger arm, do you feel your muscles play

The doorstep blanket weaver, Madonna, she's pushin' bells
From house to house I see her givin' last kisses and wishin' well
To every gypsy mystic hero that the kids might find a place
Who've been lost forever mama on their weekends out in space

Well the sons they search for fathers, but the fathers are all gone
And the lost souls search for saviours, but saviours don't last long
Those aimless questless renegade brats who live their lives in songs
They run the length of a candle, in a goodnight whisper they are all gone

So break me now big Mama as Old Faithful breaks the day
Believe me my good Linda, the aurora will shine your way
The confederacy's in my name now, the hounds are held at bay
The axis needs a stronger arm, do you feel your muscles play

Well the missions are filled with hermits, and they're lookin' for a friend
And the terraces are filled with cat-men just lookin' for a way in
There's orphans left on silver mountains, lost in celestial alleyways
They wait for that old tramp Dog Man Moses, he takes in all the strays

Now don't grow on empty legends, don't grow on lonely cradle songs
'Cause Billy the Kid was just a bowery boy who made a living twirlin' his guns
And the night she's long and lanky, and she speaks in a mother tongue
She lullabies the refugees with an amplifier's hum

So break me now big Mama as Old Faithful breaks the day
Believe me my sweet Linda, the help is on the way
The Confederacy's in my name now, we'll hold the hounds at bay
The axis needs a stronger arm, do you feel your muscles play
And the Confederacy's in my name now, and the hounds we'll hold at bay
The axis needs a stronger arm, do you feel your muscles play

Hmmm

Page last updated: 10 Sep 2007

The above lyrics are for to the live 21 Nov 2005 performance at Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ, during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour. Bruce Springsteen was on guitar and harmonica, and he was accompanied by Alan Fitzgerald on piano. He introduced the song as "an outtake from Greetings... never released... so you're not gonna know this bastard! Though some of you may."

SONG TO ORPHANS has not been performed since 1973 (check out the live 31 Jan 1973 version). It reappeared 32 years later when it was performed on the last two shows of the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour, on 21 and 22 Nov 2005 at Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ. It should also be noted that this is Bruce Springsteen's first performance in Trenton since 1974. On both nights, Springsteen brought out "the mysterious Mr. Fitz!" for his "stage debut". Alan Fitzgerald is Bruce's offstage keyboard/synthesizer tech who has supplemented songs from off-stage throughout the tour.

The above lyrics are for the live 21 Nov 2005 performance at Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ. Check out also the other available versions of this song (minor lyrics variations):

• Studio version (more details)
• Live 09 Jan 1973 version
• Live 31 Jan 1973 version
• Live 21 Nov 2005 version