SWEET MELINDA^©

Live 23 Jan 1971 version

Sweet, sweet Melinda
You turn my heart to a cinder
The way you do them things that you do

Ohhh, oh Melinda, hm!
If the Pope knew you were such a sinner
He'd be on his way, flight TWA today

I call my baby on the telephone
Come on, my mama's gone, I'm all alone
Good ol' Melinda, sure can make a man smile
Ooh, oh-ee baby, now you're drivin' me wild

Oh sweet, sweet Melinda
Oh you turn my heart to a cinder, oh yeah
Oh the way you do them things that you do

Alright, let me ???!

I call my woman on the telephone
She said "Come on, my mama's gone, and I'm alone"
Oh no Melinda never leave a man stuck
All the gang told me the way (all the gang told him)*

Sweet, sweet Melinda, alright!
You turn my heart to a cinder
The way you do them things that you do
Alright, alright, alright, alright, ohhh! (Everybody!)*

Sweet, sweet Melinda
You know, you know it hurts
(You turn my heart to a cinder)*
The way you do them things that you do

Page last updated: 12 Mar 2007

Written by Bruce Springsteen in 1969, known to be performed by Steel Mill 'till early 1971.

The first "known" performance of the song was on 28 Feb 1970 at Free University, Richmond, VA. According to Brucebase, the gig was held at the school's "Center", and this venue will soon be renamed "The String Factory" (in May 1970). A 90min+ audience tape of the show is in extremely limited circulation.

Joan Pikula wrote a review of a Steel Mill show that was held on 18 Apr 1970 at Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ. The review was published on the 20 Apr 1970 issue of the Asbury Park Press, and reveals 9 songs that were performed during that gig, including SWEET MELINDA.

The song was also performed on 23 May 1970 at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. Fair audience recording of the show is in circulation.

The 14 Aug 1970 show at 7th And Marshall Street Parking Deck, Richmond, VA, is circulating on an audience and a soundboard tape. However, the tapes do not represent the complete show. According to Brucebase, SWEET MELINDA has cropped up in recollections of that show's attendees, and hence may have been performed in the unrecorded segment of the show.

The final-ever Steel Mill gig was held on 23 Jan 1971 at The Upstage, Asbury Park, NJ. A recently unearthed, very good quality soundboard recording of 3 tracks from the show is now in circulation. This is the first time a rendition of SWEET MELINDA has surfaced in nice sound quality. The above lyrics refer to that rendition.

* The lyrics in parentheses are sung buy another band member whose voice is very high in the mix. It's most probably co-vocalist Robbin Thompson.

Thanks Audio2575 for the lyrics help.