THE FEVER^©

18 Tracks version

Alright
When I get home from my job, I turn on the TV
But I can't keep my mind on the show
When I lay down at night, I don't get no sleep
So I turn on the radio
But Lord, the only thing I hear is you whisperin' in my ear
The words that you used to say
Well now the days grow longer
My love grows stronger
The fever gets worse every day
I got the fever for this girl

He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Nothing that a po' boy can do
When he's got the fever for a girl
He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Left this little boy blue

Well, I can remember comin' home
See you standin' at the stove
With the dishes on the table
Dinner ready to go
Well maybe out to a movie show
Something that you like to see
Because you were my sun in the morning
You're my moon at night
When I think about it, makes me feel alright
Well now the day grow longer
The love just grows stronger, baby
And the fever gets so bad at night
I got the fever for a girl

He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Nothing that a po' boy can do
When he's got the fever for a girl
He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Left this little boy blue
Alright

Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Baby alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Baby alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Let's make it alright

Well I can remember coming home, turning on my TV
But he can't keep his mind on the show
When I lay down at night, I cannot get no sleep
So I turn on the radio
But still the only thing I hear is you whisperin' in my ear
Them words that you used to say
And now the days grow longer
And the love just grow stronger
And the fever gets bad everyday
I got the fever for this girl

He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Nothing a po' boy can do
When he's got the fever for a girl
He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Left this little boy blue
Alright

He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Nothing a po' boy can do
When he's got the fever for a girl
He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever
Left this little boy blue

Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Everybody
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Everybody
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Alright
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
???
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright
Alright now
Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright

This is one of the most famous early outtakes. This song was originally written in 1971, this is a fact as the lyric sheet (titled "FEVER FOR THE GIRL") is dated and was on display in the Hard Rock Café, Sydney, Australia. The lyrics on this sheet are an exact match. THE FEVER was short-listed for The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle, but was considered by some to be too jazzy and bluesy.

Mike Appel sent a studio demo of the song to a radio station. The song then got strong requests, and therefore, a couple of months later, was included in a recording session held at the studio of the KLOL-FM station. This was the longest Bruce radio recording. It contained 8 songs: SATIN DOLL, DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET?, GROWIN' UP, MARY QUEEN OF ARKANSAS, WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY, SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, THE FEVER, and SOMETHING YOU GOT. The recording and the broadcast occurred the afternoon of 09 Mar 1974. This was the first public appearance of THE FEVER, which increased public awareness of Bruce's talent.

That night Bruce performed at the Liberty Hall in Houston, TX. The closing song of the show was ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT), but the crowd requested THE FEVER, after they have heard it that afternoon. Bruce acknowledges having performed the song live at a radio station (KLOL-FM) earlier that afternoon. Although he doesn't grant the fan's request and doesn't perform the song, he does tell the audience that he's going to try and rehearse a band version to perform during his next trip to Liberty Hall.

The next night at the Liberty Hall, on 10 Mar 1974, Bruce performs the song among others, and the show was recorded by the KPFT-FM radio station for future broadcasting in Sep and Nov that year.

In 1976, the song was covered and made famous by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes who released it on their album I Don't Want To Go Home.

The song wasn't played, as far as it is known, until 17 Apr 1977 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, with Southside Johnny. Later played during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town tour, starting on 14 Jul 1978 at the Memorial Auditorium, San Antonio, TX. The last performance during that tour was on 01 Jan 1979 at Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, OH. The song was a fan's favorite during that tour.

The next know performance was in Apr 1990 with Tom Waits at Chuck Plotkin's wedding party. Later played with Southside Johnny on 27 Dec 1992 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ. Also played on 31 Jan 1998 at the Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ.

Played only once during the Reunion tour, on 24 Sep 1999 at the Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA. sound-checked on 04 Mar 2000 at the Orlando Arena, Orlando, FL. Played one more time with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes when he joins them for an hour on 27 May 2001 at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ.

Performed on 29 Apr 2003 at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, billed as "The Hope Concert," the event was a benefit for Robert Bandiera Jr., son of the local band leader and guitarist Bobby Bandiera. Performed during the holiday jam held on 19 Dec 2004 at Harry's Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ, backed by Bobby Bandiera and his band, during both early and late shows, with Southside Johnny guesting during the first one. Also performed with Southside Johnny on 10 Apr 2005 at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, during the 4th annual Rumson School Benefit Concert.

Never officially released until 18 Tracks.

An interesting snippet on a recent Backstreets auction item stated that the commonly circulated tape was recorded at WGOE Studios, presumably at one of the sessions for a radio broadcast. The auction item itself was the 7-inch reel to reel tape in a 914 Sound Recording Studios box is a 15 IPS recording of the song. This tape contains the band's studio version recorded at 914 Studios. "Bruce Springsteen, Fever" handwritten on label. The recent release of 18 Tracks has a version recorded at The Record Plant on 16 May 1973.

These lyrics refer to the version that was released on 18 Tracks, recorded on 16 May 1973 at The Record Plant, New York City, and that also appeared on Deep Down In The Vaults, Forgotten Songs, Missing Tracks Vol. 1, Missing Tracks Sampler, and The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 5: E Street Shuffle Outtakes bootlegs. Check also the live 21 Sep 1978 version, live 15 Dec 1978 version, and live 20 Dec 1978 version.

Available on:

1. 18 Tracks (track 17)
2. Tribute 1997: One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen (disc 2- track 11), performed by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes

Liner notes from the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen tribute booklet:

Bruce is one of the most honest straight forward guys with the most integrity and he has given me some great songs and some good advice... There's not much you can say about Bruce - anyone that good is self-explanatory... He's good enough to have people criticize him for being so good they can't stand it. That's as good as it gets.

-Southside Johnny