Live 03 Oct 2003 version
Billy, he's down by the railroad track
Sitting low in the back seat of his Cadillac
Diamond Jackie, she's so intact
And she falls so softly beneath him
Jackie's heels are stacked
Billy's got cleats on his boots
Together they're gonna move on down Broadway
Come back home with the loot
Yeah, it's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute, it's a mad dog's promenade
So walk tall
Or don't walk at all
Fish lady, oh, fish lady, she baits those tenement walls
She won't take the corner boys, they got no money, they're so easy
I said, "Hey, baby, will you take my hand, walk with me down Broadway?"
Yeah, darling, want to take my hand, move with me down Broadway?
I'm a young man, and I talk real loud, yeah, want to walk real proud
Shake away your city life, shake away your street life
Shake away your city life, shake away your street life
Shake away your street life, yeah
Oh, and hook up to the train, yeah, hook up to the night train
Hook it on up, come on and hook it on up
Yeah, hook up to the train, well, hook up to the night train
Hook it on up
But I know she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
No, she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
No, she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
She's afraid those tracks are gonna slow her down
And when she turns, he'll be gone
So walk on
Sometimes you just gotta walk on
Hey, vibes man, hey, jazz man, play me your serenade
Oh, any deeper blue and you'll play it in your grave
Save your notes: don't spend 'em on the blues boys
Save your notes: don't spend 'em on the darlin' yearlin' sharp boys
Straight for that church note, ring it, vibes man sting a trash can
Listen to your junkman
Listen to your junkman
Listen to your junkman
Listen to your junkman
He's singin' (singin')
Singin' (singin')
Singin' (singin')
Yeah, singin' (singin')
He's singin', singin', sing, yeah, singin'
He's singin', singin', sing, yeah, singin'
He's singin', singin', sing, yeah, singin'
He's singin', singin', singin', singin'
He's singin', singin', singin', singin'
[Spoken outro:] Thank you. Thank you.
The above lyrics are for the live 03 Oct 2003 performance of NEW YORK CITY SERENADE at Shea Stadium in New York City, NY, during The Rising Tour. The song was played in a full-band arrangement featuring a piano introduction by Roy Bittan and a major performance by Soozie Tyrell on violin.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band concluded The Rising Tour with three shows at Shea Stadium in New York City, NY (01, 03, and 04 Oct 2003). Initially two shows were scheduled (01 and 03 Oct 2003) but a third show was added at a later stage (04 Oct 2003). See poster above.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of NEW YORK CITY SERENADE on this website:
NEW YORK CITY SERENADE [Album version]
