Bruce Springsteen

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Racing in the Street

Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I got a '69 Chevy with a three-ninety-six
Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor
She's waiting tonight down in the parking lot
Outside the 7-Eleven store
Me and my partner Sonny built her straight out of scratch
And he rides with me from town to town
We only run for the money, got no strings attached
We shut 'em up and then we shut 'em down

[Chorus]
Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For racin' in the street

[Verse 2]
We take all the action we can meet
And we cover all the northeast states
When the strip shuts down, we run 'em in the street
From the fire roads to the interstate
Now, some guys, they just give up living
And start dying little by little, piece by piece
Some guys come home from work and wash up
Then go racin' in the street
[Chorus]
Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em all out of their seats
We're calling out around the world
We're going racin' in the street

[Verse 3]
I met her on the strip three years ago
In a Camaro with this dude from L.A
I blew that Camaro off my back and drove that little girl away
But now there's wrinkles around my baby's eyes
And she cries herself to sleep at night
When I come home, the house is dark
She sighs, "Baby, did you make it all right?"
She sits on the porch of her daddy's house
But all her pretty dreams are torn
She stares off alone into the night
With the eyes of one who hates for just being born
For all the shut-down strangers and hot rod angels
Rumbling through this promised land
Tonight my baby and me, we're gonna ride to the sea
And wash these sins off our hands

[Chorus]
Tonight tonight the highway's bright
Out of our way, mister, you best keep
'Cause summer's here and the time is right
For racin' in the street

Bruce Springsteen's "Racing in the Street" has become one of the most iconic songs of his career. It's a haunting ballad that captures the essence of Springsteen's signature sound. The song speaks to the importance of finding meaning in life and the desperate search for freedom.

About Racing in the Street

The song was originally released as the fifth track on Springsteen's album "Darkness on the Edge of Town." This album was released in 1978 and marked a decisive shift in Springsteen's music. The album's songs focus on themes of disillusionment, desperation, and the search for hope.

In "Racing in the Street," the speaker is a man who is searching for a way out. He is unfulfilled by his mundane life and is searching for excitement and thrills. He finds that release in racing cars at night. The song's lyrics are filled with vivid imagery of high-speed chases, burning rubber, and the rush of adrenaline. The car is a symbol of freedom, something that the speaker is desperately searching for.

The song's title "Racing in the Street" could be seen as a metaphor for life. Life is a race, and we are all racing to find meaning and fulfillment. The speaker in the song is willing to take risks to find that meaning, even if it means putting himself in danger.

One of the most striking features of the song is Springsteen's vocal performance. His voice is raw and emotional, perfectly capturing the pain and longing of the speaker. Springsteen's voice is a powerful instrument, and he uses it to great effect in this song.

The song touches on the idea that the vehicle or machine is more important than God or religion in America. This is a concept that is explored by Henry Adams in his book "The Dynamo and the Virgin." According to Adams, the machine represents progress and modernity, while religion represents tradition and the past. In "Racing in the Street," the car represents freedom and escape, something that is difficult to find in a society that values conformity and order.

"Racing in the Street" is a song that speaks to the human condition. It explores the themes of freedom, purpose, and the search for meaning in life. The song's emotional power and vivid imagery have made it a classic of American music. Bruce Springsteen's "Racing in the Street" is a song that will continue to resonate with listeners for generations to come.