BACKSTREETS

Album version



One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends
Trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in
Catching rides to the outskirts, tying faith between our teeth
Sleeping in that old abandoned beach house, getting wasted in the heat
And hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
With a love so hard and filled with defeat
Running for our lives at night on them backstreets
Na, na na na

Slow dancing in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing
Where desperate lovers park we sat with the last of the Duke Street Kings
Huddled in our cars waiting for the bells that ring
In the deep heart of the night when you let loose of everything
To go running on the backstreets, running on the backstreets
Terry you swore we'd live forever
Taking it on them backstreets together
Yeah

Endless juke joints and Valentino drag
Where dancers scraped the tears up off the street dressed down in rags
Running into the darkness, some hurt bad some really dying
At night sometimes it seemed you could hear that whole damn city crying
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down
You can blame it all on me Terry, it don't matter to me now
When the breakdown hit at midnight there was nothing left to say
But I hated him and I hated you when you went away
Whoah, whoah
Whoah, whoah

Now laying here in the dark, you're like an angel on my chest
Just another tramp of hearts crying tears of faithlessness
Remember all the movies, Terry, we'd go see
Trying to learn how to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be
Well after all this time to find we're just like all the rest
Stranded in the park and forced to confess
To hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Well we swore forever friends, hey!
On the backstreets until the end

Uh, uh, uh
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
It's alright
To go hiding on the backstreets tonight
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Hiding on the backstreets
Whoah!
Hey!
Whoahhh!
Hey!
Hey, hey, hey
Yeah, yeah
Whoah, oh, oh
Whoo, ooh
Ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooooh


Info

BACKSTREETS is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1975 album Born To Run. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of BACKSTREETS as released in 1975.


Studio Recording

According to Sony's logs of Bruce Springsteen's studio sessions, BACKSTREETS was recorded on 25 Apr 1975, 19 May 1975, 23 May 1975, 06 Jul 1975, and 18 Jul 1975 at The Record Plant in New York City, NY.

Four studio takes of BACKSTREETS are in circulation. Unofficial studio version 1 features alternate and unfinished lyrics. Unofficial studio version 2 features alternate lyrics. Unofficial studio version 3 features lyrics close to the officially released album version. The album version is the definitive one and was released on Born To Run.

The lyrics variations between one version and the other indicate that the song was still a work in progress at the time it was being cut in studio.

Bruce Springsteen plays guitar and sings vocals on this track, and is backed by Garry Tallent on bass guitar, Max Weinberg on drums, and Roy Bittan on piano and organ.

Track credits:

Bruce Springsteen: guitar, vocals
Garry Tallent: bass guitar
Max Weinberg: drums
Roy Bittan: piano, organ

Written and arranged by Bruce Springsteen
Produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Mike Appel
Recorded and mixed at Record Plant Studio, New York City, NY

BACKSTREETS was a candidate title track for Born To Run, as evidenced in a Springsteen handwritten list titled "Album #3 Titles". The list most probably dates from 1974.

BACKSTREETS appears on an early Springsteen handwritten list of proposed tracks for his third studio album. The list is titled "Album #3" and contains 12 tracks with their recording times (see below scan). Springsteen listed "Backstreets" as the second track with a running time of 6:00.

Proposed handwritten song list for Springsteen's third album
Proposed handwritten song list for Springsteen's third album

Born To Run

The Born To Run recording sessions can be divided into two phases: the 1974 sessions and the 1975 sessions. The first phase consisted of scattered sessions conducted between May and October 1974 at 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt, NY, while Springsteen and the band were still in the midst of The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour. When the lengthy tour came to an end in March 1975, the recording sessions continued at The Record Plant in New York City, NY, in March 1975 and lasted till July. 914 Sound Studios was Mike Appel's studio of choice, but The Record Plant was advised by Springsteen's friend and future manager Jon Landau. All tracks on the Born To Run album, except the title track, were recorded during these Mar-Jul 1975 sessions.

Born To Run was commercially released on Columbia Records 01 Sep 1975. Note that a small quantity of blank label, advanced promo copies (known as the "Script Covers") were issued to VIPs on or around 12 Aug 1975, and normal promo copies were sent to radio stations on or around 24 Aug 1975. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It also reached #36 on the UK Album Chart. The album re-entered the Billboard 200 in the eighties, reaching #66 in 1980 and #101 in 1985. The 30th anniversary reissue reached #18 in 2005.

Bruce Springsteen -- Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen -- Born To Run

The album features 8 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 39:26. It is produced by Bruce Springsteen, Mike Appel, and Jon Landau.

Other Official Releases

In addition to its release on Born To Run, the official studio version of BACKSTREETS was also released in September 1975 on the b-side of the BORN TO RUN single in Japan.

Bruce Springsteen -- Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen -- Born To Run

7" single - CBS/Sony (SOPB 334) - Japan, 1975

Comes with a picture insert. Promotional copies are identical to the commercial ones with the exception of "NOT FOR SALE / SAMPLE" (in Japanese) imprint above the catalogue number on the labels and the labels are white instead of orange.

A1- BORN TO RUN
B1- BACKSTREETS

BACKSTREETS can also be found on a Japanese Bruce Springsteen promo-only sampler.

Bruce Springsteen -- Rocks Vol. 1 (1973 - 1982)
Bruce Springsteen -- Rocks Vol. 1 (1973 - 1982)

CD-R - Sony (no catalog number) - Japan, 2005

Japan-only promotional "Digest" CD-R advance sampler tying in with the release of the first six Japanese 2005 "mini-LP"-style Springsteen CD album reissues. This disc comes in a plain slimline jewel case with no artwork.

A segment of about 30 seconds of BACKSTREETS was included on The Pitman Family Of Music - Our First 20 Years, a CBS Records in-house promo LP issued in 1980. The segment was also included on 30 Years In Pitman, a CBS Records in-house promo CD issued in 1990.

Various artists -- The Pitman Family Of Music - Our First 20 Years (LP front sleeve)
Various artists -- The Pitman Family Of Music - Our First 20 Years

LP - CBS (P 15663) - USA, 1980

US-only various artists promotional LP sampler pressed in limited quantities of reportedly a few hundred copies and given out exclusively to employees of CBS Records and Columbia House, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of CBS Records' pressing plant in Pitman, NJ. It contains excerpts from 64 songs from various CBS artists, including Bruce Springsteen's BACKSTREETS.
Various artists -- The Pitman Family Of Music - Our First 20 Years (picture disc LP)
Various artists -- The Pitman Family Of Music - Our First 20 Years

LP - CBS (P 15663) - USA, 1980

Picture disc version of the above LP, produced in much smaller numbers presumably as a gift for top CBS Records executives at the time.
Various artists -- 30 Years In Pitman (disc)
Various artists -- 30 Years In Pitman

CD - CBS (no catalog number) - USA, 1990

US-only various artists promotional CD sampler pressed in limited quantities and given out exclusively to employees of CBS Records and Columbia House, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of CBS Records' pressing plant in Pitman, NJ. It contains excerpts from 91 songs from various CBS (an related labels) artists, including Bruce Springsteen's BACKSTREETS and BORN IN THE U.S.A..

Other versions of BACKSTREETS were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- The Roxy 1975
The live 18 Oct 1975 (early show) version of BACKSTREETS was released on The Roxy 1975 official live download in 2018.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Hammersmith Odeon, London '75
The live 18 Nov 1975 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 album and home video in 2005.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- London 11/24/1975
The live 24 Nov 1975 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the London 11/24/1975 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975
The live 31 Dec 1975 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Palace Theatre, Albany 1977
The live 07 Feb 1977 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Palace Theatre, Albany 1977 official live download in 2017.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977
The live 08 Feb 1977 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977 official live download in 2017.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Berkeley, July 1, 1978
The live 01 Jul 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Berkeley, July 1, 1978 official live download in 2021.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live/1975-85
The live 07 Jul 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Live/1975-85 box set in 1986.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- The Agora, Cleveland 1978
The live 09 Aug 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on The Agora, Cleveland 1978 official live download in 2014.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- September 19, 1978
The live 19 Sep 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the September 19, 1978 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- September 30, 1978
The live 30 Sep 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the September 30, 1978 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen -- The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story
The live 08 Dec 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Winterland 12/15/78
The live 15 Dec 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Winterland 12/15/78 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Winterland 12/16/78
The live 16 Dec 1978 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Winterland 12/16/78 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Arizona State University, Tempe 1980
The live 05 Nov 1980 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Arizona State University, Tempe 1980 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984
The live 05 Aug 1984 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Brendan Byrne Arena, NJ August 20, 1984
The live 20 Aug 1984 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena, NJ August 20, 1984 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- LA Sports Arena, California 1988
The live 23 Apr 1988 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the LA Sports Arena, California 1988 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Madison Square Garden 1988
The live 23 May 1988 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Madison Square Garden 1988 official live download in 2019.
Various artists -- Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame + Museum Live: Whole Lotta Shakin'
The live 15 Mar 1999 version of BACKSTREETS was first released on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame + Museum Live: Whole Lotta Shakin' home video in 2009.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Los Angeles October 23, 1999
The live 23 Oct 1999 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Los Angeles October 23, 1999 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Madison Square Garden, New York 06/27/2000
The live 27 Jun 2000 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Madison Square Garden, New York 06/27/2000 official live download in 2021.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In New York City
The live 01 Jul 2000 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Live In New York City home video in 2001.
Bruce Springsteen -- Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005
The live 22 Nov 2005 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL, April 22, 2008
The live 22 Apr 2008 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL, April 22, 2008 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Greensboro, North Carolina April 28, 2008
The live 28 Apr 2008 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Greensboro, North Carolina April 28, 2008 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 8/23/2008
The live 23 Aug 2008 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 8/23/2008 official live download in 2017.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Gothenburg July 28, 2012
The live 28 Jul 2012 version of BACKSTREETS was released on the Gothenburg July 28, 2012 official live download in 2020.

Live History

SECTION NOT YET COMPLETED

Sad Eyed Interlude

On the Born To Run album, BACKSTREETS was already six-and-a-half minute long, but in 1976, 1977, and 1978, the live performances of the song were extended with an interlude that is commonly known as the "Sad Eyes" interlude, a title probably assigned to it by bootleggers. Note that this interlude has nothing to do with SAD EYES, the 1990 outtake that was released on the Tracks box set in 1998.

"Sad Eyes" is a mostly soft-piano based monologue toward the end of the song. It gradually rises in tempo before it suddenly stops and the "Hiding on the backstreets" coda kicks back in full band.

The "Sad Eyes" interlude debuted in September 1976 and disappeared with the end of the Darkness On The Edge Of Tour. It evolved through those three years to later be used as the basis for part of DRIVE ALL NIGHT on The River album in 1980. The live 22 Aug 1976 version of BACKSTREETS is the last one known from that year not to yet include the "Sad Eyes" interlude.

Appearance in Movies

Bruce Springsteen's album version of BACKSTREETS appears in one movie.

Promotional poster for the film "Blinded By The Light"
Blinded By The Light

It was used in the 2019 film Blinded By The Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha and starring Viveik Kalra. The song was not included in the film's soundtrack album.

See I'LL STAND BY YOU (the "Blinded By The Light" section) for more details.

Covers

At least 7 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's BACKSTREETS.

7 Lvvas -- Pirata
7 Lvvas -- Pirata

CD - Boomerang Records (BG-008) - Spain, 1995

BACKSTREETS is a Galician (one of Spain's four official languages) adaption titled "Calexóns".
Cory Arcangel -- The Bruce Springsteen Born To Run Glockenspiel Addendum
Cory Arcangel -- The Bruce Springsteen Born To Run Glockenspiel Addendum

12" EP - no label (GA001) - USA, 2006

Contains glockenspiel arrangements of five songs from Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run.
Maria McKee -- Maria McKee Live: Acoustic Tour 2006
Maria McKee -- Maria McKee Live: Acoustic Tour 2006

CD - Cooking Vinyl (CKV-CD-4787) - USA, 2006

This is a live album.
David Zess -- David Zess
David Zess -- David Zess

CD - David Zeserson (unknown catalog number) - USA, 2009
Alyssa Hankey -- Springsteen Covers
Alyssa Hankey -- Springsteen Covers

CD EP - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2016

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute EP.
Jonathan Rado -- Born To Run
Jonathan Rado -- Born To Run

LP - Sounds Delicious (SD002) - USA, 2017

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Giusey And The Springtones -- One Night Only
Giusey And The Springtones -- One Night Only

Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - Germany, 2020

This is a download-only digital live Bruce Springsteen tribute album, recorded at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ.

Backstreets Magazine

Backstreets Magazine, a quarterly Bruce Springsteen fanzine, has been covering the music of Bruce Springsteen and Jersey Shore artists since 1980. The print began in 1980 when Seattle-based Springsteen fan Charles R. Cross printed 10,000 copies of a 4-page tabloid he called "Backstreets". He passed it out for free at Bruce's 24 Oct 1980 show at the Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA. Most copies of this first issue wound up trampled under foot, soaking in puddles by the end of the night; original copies of this three-color premiere issue now sell for three figures.

Backstreets Magazine issue #1
Backstreets Magazine issue #1

Backstreets became an uninterrupted run of quarterly publishing and is a Music Journalism Award winner for Best Fanzine. From its 4-page debut, Backstreets grew slowly, but after nine issues on newsprint, it switched to the magazine format with issue #10, adding slick paper and full-color covers soon after.

Current Publisher and Editor Christopher Phillips moved to Seattle in 1993 and began working with Charles R. Cross at Backstreets on issue #44, became Managing Editor in 1994, developed the Backstreets website in 1995, and took the reins in 1998. After a couple more years in Seattle, Phillips moved Backstreets to the East coast in 2000, with the magazine and website headquarters now based in Chapel Hill, NC.

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Some of the above info about the studio recording and the live performances are taken from Brucebase. Info and scans for the some of the above Bruce Springsteen official releases are taken from the Lost In The Flood website.

Request

An aborted outtake (duration 3:12) of BACKSTREETS is in circulation. If you have it, please send it to me. I also need the live 26 Sep 1976 performance of the song for it might be the first ever BACKSTREETS with Sad Eyes Interlude.

Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of BACKSTREETS on this website:

BACKSTREETS [Album version]
BACKSTREETS [Unofficial studio version 1]
BACKSTREETS [Unofficial studio version 2]
BACKSTREETS [Unofficial studio version 3]
BACKSTREETS [Live 18 Nov 1975 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 22 Aug 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 29 Sep 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 30 Sep 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 09 Oct 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 25 Oct 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 28 Oct 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 29 Oct 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 30 Oct 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 02 Nov 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 03 Nov 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 04 Nov 1976 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 13 Feb 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 22 Feb 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 06 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 13 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 19 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 22 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 23 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 24 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 25 Mar 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 31 Dec 1977 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 23 May 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 31 May 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 09 Jun 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 16 Jun 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 01 Jul 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 07 Jul 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 04 Aug 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 09 Aug 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 01 Sep 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 19 Sep 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 30 Sep 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 15 Dec 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 19 Dec 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 20 Dec 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 28 Dec 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 31 Dec 1978 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 01 Jan 1979 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 28 Aug 1981 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 20 Aug 1984 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 25 Aug 1984 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 13 Jun 1985 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 21 Jun 1985 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 17 Mar 1988 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 20 Mar 1988 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 23 Apr 1988 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 03 May 1988 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 21 Feb 1995 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 31 Jan 1998 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 15 Mar 1999 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 16 Sep 2003 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 22 Nov 2005 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 17 Oct 2007 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 22 Apr 2008 version]
BACKSTREETS [Live 21 Jul 2009 version]

Page last updated: 30 May 2011