Bruce Springsteen Lyrics: FAMILY SONG [Studio version take #2]

FAMILY SONG

Studio version take #2

Well, you know how when you're young there's such a distance between you and your family
You just can't see things from the same point of view
Papa wants a lawyer and mama she wants an author
And all you want is for them to want you

Well, I saw a lot of bad signs and we had some real bad times back on the East Coast
And I guess you could say it took California to bring us close
There was a lot of hard living and some stone cold women on the East Coast
And I saw my papa turn away when I needed him the most

Oh, and California she's an angel, oh, so heavenly dressed
Whoa, and the Pacific she's a woman, the Lord, oh, must have loved her best
I got a California rainbow to come to give them thunder clouds a rest
Oh, and the mountain is my friend now, she put me to her test

Well, you know every father has dreams and schemes for his own kid
And dreaming it ain't been declared no capital crime
But I just hope when I grow up to have my own kids
I'll love 'em all I can and let 'em make their own minds

Now, you know how a mother can hold a son through understanding
And my father he once held me close by crying
Whoa, and my mama's love it don't ever leave me standing
And papa's love just leaves me smiling

Oh, and my mama she's a rainbow, you oughtta see her on Sunday when she's dressed
Whoa, and my papa he's a good man, ooh he gives me and mama his best
Whoa, my mama she's a rainbow, come to give them thunder clouds a rest
And my family is my friend now, California put us through her test

Info

The above lyrics are for a studio version of FAMILY SONG likely recorded around May-Jun 1972 at Pocketful Of Tunes Studios in New York City, NY. It features Springsteen solo on vocals and acoustic guitar. This is the second of two takes of the song cut during the same recording session. The May-Jun 1972 sessions at Pocketful Of Tunes Studios were produced by Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos, and Cretecos took the role of recording engineer. See studio version take #1 for more details about the song.

Unofficial Releases

This version of FAMILY SONG was released on the briefly-legal albums The Early Years (Early Records), Unearthed (Masquerade Music, both issues), and Before The Fame (Pony Express Records, all three issues). See PRODIGAL SON for more details.