INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET

Live 16 Oct 2002 version

[Spoken intro:] Ah! By request, then.

Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in a beat-up old Buick but dressed just like dynamite
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street
They sighed, "Johnny, it falls apart so easy and you know that hearts these days are cheap"
And the pimps swung their axes, said, "Johnny, you're a cheater"
Yeah, the pimps swung their axes, said, "Johnny, you're a liar"
From out of the shadows came a young girl's voice
Said, "Johnny, don't cry"
Johnny cried, "Puerto Rican Jane, oh, won't you tell me what's your name
I want to drive you down to the other side of town
Where paradise ain't so crowded, there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All them golden heeled fairies in a real bitch fight pull thirty-eights and kiss the girls goodnight"

Well, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Now let the black boys in to light the soul flame
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk until the morning light, maybe

Well, like a cool Romeo he made his moves, she looked so fine
And like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true, but she didn't really mind
Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something 'bout going home
She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight, yeah, but just don't leave me alone"
And Johnny cried, "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down the cops have found the vein"
Well, them barefoot boys, they left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys, they said homes ain't no good
They left the corners and they threw away all their switchblade knives
And they kissed each other goodbye

Well, Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down in the street
He called down, "Hey, little heroes, summer's long, but I guess it ain't so sweet around here no more"
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat; Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on
And the sister prays for lost souls, breaks down in the chapel after everybody's gone
Janey moves over to share her pillow but opens her eyes to see Johnny up, putting his clothes on
She sighs, "Those romantic young boys, all they ever want to do is fight"
Yeah, those romantic young boys, they call through the window:
"Hey, Spanish Johnny, want to make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny whispered, "Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk until the morning light, maybe"
Johnny sighed, "Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Yeah, I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk 'til the morning light, maybe
Well, goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Yeah, goodnight, it's all right, Jane

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 16 Oct 2002 performance of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, during The Rising Tour. The song was played in a solo piano arrangement.

Bruce Springsteen performing INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET on 16 Oct 2002 at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain (from the "Live In Barcelona" DVD)

Video for the complete 16 Oct 2002 concert was released in 2003 on the Live In Barcelona DVD (see the below section).

Live In Barcelona

Two month into The Rising Tour, the first half of the 16 Oct 2002 concert at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, was broadcast live at the time across Europe on MTV Europe and VH1 UK. A tape of the broadcast was later aired by CBS in the United States on 28 Feb 2003. The entire concert was released on 18 Nov 2003 on the Live In Barcelona DVD. This was the first time that an entire Springsteen concert was documented with an official release in either audio or video. The video is directed by Chris Hilson and produced by Jon Landau, Barbara Carr, and George Travis. Audio is recorded and mixed by Brendan O'Brien and the video is edited by Thom Zimny.

Promotional poster for the 16 Oct 2002 show at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
(Taken from Brucebase)

Ticket stub for the 16 Oct 2002 show at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain

Handwritten setlist for the 16 Oct 2002 show at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain

No equivalent audio-only album release was made, but SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT from this show was officially released as a bonus track on the Lonesome Day European maxi single in 2002, and SHE'S THE ONE and BORN TO RUN were officially released on the US-only promotional CD sampler Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band PBS Exclusive in late 2005. Videos of WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY, MARY'S PLACE, and DANCING IN THE DARK were also included on the "Tour Edition" of The Rising album in 2003.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In Barcelona

Credits

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

Available Versions

List of available versions of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET on this website:

Page last updated: 12 Jan 2012