WAR NURSE

Studio version

She was just another war nurse, she could strike a noble pose
Caring for our young boys when a bullet laid them low
She would hover over them and cry and pull the covers over them when they'd die
She was just another lonesome lady, lover, sister of the gun
And though France would call her darling she was a nurse 'neath the rising sun

She knew no hells or heavens, or harbors or havens
She was every mother, sister, wife, and lover whose love a soldier boy was savin'
She believed in the birth of the broadsword but she was not a shielded one
Though France would call her darling she was nurse 'neath the rising sun

She was a soldier's shrapnel sweetheart direct from the combat zone
She was a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, she was the hooker down San Antone
And though her heart was somewhere in Iceland commanding the dawn patrol
Blessed in this blood and stitched into these bones the war nurse left her soul
Blessed in this blood and stitched into these bones the war nurse left her soul

Info

WAR NURSE is a song written by Bruce Springsteen who recorded it in mid-1972. The song has not yet been officially released. The above lyrics are transcribed from the only known studio version of WAR NURSE.

Writing and Recording

There is no indication to when WAR NURSE was written. One studio version of the song is in circulation among collectors. It's a studio take likely recorded around May-Jun 1972 at Jim Cretecos' apartment in New York City, NY. It features Springsteen solo on vocals and acoustic guitar. The May-Jun 1972 sessions at Jim Cretecos' apartment were produced by Cretecos who also took the role of recording engineer. The above lyrics transcribed from that circulating studio version of WAR NURSE.

Unofficial Releases

The studio version of WAR NURSE 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.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Early Years (Early Records)

Bruce Springsteen -- Unearthed (Masquerade Music, first issue)

Bruce Springsteen -- Unearthed (Masquerade Music, second issue)

Bruce Springsteen -- Before The Fame (Pony Express Records, first issue)

Bruce Springsteen -- Before The Fame (Pony Express Records, second issue)

Bruce Springsteen -- Before The Fame (Pony Express Records, third issue)

Live History

As far as it's known, Bruce Springsteen has never performed WAR NURSE live.

Covers

At least one artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's WAR NURSE.

Fred Gorhau -- Before The Fame

MC - Pony Express Records (C-0949) - USA, 1995

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album containing covers of 15 early songs. As Fred Gorhau told this website, he was "hired for the weekend to record everything".

References

Some of the above info about the studio recording is taken from Brucebase. Info and scan for the Fred Gorhau cover album is taken from the Nebraska website.

Available Versions

List of available versions of WAR NURSE on this website:

Page last updated: 02 Feb 2013