4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)

Early version

Sandy the fireworks are hailin' over Little Eden tonight
Sparkin' an empty light in all those lonely faces reachin' up like bandits in the sky*
Down in town the circuits full with switchblade lovers so fast, so shiny, so sharp
As the wizards play down on Pinball Way on the boardwalk way past dark
And the boys from the casino dance with their shirts open like Latin lovers on the shore
Chasin' all them silly New York virgins by the score

Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us, this pier lights our carnival life forever
Oh love me tonight for I may never see you again, hey Sandy girl
Now now baby

Now the greasers, ahh they tramp the streets or get busted for sleeping on the beach all night
Them boys in their high heels, ah Sandy their skins are so white
And me I just got tired of hangin' in them dusty arcades, bangin' them pleasure machines
Chasin' the factory girls underneath the boardwalk where they all promise to unsnap their jeans
And you know that tilt-a-whirl down on the south beach drag
I got on it last night and my shirt got caught
And they kept me spinnin' baby, they didn't think I'd ever get off

Oh Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us
This pier lights our carnival life on the water
Runnin' laughin' 'neath the boardwalk with the boss's daughter
I remember Sandy girl
Na na na na baby

Sandy them Northern angels lost their desire for us
I spoke with them last night, they won't set themselves on fire for us anymore
Still when the weather gets hot they ride that crazy road down from heaven on their Harleys every season they come and they go
Dressed like stars in all them cheap little seaside bars parked with their babies out on the Kokomo
And the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do
Just goes to show baby
This boardwalk life is through

Oh Sandy the aurora's rising behind us
Oh the pier life it drags on and on forever
Oh love me tonight girl I promise I'll love you forever
Hey Sandy girl, na na na na baby
Oh Sandy girl, na na baby

These lyrics are for an early take of 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) played in the first months. This version was also recorded between Jul and Aug 1973 in the 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York City.

* Lyrics only in this version

Available versions of this website:

• Album's version
• Live 1975-85 version
• Early version
• "Songs" version
• 18 Jul 1973 version
• 31 Jul 1973 version
• Instrumental version