DANCING IN THE DARK^©

Live 04 Oct 2003 version

One two three

Let's hear from management

I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning (ooh-ooh-oh), go to bed feelin' the same way
I ain't nothing but tired, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark

Message just keep getting clearer (ooh-ooh-oh), radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
Check my look in the mirror (ooh-ooh-oh), want to change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't getting nowhere, just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere baby, I just know that there is

You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark

Sittin' around getting older, there's a joke here somewhere, it's on me
Shake the world off my shoulders, come on baby (come one baby)
Come on baby (come on baby), come on baby (come on baby), have a laugh on me

One two three four
Stay on the streets of this town (ooh-ooh-oh), they'll be carving you up alright
Say you gotta stay hungry (ooh-ooh-oh), hey baby, I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action, sick of sitting 'round here tryin' to write this book
I need a love reaction, baby gimme just one look

You can't start a fire sitting 'round cryin' over a broken heart
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
Can't start a fire worryin' about your little world fallin' apart
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark

Alright, come on New York!

One two three
You can't start a fire sitting 'round cryin' over a broken heart
This gun's for hire (this gun's for hire), this gun's for hire (this gun's for hire)
This gun's for hire (this gun's for hire) even if we're just dancing in the dark

One two
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Heyyyyy!

We got another ???
One two three
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Heyyyyy!

The above lyrics refer to the 04 Oct 2003 performance at the Shea Stadium, New York City, NY, the last show of The Rising tour. The song featured Bruce grabbing an about-twelve years old girl for the dancing part, and also featured Jon Landau and Willie Nile playing guitar and sharing some vocals. Nile raced to get to the show after his own concert in Amagansett, NY, two-and-a-half hours away. He made in time to guest on the encores of DANCING IN THE DARK, QUARTER TO THREE, and TWIST AND SHOUT.

Lines between parentheses correspond to crowd and/or E Street Band singing.

Check also the album's version (more details) and the other live versions: 26 Jul 1984, 21 Jun 1985, 10 May 1988, 15 Oct 1988, 10 Jul 1992, 29 Aug 2002, 16 Oct 2002, and 14 Jun 2003.

Spoken intro/outro on 04 Oct 2003 at Shea Stadium, New York City, NY:

Intro: Mr. Jon Landau, Willie Nile, come on up.

Outro: Mr. Jon Landau, Willie Nile. Come on Bonds. Bonds down there? Where is he? Anybody seen Bonds? Bonds is pissing, according to the guys under the stage. We've got Garland Jeffreys. Oh, here he comes. I told 'em what I learned from Bob, I don't wanna tell 'em what I learned from you...