HENRY BOY^©

Live 10 Aug 1972 version

Well they broke your toys this morning, Henry, rode your ford right into dust
Surrounded you with strangers who you could not trust
And then they had the gall
To write your name up on the girl's room wall
And send you out to Maria who spoke of babies and all
And she wanted to shoot your joy
Well it's a hard world when you're the new kid in town, ain't it, Henry Boy

Well now the North side is for diamond studded women subtly selling their wares
And the West side is for debutantes and would be millionaires
The East side is for lost boys who know their moves too well
The South side that's for gamblers, Henry, the train stops once for hell
It's a hard world when you're forced to live out on Broadway
But Henry I think you're gonna like it well

And now the constellation she points to Gate Eleven, man that's where you got your connections
Whoa let me take a look inside my magic book, I don't think you're beyond my inventions
These doctor's appendages I'm giving you for wings, I'm sure they'll meet the occasion
I'm gonna mix you some magic, you'll be spittin' sparks and ready for the invasion

'Cause now the Milky Way's a trip for dippers, saw you coming a mile away
In the amusement park you'll get clipped by rippers hiding behind candy 'cades
In the alley you're gonna get ripped by strippers all who know your name
In the stalls stand out the soldier-boy kissers on leave for just a day
And Henry he can't take it, he's gonna be a submariner riding underground for the Pope
Stands on the corner of Broadway in Fourty Second, and screams "Up 'scope"

As far as it's known, the song was performed live at least once in Aug 1972 at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY. The above lyrics refer to a video recording probably from the 10 Aug 1072 performance at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY (read below).

Check also the studio version.

Song intro on 10 Aug 1972 at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY:

This first song that I would like to do, is a song about being new in town. Now everybody's been new in tow, once, or twice. And uh, that's what this next song's about, I think.

From Brucebase, about the 10 Aug 1972 show at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY:

01- HENRY BOY
02- GROWIN' UP
Two shows, triple bill, with Springsteen (solo) opening for headliner Dave Van Ronk and folk stylist Doris Abrahams. Each of Bruce's shows was limited to about 30 minutes (3 to 5 songs).
Very brief audio-video excerpts of both HENRY BOY and GROWIN' UP from one of the 12 shows during this Aug 1972 Max's residency first surfaced in a 1990 documentary about John Hammond called From Bessie Smith To Springsteen. The complete audio-video of both songs has recently leaked out and is circulating among collectors. These complete takes represent what was originally supplied to the Hammond film producers by CBS. The producers were only allowed to use brief excerpts of the two songs in the documentary – and were not supplied any footage of the rest of the show. HENRY BOY is the opening number of Bruce's show and GROWIN' UP is the closing number. The remainder of the show (probably only a couple of more songs) exists in CBS's vault but has never circulated. The other show this night may also have been filmed.
...Brucebase has placed this audio-video segment under this date but it could be from any of the shows during this residency.