OPEN ALL NIGHT

Well, I had the carburetor, baby, cleaned and checked
With her line blown out she's hummin' like a turbojet
Propped her up in the backyard on concrete blocks
For a new clutch plate and a new set of shocks
Took her down to the carwash, check the plugs and points
Well, I'm goin' out tonight, I'm gonna rock that joint

Early north Jersey industrial skyline
I'm a all-set cobra jet creepin' through the nighttime
Gotta find a gas station, gotta find a pay phone
This turnpike sure is spooky at night when you're all alone
Gotta hit the gas, baby. I'm running late
This New Jersey in the mornin' like a lunar landscape

Now, the boss don't dig me, so he put me on the night shift
It's an all-night run to get back to where my baby lives
In the wee, wee hours your mind gets hazy
Radio relays towers, won't you lead me to my baby?
Underneath the overpass, trooper hits his party light switch
Good night, good luck. One, two power shift

I met Wanda when she was employed
Behind the counter at Route 60 Bob's Big Boy Fried Chicken
On the front seat, she's sittin' in my lap
We're wipin' our fingers on a Texaco road map
I remember Wanda up on scrap metal hill
With them big brown eyes that make your heart stand still

Well, at 5 a.m., oil pressure's sinkin' fast
I make a pit stop, wipe the windshield, check the gas
Gotta call my baby on the telephone
Let her know that her daddy's comin' on home
Sit tight, little mama, I'm comin' 'round
I got three more hours, but I'm coverin' ground

Your eyes get itchy in the wee, wee hours
Sun's just a red ball risin' over them refinery towers
Radio's jammed up with gospel stations
Lost souls callin' long distance salvation
Hey, mister deejay, wontcha hear my last prayer?*
Hey, ho, rock 'n roll, deliver me from nowhere

Published on Nebraska. Appeared during the Born In The USA, Human Touch, The Ghost Of Tom Joad, and Devils & Dust tours.

Reported to be rehearsed by Bruce with his Seeger Sessions Band on 20 and 21 Mar and 06 and 07 Apr 2006 at the Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, NJ. Some comments from the people who listened to the rehearsals:

• "The highlight of the day! This is going to be fun. At first the horns were working on a bit of a New Orleans riff. It has a very jazzy style. A 'talking blues' was how some described and it did some like a faster version of Dylan's Highway 61. When Bruce got toward the end, he sang 'hey, ho, Rock 'N' Roll, deliver me from nowhere.' He said, 'I need everyone to sing with me on this one!' The horns really got strong toward the end and there's a lot of piano and again, Soozie's violin. Bruce at one point said 'Woooooh!' And then he yelled out: 'Play it Mark Clifford!' Clifford is the banjo player. I think people will be dancing to this one too." [20 Mar]
• "Someone said it's like the 'Jump Blues.' A lot of fun. Had us dancing which helped us stay warm." [21 Mar]
• "This will be one of the highlights of the shows. Very upbeat. The crowd will be up dancing." [06 Apr]
• "I'll say what I said before: This will be a showstopper! Going to be lots of fun. The horns are great. At one point Bruce yells out 'All Right!' and the band comes back and says 'All Right' about six straight times, it will really have the crowd into it. Bruce worked on the ending of it one more time." [07 Apr]

Played during all 4 public rehearsal shows for The Seeger Sessions tour -- 20, 24, 25, and 26 Apr 2006 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ.

The song was also played on 30 Apr 2006 at New Orleans Fair Grounds, New Orleans, LA, when Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band closed the first weekend of the New Orelans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Appeared on a single in 1982 with THE BIG PAYBACK, in UK and Spain.

* This part is nearly identical in STATE TROOPER and other verses recall LIVING ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD.

Available on:

1. Nebraska (track 8)
2. Tribute 2000: Badlands: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska (track 8), performed by Son Volt