Live 20 Oct 1995 version
Whoa-ooh
A kid stole my car the other day
Broke in and drove away
He took it for a joy ride and when he was done
Held up a liquor store with a great big gun
Said, "I didn't do nothing wrong
It's just the way we live around here"
In American Babylon putting my protection on
Got everything I need, drugs, money, sex and greed
In American Babylon putting my blindfold on
Can't tell right from wrong in American Babylon
Whoa-ooh
Whoa-ooh
Well she ran out of money, ran out of hope
Left the kids at home, went out to score some dope
The cops caught her selling down on Broadway
The county came in, took the kids away
She said, "better off without me"
In American Babylon putting my protection on
Got everything I need, drugs, money, sex and greed
In American Babylon putting my blindfold on
Can't tell right from wrong in American Babylon
Who cares about the kids? (I don't)
Or what goes in their heads? (I don't)
If the poor are fed? (I don't)
If your neighbor's dead? (I don't)
I said do you really care? (I don't)
I said do you really care? (I don't)
I said do you really care? (I don't)
I said aw! Aw! Aw! Aw!
American Babylon (American Babylon) putting my protection on (American Babylon)
Got everything I need (American Babylon), drugs, money, sex and greed (American Babylon)
Americans Babylon (American Babylon) put my blindfold on (American Babylon)
Can't tell right from wrong (American Babylon) in American Babylon (American Babylon)
In American (Babylon)
In American (Babylon)
In American (Babylon)
In American Babylon (American Babylon)
American Babylon (American Babylon)
American Babylon (American Babylon)
American Babylon (American Babylon)
Hey!
AMERICAN BABYLON is a 1995 song by Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers. See the Original Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers version for more details.
The above lyrics are for the live 20 Oct 1995 performance of AMERICAN BABYLON at Nick's Fat City in Pittsburgh, PA, during Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers' October Assault Tour. Bruce Springsteen plays guitar and sings backup vocals on this song.
In October 1995, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers kicked off the release of their American Babylon album with a six-stop tour dubbed the "October Assault." Introduced as "honorary Houserocker of the week" on the first night, Bruce Springsteen joined the band for the majority of the set on all six dates, playing guitar and sharing vocals with Grushecky. At each show, Springsteen came out for American Babylon's WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR and remained on stage for the remainder of the set. The fourth date of the mini-tour (20 Oct 1995 in Pittsburgh, PA) was broadcast on radio. Eight songs from the fourth date and two songs from the fifth date (21 Oct 1995 in Pittsburgh, PA) were officially released.
This live 20 Oct 1995 version of AMERICAN BABYLON appears on one official release.
AMERICAN BABYLON was performed 6 times during the 6-date-long October Assault Tour with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers. The live 20 Oct 1995 version was first officially released in 2009.
AMERICAN BABYLON was performed off-tour on 22 Jul 1995 at Tradewinds in Sea Bright, NJ, during a guest appearance with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers.
AMERICAN BABYLON was performed off-tour on 02 Mar 1998 at Nick's Fat City in Pittsburgh, PA, during a guest appearance with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers.
Info about the October Assault Tour is taken from Backstreets magazine issue #50/51.
List of available versions of AMERICAN BABYLON on this website:
AMERICAN BABYLON [Live 20 Oct 1995 version]