Original Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers version
Whoa
A kid stole my car the other day
Broke in and drove it away
He took it for a joy ride and when he was done
Held up a liquor store with a great big gun
He 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
Whoa
Well she ran out of money, she ran out of hope
She left the kids at home and went out to score some dope
The cops caught her selling it down on Broadway
The county came in and took the kids away
She said, "they're 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
I 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)
Or if the poor are fed? (I don't)
Or 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)
I got everything I need (American Babylon), drugs, money, sex and greed (American Babylon)
In American Babylon (American Babylon) I put my blindfold on (American Babylon)
And I can't tell right from wrong (American Babylon) in American Babylon (American Babylon)
(American Babylon)
(American Babylon)
(American Babylon)
AMERICAN BABYLON is a song written by Joe Grushecky and released on Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers' 1995 album American Babylon. Bruce Springsteen produced the entire album except the title track, and he participated in the recording of most of the songs but not this one. However, he did play it live on a few occasions.
The above lyrics are for the original Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers version of AMERICAN BABYLON as released in 1995.
Bruce Springsteen has performed AMERICAN BABYLON live a few times in 1995 and 1998, always with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers. See the officially released live 20 Oct 1995 version for more details.
List of available versions of AMERICAN BABYLON on this website:
AMERICAN BABYLON [Live 20 Oct 1995 version]