Live 17 Jul 1970 version
Well come on, are you ready
Well the temperature's rising and summer's coming on
Well come on, don't let 'em catch you running 'round here
Well the time has come, let's get on
Yeah come on, are you ready, whoa!
The bells are ringing and the people are singing their song
Well come on, come on, don't you feel it
The world is crying for freedom, can't you hear it
Well gather up your children
Bring them down to the riverside
And teach them well, show them good
They got no reason to hide
Whoa!
[Instrumental]
Well gather up them children
Bring them down to the riverside
And treat them well, wish them good
They got no reason to hide
Come on, you gotta be a man now
The time has come, get up and stand now
Come on, don't you feel it
The world is crying for freedom
The world is crying for freedom, don't you hear it
Hah-hee, hey!
The above lyrics are for the live 17 Jul 1970 performance of COME ON at Sunshine In in Asbury Park, NJ. On the soundboard tape, drummer and background vocalist Vini Lopez's voice microphone is abnormally dominant in the mix, sounding like he was a co-lead singer. The parts above in bold correspond to Vini Lopez joining in on vocals. The parts in bold italic are by Vini Lopez alone.
SECTION NOT YET COMPLETED
Steel Mill performed on 17 and 18 Jul 1970 at Sunshine In in Asbury Park, NJ. These were double-bill shows, with Steel Mill headlining and Lotus opening. A good quality 58-minute soundboard recording of one of the two nights is in circulation among collectors. The tape does not represent the complete show; it seems to include the first three and last two songs of the night. Brucebase has attributed this audio to 17 Jul 1970, but it could also be from the following night's show.
In the banter during GIRLFRIEND BLUES, Springsteen referenced the 1970 Asbury Park race riots that happened between 04 Jul and 10 Jul 1970. The seven days of rioting, looting, and destruction were a major civil disturbance in Asbury Park, NJ. He joked: "From what I've seen there must've been a bargain sale in Asbury. Run in as fast as you can, take what you can get, and split." He also tells a story about an encounter with the state troopers and policemen that happened "about in the middle of last week some time." All this evidence supports the belief that this audio recording is from the two-night residency at Sunshine In.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help. Some of the above info is taken from Brucebase.
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List of available versions of COME ON on this website:
COME ON [Live 23 May 1970 version]