Live 11 Oct 1975 (late show) version
Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in a beat-up old Buick but dressed just like dynamite
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street
But they sighed, "Ah, Johnny, it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap"
And then the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a cheater"
And then the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a liar"
And from out of the shadows came a young girl's voice -- "Johnny!"
Said, "Johnny, don't cry"
And Johnny sighed, "Puerto Rican Jane, oh, won't you tell me what's your name
I want to ride you down to the other side of town
Where paradise ain't so crowded, there'll be some action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight, they pull thirty-eights and kiss the girls goodnight"
And Johnny sighed, "Goodnight, it's all right, Jane
Ah, let the black boys in to light the soul flame
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk until the morning light, maybe"
Well, like a cool Romeo he made his move, oh, she looked so fine
And then like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true, but she did not really mind
Upstairs the band was playin' and the singer was singin' something about going home
And she whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight, but just don't leave me alone"
And Johnny sighed, "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down them cops uptown have found the vein"
Them little barefoot boys, they left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys, they say homes ain't no good
They left the corners and they threw away all of their switchblade knives
And they kissed each other bye-bye
Now Johnny sat on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down in the street
And he called down, "Hey, little heroes, summer's long, but I guess it ain't so sweet around here no more"
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat; Johnny sits up all night and watches her dreamin' on
And her sister, and her sister breaks down in the chapel late at night after everybody's gone
Janey wakes up and moves over to share her pillow, but she sees Johnny up and out of bed and putting his clothes on
And she sighs, "Them romantic young boys, all they ever want to do is fight"
Them romantic young boys, they call in the window:
"Hey, Johnny, why don't you come on out and make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny sighed, "Goodnight, it's all tight, Jane
I swear I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby
Or we may walk until the morning light, maybe"
Hey, Jane
Oh, yeah, oh
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, ooh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Goodnight, Jane
[Spoken outro:] How you been?
The above lyrics are for the live 11 Oct 1975 (late show) performance of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET at Monmouth Arts Center in Red Bank, NJ, during the Born To Run Tour. The song was played in a stripped-down arrangement featuring Springsteen on vocals and Roy Bittan on piano.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET on this website:
INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET [Album version]