Live 06 Jun 1973 version
Uh!
Spread out now, Rosie, doctor come cut loose her chiffon reins
You know playin' blind man's bluff is a little baby's game
You pick up Little Dynamite, oh, I'm gonna pick up Little Gun
And together we're gonna go out tonight and make that highway run
And you don't have to call me lieutenant, Rosie, and I don't want to be your son
The only lover I'm ever gonna need's your soft sweet samurai tongue
Rosie, you're the one!
Oh, Dynamite's in the belfry, baby, playin' with the bats
Little Gun downtown in front of Woolworth's, tryin' out his attitude on all the cats
Papa's on the corner, waiting for the bus
Mama, she home in the window, waitin' up for us
We'll be there in that chair when they wrestle her upstairs, 'cause you know we ain't gonna come
I'm not here on business, Rosie, I'm only here for fun
And Rosie! You're the one!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, not no liar
Rosalita, you're my stone desire
Jack the Rabbit and Weak Knee Willie, don't you know they're gonna be there
Sloppy Sue and Big Bone Billy, they'll be comin' up for air
We're gonna play some pool, skip some school, act real cool
Stay out all night, it's gonna feel all right
So, Rosie, come out tonight, Rosie, come out tonight
'Cause windows are for cheaters, chimneys for the poor
Closets are for hangers, winners use the doors
So use 'em, Rosie! That's what they're there for!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, not no liar
Rosalita, you're my stone desire
(Yeah? Whoo! Well!)
Now, I know your mama, she don't like me 'cause I play in a rock and roll band
And I know your daddy, he don't dig me, but he never did understand
Papa lowered the boom and locked you in your room
I'm coming to lend a hand
I'm riding for liberation, confiscation, I want to be your man
Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny, da, da, da, da
But now you're sad, your mama's mad
And your papa says he knows that I don't have any money
Your papa says he knows that I don't have any money
So your papa says he knows that I don't have any money
This is his last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance
Rosie, the record company just gave me a big advance!
And my tires were slashed and I almost crashed, but the Lord had mercy
My machine, she's a dud, out stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Hold on tight, stay up all night, Rosie, I'm comin' on
By the time we meet the morning light, I will hold you in my arms
I know a pretty little place in Southern California down San Diego way
There's a little café, where they play guitar all day
You can hear them strummin'
Outside my baby dances, hummin'
And everybody says:
Ahhhh!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, not no liar
Rosalita, you're my stone desire
(Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!)
[Spoken outro:] Thank you very much.
The above lyrics are for the live 06 Jun 1973 performance of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) at Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA, during what is considered the Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Tour. The song was played in a full-band arrangement and featured early lyrics ("chiffon reins" and "samurai tongue") that can be found on Springsteen's 1972 handwritten lyrics for ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT).
A studio-mixed soundboard recording of this live 06 Jun 1973 version of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) first appeared on the Deep Down In The Vaults (E. St. Records) bootleg. According to Brucebase, this recording is likely to have served as a copyright reference recording for Laurel Canyon, much the same as the recording of the live 31 Jan 1973 (early show) version of THUNDERCRACK. Because both of these recordings, THUNDERCRACK and ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT), have similar audio characteristics, it was guessed that the latter comes from the missing band segment of the late 31 Jan 1973 show. However, in his 2012 book E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Clinton Heylin revealed this recording of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT), along with a recording of THE E STREET SHUFFLE that is not in general circulation, is from the 06 Jun 1973 show in Philadelphia, PA.
This was a double bill show, with Bruce Springsteen and his band opening for headliners Chicago. This was their 6th of 13 consecutive shows opening for Chicago.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
Some of the above info is taken from Brucebase.
List of available versions of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) on this website:
ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Album version]