Live 06 Jan 1974 version
[Spoken intro:] Ah, all that's left to say is, wherever you are, come out tonight.. (chuckles)
Oh!
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, I'm gonna pick up Little Gun
And together we're gonna go out tonight, make that highway run
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!
D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-dynamite's in the belfry, baby, playin' with the bats
Little Gun's 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's home in the window, waitin' up for us
She'll be there in that chair when they wrestle her upstairs, you know we ain't gonna come
I ain't here on business, babe, I'm only here for fun
Rosie, you're the one!
Rosalita! Little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar
Rosalita, you're my st-!
Jack the Rabbit and Weak Knees Willie, don't you know they're gonna be there
Ah, Sloppy Sue, Big Bones 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, baby, come out tonight
Windows are for cheaters, chimneys for the poor
Closets are for hangers, winners use the doors
Use it!
Yeah, oh, Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar
Rosalita, you're my st—wha!
Come on out, Rosie, and let's dance... Junior Walker!
Oh, yeah (all right)
Shoot 'em 'fore they run, now
Shoot 'em dead, baby
Shoot 'em dead, oh!
Put on your high heel sneakers
We're going out on the town tonight
We're gonna dig potatoes
Pick tomatoes
Shotgun
Shoot 'em 'fore they run, now
Shoot 'em dead, baby
Whoa!
[Spoken:] Once more, Mr. Dave Sancious on the organ! Oh! The Little Prince of Passaic, Mr. Daniel Federici on the piano! On the bass guitar, Mr. Garry Tallent! On the drums, the Mad Dog, Vincent Lopez. And on the saxophone, Mr. Clarence Clemons! Now watch out, we're coming at you!
(Go!) Gotta be quick on the drums! (Go!)
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Now, Rosie, I know your mama, she don't like me 'cause I play in a rock and roll band
I know your daddy don't like me, but he never did understand
Your papa lowered the boom, locked you in your room
Coming to lend a hand
Riding to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man
Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny
Now you're sad, mama's mad
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)
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
The record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance!
My tires were slashed, almost crashed, 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 strong
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, they play guitars all night and all day
You hear 'em in the back room strummin'
Hold tight, baby, don't you know daddy
Everybody sing
Ohhhh!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
Just want to be your lover, ain't no liar
Rosalita, you're my... Whoa!
(Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!)
[Spoken outro:] Thank you very much! Whoa!
The above lyrics are for the live 06 Jan 1974 performance of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) at Joe's Place in Cambridge, MA, during what is considered The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour. The song was played in a full-band arrangement, with band introductions and a snippet of Junior Walker & The All Stars' SHOTGUN in the midsection, and featuring early lyrics ("chiffon reins" and "samurai tongue") that can be found on Springsteen's 1972 handwritten lyrics for ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT).
Bruce Springsteen was booked for a three-night residency Joe's Place in Cambridge, MA, from 04 to 06 Jan 1974. These were double-bill shows, with Springsteen headlining and Peter Johnson & The Manic Depressives (Joe's Place's unofficial house band) opening. Each of Springsteen's shows consisted of two hour-long sets separated by an intermission. Audience recording of the complete 06 Jan 1974 show and soundboard recording of the second set of that same show are in circulation among fans.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help. Info about Springsteen's three-night residency at Max's Kansas City is taken from Brucebase.
List of available versions of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) on this website:
ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Album version]