Live 08 Dec 2001 version
[Spoken intro:] And now, only in...
[Crowd:] Jersey!
Spread out now, Rosie, doctor come cut loose her mama's reins
You know playin' blind man's bluff is a little baby's game
You pick up Little Dynamite and I'm gonna pick up Little Gun
Together we're gonna go out tonight, make that highway run
You don't have to call me lieutenant, Rosie, I don't want to be your son
The only lover I'm ever gonna need's your soft sweet little girl's tongue
You're the one!
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 there for us
She'll be there in that chair 'til they wrestle her upstairs, you know we ain't gonna come
I ain't here on business, only here for fun
You're the one!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar
Oh, Rosie, you're my stone desire
Jack the Rabbit, Weak Knees Willie, you know they're gonna be there
Sloppy Sue, Big Bones Billy, they'll be comin' up for air
We're gonna
[Crowd:] Play some pool, skip some school, act real cool
[Crowd:] Stay out all night, it's gonna feel all right
Rosie, come out tonight, come out tonight
Windows are for cheaters, chimneys for the poor
Closets are for hangers, winners use the door
Use it, Rosie! That's what it's there for!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar
Rosie, you're my stone desire
I know your mama, she don't like me 'cause I play in a rock and roll band
I know your papa don't dig me, he never did understand
Papa lowered the boom, locked you in your room
I'm coming to lend a hand
I want to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man
Someday we'll
[Clarence Clemons:] Look back on this and it will all seem funny
But now you're sad, mama's mad
(And your papa says he knows that I don't have any money)
I said your papa says he knows (that I don't have any money)
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, they gave me a big advance!
Well, 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
[Crowd:] 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
A little café, they play guitars all night and
You can see 'em in the back room strummin'
Hold tight, girl, everybody's coming
Everybody say:
(Ohhh!)
Whoa!
Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar
Rosie, you're my stone desire
Rrrr, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!
(Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!)
Rosie, come out tonight!
[Spoken outro:] Whoa! That does feel good, though! (chuckles)
The above lyrics are for the live 08 Dec 2001 performance of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ, during the last of the five 2001 Asbury Park holiday shows. The song was played in a traditional full-band version, with Springsteen backed by the full E Street Band (minus Steve Van Zandt and Roy Bittan), plus Bobby Bandiera on guitar and the Max Weinberg 7 (including horns).
Bruce Springsteen performed five Asbury Park holiday shows in 2001 (01, 04, 06, 07, and 08 December). These concerts were billed as "Bruce Springsteen with The Max Weinberg 7 and Friends", with The Max Weinberg 7 serving as the house band, and Springsteen bringing guests on and off the stage throughout the shows.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) on this website:
ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Album version]