Lyrics

THUNDER ROAD

Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version


[27 Jun 2000 part:]

Screen door slams, Mary's dress sway
Like a vision she danced across the porch as the radio plays
It's Roy Orbison, he's singing for the lonely
Hey it's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone anymore
Don't you run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore, go!
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
Hey you ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright, yeah
Well that's alright with me

[01 Jul 2000 part:]

You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lover, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a savior to rise from these streets
Well I'm no hero, that's understood
All redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Hey the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
Well we got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks

Oh oh come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
I know it's late but we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
My car's out back if you're ready to take that long long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
I know you're lonely, those words that I ain't spoken
Well tonight girl, we'll be free, all the promises will be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
In the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
You get to the porch, they're gone on the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers, we're pulling outta here to win

Info

The above lyrics are for a mix of the live 27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 performances of THUNDER ROAD at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, during The Reunion Tour. The first verse is from the 27 Jun 2000 show and the rest is from the 01 Jul 2000 show. The song was played in a full-band arrangement. The part in bold is sung by the crowd.

This mix of the live 27 Jun 2000 version and the live 01 Jul 2000 version of THUNDER ROAD was not part of the 2001 HBO special (read below) and was not included on the Live In New York City album. However, it was included on the home video release.


Live In New York City

The Reunion Tour concluded with a ten-night stand at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, between 12 June and 01 July 2000. Footage from the last three nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000) was used in early 2001 for HBO's Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live In New York City TV special. Running at 90 minutes, the film consisted of a 14-song selection from the last two nights (29 Jun and 01 Jul 2000). It first aired on 07 Apr 2001 and was the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert.

In 2001, HBO received six Emmy Award nominations and won two for their acclaimed film.

  • Nominee for "Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program"
  • Winner of "Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multicamera) for VMC Programming"
  • Nominee for "Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
  • Nominee for "Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special"
  • Winner of "Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
  • Nominee for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special"

The full HBO broadcast was released on Live In New York City, both the album (released on 03 Apr 2001) and the home video (released on 06 Nov 2001). The album includes 6 bonus tracks (20 in all) and the home video includes an additional 5 plus one audio track that plays over the end credits (26 in all). These bonus tracks are taken from all three filmed nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000) and were not part of the HBO broadcast.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In New York City (album)
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In New York City (album)
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In New York City (DVD)
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live In New York City (DVD)

Live In New York City track list (vinyl edition)

Side 1:

  1. MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. TWO HEARTS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  4. ATLANTIC CITY [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Side 2:

  1. MANSION ON THE HILL [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. THE RIVER [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. YOUNGSTOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]

Side 3:

  1. MURDER INCORPORATED [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. BADLANDS [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  3. OUT IN THE STREET [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  4. BORN TO RUN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Side 4:

  1. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT [Live 29 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Side 5:

  1. AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. LOST IN THE FLOOD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. BORN IN THE U.S.A. [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  4. DON'T LOOK BACK [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]

Side 6:

  1. JUNGLELAND [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  2. RAMROD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]

Live In New York City track list (CD edition)

Disc 1:

  1. MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. TWO HEARTS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  4. ATLANTIC CITY [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  5. MANSION ON THE HILL [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  6. THE RIVER [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  7. YOUNGSTOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  8. MURDER INCORPORATED [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  9. BADLANDS [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  10. OUT IN THE STREET [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  11. BORN TO RUN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Disc 2:

  1. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT [Live 29 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
  2. LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  4. LOST IN THE FLOOD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  5. BORN IN THE U.S.A. [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  6. DON'T LOOK BACK [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  7. JUNGLELAND [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  8. RAMROD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  9. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]

Live In New York City track list (DVD edition)

Disc 1 (original HBO broadcast):

  1. Crowd noise audio over program start
  2. MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  4. TWO HEARTS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  5. ATLANTIC CITY [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  6. MANSION ON THE HILL [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  7. THE RIVER [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  8. YOUNGSTOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  9. MURDER INCORPORATED [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  10. BADLANDS [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  11. OUT IN THE STREET [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  12. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT [Live 29 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
  13. BORN TO RUN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  14. LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  15. AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
    AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) audio snippet over closing credits [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Disc 1 (New York City Serenade featurette):

  • Interview with Bob Costas [unknown date]
  • BADLANDS snippet [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  • PROVE IT ALL NIGHT snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • LIGHT OF DAY snippet [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  • TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD snippet [rehearsal]
  • THE TIES THAT BIND snippet [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  • ADAM RAISED A CAIN snippet [Live 27 Jun 2000 version]
  • MURDER INCORPORATED snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • BACK IN YOUR ARMS snippet [Live 27 Jun 2000 version]
  • BORN TO RUN snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • THE PROMISED LAND snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • BLOOD BROTHERS snippet [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  • BLOOD BROTHERS audio snippet over closing credits [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Disc 2 (bonus tracks):

  1. Crowd noise audio over program start [unknown date]
  2. BACKSTREETS [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  3. DON'T LOOK BACK [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  4. DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  5. LOST IN THE FLOOD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  6. BORN IN THE U.S.A. [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  7. JUNGLELAND [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  8. LIGHT OF DAY [Live 29 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
  9. THE PROMISE [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  10. THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
  11. RAMROD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
  12. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
  13. THE E STREET SHUFFLE (audio only playing over closing credits) [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]

Live 2-track promo single

  1. MY HOMETOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
  2. THIS HARD LAND [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]

The Essential Bruce Springsteen bonus disc

Notes

  • The Live In New York City album was released on CD, Super Audio CD, and vinyl. The home video was released on DVD and VHS.
  • Last three (not two) nights of The Reunion Tour (27 Jun 2000, 29 Jun 2000, and 01 Jul 2000) and a rehearsal were filmed.
  • Jonathan Demme reportedly directed an unreleased video of AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) during a pre-show rehearsal on 26 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden. Therefore, the rehearsal footage used in the Live In New York City home video most probably took place on 26 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.
  • THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD snippet on the featurette is definitely from the rehearsal since it was not played on any of the three nights (27 Jun 2000, 29 Jun 2000, and 01 Jul 2000). What also supports this is the lack of audience shots/noise and camera flashes on the footage.
  • TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT is a mix of the live 29 Jun 2000 version and the live 01 Jul 2000 version.
  • THUNDER ROAD is a mix of the live 27 Jun 2000 version and the live 01 Jul 2000 version.
  • IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND from the Live In New York City DVD is a mix of the live 27 Jun 2000 version and the live 01 Jul 2000 version.
  • The credits at the end of disc 2 of the Live In New York City DVD state that footage from only the last two nights (29 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000) was used. However, as mentioned above, THUNDER ROAD and IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND contain portions from the 27 Jun 2000 show.
  • The audio playing over the New York City Serenade featurette closing credits is the beginning of BLOOD BROTHERS, looped on itself over and over again, with no vocals but with crowd noise added. The music is the same as the version of that song that appears earlier in the featurette, which was recorded on 01 Jul 2000, so the audio snippet is most probably taken from that version.

Official Releases

In addition to its release on the Live In New York City home video, the live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version of THUNDER ROAD was also officially released in 2003 on the Waitin' On A Sunny Day CD EP in Australia and Europe.

Bruce Springsteen -- Waitin' On A Sunny Day
Bruce Springsteen -- Waitin' On A Sunny Day

CD EP - Columbia (673583.2) - Australia, 2003

01- WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY
02- BORN TO RUN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
03- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
04- THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Waitin' On A Sunny Day
Bruce Springsteen -- Waitin' On A Sunny Day

CD EP - Columbia (673583.2) - Australia, 2003

This is an enhanced issue of the Australian EP on which tracks 1 and 2 are regular CD audio tracks and tracks 3 and 4 are MPEG video files taken from the Live In New York City home video.

01- WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY
02- BORN TO RUN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
03- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
04- THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Waitin' On A Sunny Day
Bruce Springsteen -- Waitin' On A Sunny Day

CD EP - Columbia (673491 2) - Austria, 2003

Austrian pressing for the European market.

01- WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY
02- BORN TO RUN [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
03- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 29 Jun 2000 version]
04- THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]

Available Versions

List of available versions of THUNDER ROAD on this website:

THUNDER ROAD [Album version]
THUNDER ROAD [Early draft]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #1]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #2]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #3]
THUNDER ROAD [Alternative version #4]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 Feb 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 20 Jul 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 17 Oct 1975 (early show) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Oct 1975 (early show) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Nov 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 31 Dec 1975 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 Apr 1976 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 25 Mar 1977 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 13 May 1977 (early show) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 13 Sep 1977 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Sep 1978 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 08 Dec 1978 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 21 Sep 1979 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Sep 1979 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 03 Oct 1980 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 03 Jul 1981 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 08 Jun 1984 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Nov 1984 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jul 1988 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 02 Sep 1988 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 16 Nov 1990 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Sep 1992 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 28 Sep 1992 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 24 Jun 1993 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 15 Feb 1995 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 21 Feb 1995 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 Apr 1995 (Sony Music Studios) version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 09 Jul 1995 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 May 1997 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 May 1997 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 31 Jan 1998 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 23 Oct 1999 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 01 Jul 2000 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Oct 2001 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 29 Aug 2002 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Oct 2002 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 16 Oct 2002 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 19 Feb 2003 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 29 Apr 2003 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Jun 2003 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 01 Nov 2004 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Apr 2005 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 12 Oct 2005 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 Nov 2007 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 09 Nov 2007 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 14 Mar 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 May 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Jun 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 23 Aug 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Oct 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 16 Oct 2008 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 30 May 2009 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 17 Nov 2009 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 22 Nov 2009 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Nov 2010 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 15 Jan 2011 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 03 Nov 2011 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 04 Nov 2011 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 14 Jan 2012 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 09 Mar 2012 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 06 Apr 2012 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live 07 Nov 2016 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Live July 2018 version]
THUNDER ROAD [Greg Kihn's cover version]
THUNDER ROAD [Badly Drawn Boy's cover version]
THUNDER ROAD [Cowboy Junkies' cover version]
THUNDER ROAD [Kevin Rowland's cover version]
Page last updated: 07 Sep 2021