I was bruised and battered
I couldn't tell what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
Saw my reflection in a window
And didn't know my own face
Oh brother are you gonna leave me wastin' away
On the streets of Philadelphia?

I walked the avenue, 'til my legs felt like stone
I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone
At night I could hear the blood in my veins
Just as black and whispering as the rain
On the streets of Philadelphia

Ain't no angel gonna greet me
It's just you and I my friend
And my clothes don't fit me no more, I walk
Thousand miles just to slip this skin

Night has fallen, I'm lyin' awake
I can feel myself fading away
So receive me brother with your faithless kiss
Or will we leave each other alone like this
On the streets of Philadelphia?


Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by ice1092977

Streets Of Philadelphia Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Streets of Philadelphia song meanings
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  • +6
    General Comment

    I was a young doctor in training when the AIDS epidemic hit so hard (1983-1988) We were treating dozens of victims. At first most of the patients had hemophilia and had received monthly blood transfusions since birth. Their infection rate was almost 100%. Sometime after that the young gay men started coming in to the ER. Most of them had Pneumocystis pneumonia for which we had no treatment. They died anonymously on the ventilator and we never got to know them but we met their grief stricken families. Some of the later victims had slower fatal diseases and we got to know them. At that time they were routinely shunned by the community at large and felt so isolated and alone. It was tragic. Somehow Bruce tapped in to that feeling perfectly and the ability to do that confirms his genius.

    maconlistson June 16, 2012   Link

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