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Nebraska Lyrics
I saw her standin' on her front lawn just twirlin' her baton
Me and her went for a ride sir and ten innocent people died
From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed-off .410 on my lap
Through to the badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path
I can't say that I'm sorry for the things that we done
At least for a little while sir me and her we had us some fun
The jury brought in a guilty verdict and the judge he sentenced me to death
Midnight in a prison storeroom with leather straps across my chest
Sheriff when the man pulls that switch sir and snaps my poor neck back
You make sure my pretty baby is sittin' right there on my lap
They declared me unfit to live said into that great void my soul'd
be hurled
They wanted to know why I did what I did
Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world
Me and her went for a ride sir and ten innocent people died
Through to the badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path
At least for a little while sir me and her we had us some fun
Midnight in a prison storeroom with leather straps across my chest
You make sure my pretty baby is sittin' right there on my lap
be hurled
They wanted to know why I did what I did
Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world
Song Info
Submitted by
sakebox On Apr 12, 2004
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This song is actually about Charlie Starkweather, who did all of the things in this song, including asking that his little girlfriend (Carol Anne Fugate) be allowed to sit on his lap during his execution.
You are absolutely on the money. I can only add a few facts for those interested; Charlie killed a gas station attendant in 1958 in Lincoln. From there, he met Carol, who convinced Charlie to kill her 2 parents and her little brother. From there, they killed 6 more people over 13 months, until they were both caught in Wyoming. He got the death penalty (and was executed) and she got 30 to life. She was released in 1993.
You are absolutely on the money. I can only add a few facts for those interested; Charlie killed a gas station attendant in 1958 in Lincoln. From there, he met Carol, who convinced Charlie to kill her 2 parents and her little brother. From there, they killed 6 more people over 13 months, until they were both caught in Wyoming. He got the death penalty (and was executed) and she got 30 to life. She was released in 1993.
This song is so intense because of the way Springsteen uses the lyrics to put you into Charlie's head ("Well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness...
This song is so intense because of the way Springsteen uses the lyrics to put you into Charlie's head ("Well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness in this world") and paint a picture of how dark and serious the execution is ("midnight in a prison store room with leather straps across my chest"). Haunting, but I think that was Bruce's goal.
I LOVE THIS SONG. No one can write like this. I'm only 16, but I label The Boss, The Best writer I've ever heard. Beautiful.
Another fantastic song from the album "Nebraska" It refers to the (real) story that Terrence Malick put on the screen in his first movie (in 1974, I guess), the wonderful, unique "Badlands" (see Bruce's references ?), with Charlie Starkweather played by Martin Sheen (yeah !), and Carol Anne Fugate played by Sissy Spacek (yeah ! (bis)). Thanks for their names, Voodoochilde...
What an awesome song. Very "Natural Born Killers."
Killed everyone who got in his way, arrested, executed....the incarnation of "meanness"
this has to be one of the most haunting songs i've ever heard. not just the lyrics, but the echoing sound of the harmonica, and his voice.
not too many people can write songs like The Boss.
No-one can write songs like Bruce. NO-ONE. Dylan is the closest.
springsteen: the greatest
No one writes like Dylan. This is a great text, but it doesnt compare to what dylan has made.
No one writes like Dylan. This is a great text, but it doesnt compare to what dylan has made.
Oh, maybe no one can write songs like the Boss, but no one can write songs like Neil Young or Mark Kozelek... Cheers !
I think Bruce is trying to say that there's no getting away from the bad things in life. He's singing from the killer's point of view, and the killer accepts that he's bad and that he's got it coming to him. I guess Bruce is saying that we are forced to accept it as well and just get on with it.
Bruce's take on what creates a serial killer. In this case, 50's killer Charlie Starkweather and his girlfriend. Very straightforward in its imagery. Even though he is a stone cold killer, you can hear the pathos in the music and the lyrics. And Bruce sums up why evil things happen in our lives in the final line of the song "Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world."
I think this is also about having just nothing good around. No good people, no good examples, the voice makes me think of a child, an innocent child who says, "Yes, I did that all, what else could I do?"