20 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Incident On 57th Street Lyrics
Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in a beat-up old Buick
But dressed just like dynamite
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street
But they sighed "Johnny it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap"
And the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a cheater."
Well the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a liar"
And from out of the shadows came a young girl's voice said: "Johnny don't cry"
Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.
I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so crowded, there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight
Pull .38s and kiss the girls good night
Oh good night, it's alright Jane
Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe
Well like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fine
Like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind
Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home
She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight but just don't leave me alone"
And Johnny cried "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down the cops have found the vein"
Oh them barefoot boys left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys they say homes ain't no good
They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each other good-bye
Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down the street
He called down "Hey little heroes, summer's long but I guess it ain't very sweet around here anymore"
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat, Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on, dream on
And the sister prays for lost souls, then breaks down in the chapel after everyone's gone
Jane moves over to share her pillow but opens her eyes to see Johnny up and putting his clothes on
She says "Those romantic young boys
All they ever want to do is fight"
Those romantic young boys
They're callin' through the window
"Hey Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny whispered:
Good night, it's all tight Jane
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in a beat-up old Buick
But dressed just like dynamite
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street
But they sighed "Johnny it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap"
And the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a cheater."
Well the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a liar"
And from out of the shadows came a young girl's voice said: "Johnny don't cry"
Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.
I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so crowded, there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight
Pull .38s and kiss the girls good night
Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe
Like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind
Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home
She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight but just don't leave me alone"
Oh them barefoot boys left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys they say homes ain't no good
They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each other good-bye
He called down "Hey little heroes, summer's long but I guess it ain't very sweet around here anymore"
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat, Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on, dream on
And the sister prays for lost souls, then breaks down in the chapel after everyone's gone
She says "Those romantic young boys
All they ever want to do is fight"
Those romantic young boys
They're callin' through the window
"Hey Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny whispered:
Good night, it's all tight Jane
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe
Song Info
Submitted by
oofus On Jun 05, 2004
More Bruce Springsteen
I'm on Fire
Thunder Road
Dancing In The Dark
Born in the U.S.A.
Secret Garden
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
basically this is a story about a spannish guy... who promises the girls (prostitutes) everything to make them fall for him... and then leaves them... while he's promising the world in the background his past loves are calling him a liar... the girls are desperate for love and to have johnny take them out of the world they live in... but johnny is no savior... and he does what he always does and by the end of the song he leaves "Jane" like the others promised he would... the call of the street is too much for johnny to resist... meanwhile he is making the same promises he can't keep... such a song of desperation... beautiful and powerful
How is there one damn comment on this song? Christ, I love this song more than air. That's not actually true, but it is a hell of a song. Where are your hearts, people?
I'm shocked that there are only 13 comments, since this is not just one of Bruce's best songs, but perhaps one of the top 5 songs recorded in the past 50+ years, maybe ever! Many would probably disagree, but just consider the narrative, plot, and mental pictures this song evokes. Not to mention beautiful piano arrangements and an almost haunting vocal performance. This is the real deal. Somehow, I find it fitting that Bruce wrote what I think is unequivocally his best song at 23 or 24 years old, before he became the legendary Boss of rock n roll. This is one of those rarest of rare musical gems that can change your life in a listen. Check out youtube for a variety of live versions, each of which is somehow more awesome than the next, no matter what order you play them.
Beautiful! It's like a movie...all these things happening. I love the ending when everything is stripped bare and he just screams it...and the last lines...!
All I know is that the best line in this song is "I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so crowded"............LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
One of my favorite songs, too bad it is not on "The River" (my favorite album
it is like a movie.......i love it.........bruce is incomparable
Wow - How can a piano & vocal be so, so wow
this song reminds me so much of a west side story, not that hard to understand but such a great epic tale from early in bruces career, that whole album is fantastic. this song is a great story about a forbidden love that was never meant to be, just to young kids caught up in the fiery passions of young love in the city
i also wanted to add something that i found pretty cool, when bruce says:Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home he was referring to the song i don't wanna go home by southside johnny and the asbury jukes, of whom bruce was a good friend. Also for anyone who likes this song there is an amazing version from main point '75 on youtube, great concert by the way