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Bobby Jean Lyrics
Well, I came to your house the other day
Your mother said you went away
She said there was nothing that I could have done
There was nothing nobody could say
Me and you, we've known each other ever since we were sixteen
I wished I could have known
I wished I could have called you
Just to say goodbye, Bobby Jean
Now, you hung with me when all the others
Turned away, turned up their nose
We liked the same music, we liked the same bands
We liked the same clothes
We told each other that we were the wildest
The wildest things we'd ever seen
Now I wished you would have told me
I wished I could have talked to you
Just to say goodbye, Bobby Jean
Now, we went walking in the rain, talking
About the pain that from the world we hid
Now there ain't nobody, nowhere, nohow
Gonna ever understand me the way you did
Maybe you'll be out there on that road
Somewhere in some bus or train
Traveling along in some motel room
There'll be a radio playing and you'll hear me sing this song
Well, if you do, you'll know I'm thinking of you
And all the miles in between
And I'm just calling you one last time
Not to change your mind, but just to say I miss you, baby
Good luck, goodbye, Bobby Jean
Your mother said you went away
She said there was nothing that I could have done
There was nothing nobody could say
Me and you, we've known each other ever since we were sixteen
I wished I could have known
I wished I could have called you
Just to say goodbye, Bobby Jean
Turned away, turned up their nose
We liked the same music, we liked the same bands
We liked the same clothes
We told each other that we were the wildest
The wildest things we'd ever seen
Now I wished you would have told me
I wished I could have talked to you
Just to say goodbye, Bobby Jean
About the pain that from the world we hid
Now there ain't nobody, nowhere, nohow
Gonna ever understand me the way you did
Maybe you'll be out there on that road
Somewhere in some bus or train
Traveling along in some motel room
There'll be a radio playing and you'll hear me sing this song
Well, if you do, you'll know I'm thinking of you
And all the miles in between
And I'm just calling you one last time
Not to change your mind, but just to say I miss you, baby
Good luck, goodbye, Bobby Jean
Song Info
Submitted by
luckye225 On Sep 27, 2004
More Bruce Springsteen
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Dancing In The Dark
Born in the U.S.A.
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It seems unlikely that this song is about war or about Stevie Van Zandt since Van Zandt played on the Born in the USA album and had not yet left the band, and the lyrics refer to having known Bobby Jean since they were sixteen. This isn't very long if the subject of the song were to have been drafted at 18. I believe it is more simple. This was a friend, either male or female, who he had drifted apart from and later discovers has left home and is one his own somewhere unknown to his or her mother. Maybe because of drugs or other bad situation. People change as they grow into adults.
while i know that this song is about a guy who left the e street band, it perfectly fits an episode i had with a girl. especially the last verse, which captures all the feelings you have when you realize that it is over while there is so much left to say.
Definitely about Miami Steve, Little Steven, Silvio Dante Van Zandt. Bruce's kindred spirit and fellow Italian with a Dutch last name.
Brother, Bruce was Irish. Just putting that out there.
Brother, Bruce was Irish. Just putting that out there.
one of bruce's most emotional and sad songs, slightly masked by uppy music
I don't think it's particularly upbeat music actually...there's that one chord that makes it very touching and sad.
Brilliant song.
Eventhough the song's about Van Zandt, Bobby Jean is a girl "but just to say I miss you, baby". The chord that makes the melody heartbreaking is C#m.
Yes this was inspired by Van Zandt leaving the band. But it has so much meaning for different people. It could be a girlfriend, girlfriend who's just a friend or a buddy. For me, it is true for a buddy of mine.
Springsteen, the greatest.
Huhh. . I loved this song insanely years ago & still do but only upon recent reflection after lyrics analysis did I begin to suspect this was a song of serious guy on guy platonic love which is a beautiful thing.
C#m makes it sad?
Man I have got to learn music. . most of this sounds majorish to me.
It's B7 or B9 surely?
Oh, sorry, I get you now. The C#m is in the bridge section.
The B7/9 is in the verses, I'd say it's the best chord in there.