In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Well, they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night
Now they blew up his house, too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready
For a fight, gonna see what them racket boys can do
Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state
And the DA can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
And the gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of its teeth
Well, now everything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus
Now, baby, everything dies, honey, that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold
But with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sands turnin' to gold now
Put on your stockings, baby, 'cause the nights gettin' cold and
Everything dies, baby, that's a fact but maybe
Everything that dies someday comes back
Now I've been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers
And don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well I'm tired of comin' out on this losin' end
So, honey, last night I met this guy
And I'm gonna do a little favor for him
Well I guess everything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Fix your hair up nice, make yourself look pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Come meet me tonight in Atlantic City
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
(Meet me tonight in Atlantic City)
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
Now they blew up his house, too
Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready
For a fight, gonna see what them racket boys can do
Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state
And the DA can't get no relief
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
And the gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of its teeth
Well, now everything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away
But I got debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus
Now, baby, everything dies, honey, that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold
But with you forever I'll stay
We're goin' out where the sands turnin' to gold now
Put on your stockings, baby, 'cause the nights gettin' cold and
Everything dies, baby, that's a fact but maybe
Everything that dies someday comes back
Now I've been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find
Down here it's just winners and losers
And don't get caught on the wrong side of that line
Well I'm tired of comin' out on this losin' end
So, honey, last night I met this guy
And I'm gonna do a little favor for him
Well I guess everything dies, baby, that's a fact
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Fix your hair up nice, make yourself look pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Come meet me tonight in Atlantic City
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
(Meet me tonight in Atlantic City)
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
(Tonight in Atlantic City)
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Atlantic City Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Everyone keeps nibbling at the edges and getting parts of it. I believe, this is the definitive explanation of the meaning of this song.
Backdrop: At the time this song was written Atlantic City, after decades of decay, was in the beginning stages of a re-birth due to the legalization of Casino Gambling (first Casino opened in 1978). All who opposed and even some who were in favor of Atlantic City gambling saw it as the "easy way out" or "any port in a storm" to the economic woes of Atlantic City.
The person in the song serves at a personal symbolic embodiment of this "choice" Atlantic City made. For example, The song talks about the fact that despite saving money he could not keep up with his debts. This is symbolic of Atlantic City as a whole and its financial condition prior to the Casinos.
In the end, instead of making the harder choices the main character takes the "path of least resistance" and does a "favor" for the mob. This is allegorical with Atlantic City did.
The song of one of Springsteen in his highest form because of these two layers woven so organically. From the standpoint of literature, I see this song a poetic masterpiece for this reason. The more personal and detailed he is about the main character, the more he says about the allegory. So the more he draws you into this man, personally, the more you can more viscerally understand the real realities facing Atlantic City itself.
Today Atlantic City is richer and has "come back" but the question is whether it was worth it. The song does not answer this question. It simply paints the picture of what was happening.
Ultimately, the song is BOTH about the man and the choices we face but also a real quality commentary on a big Jersery of that day. One should not detract from the other, but only add to the understanding of each.