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Human Touch Lyrics
You and me we were the pretenders
We let it all slip away
In the end what you don't surrender
Well the world just strips away
Girl ain't no kindness in the face of strangers
Ain't gonna find no miracles here
Well you can wait on your blessings darlin'
But I got a deal for you right here
I ain't lookin' for prayers or pity
I ain't comin' 'round searchin' for a crutch
I just want someone to talk to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch
Ain't no mercy on the streets of this town
Ain't no bread from heavenly skies
Ain't nobody drawin' wine from this blood
It's just you and me tonight
Tell me in a world without pity
Do you uthink what I'm askin's too much?
I just want something to hold on to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch
Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize
Well it comes with a hard hard price
You can't shut off the risk and pain
Without losin' the love that remains
We're all riders on this train
So you been broken and you been hurt
Show me soomebody who ain't
Yeah I know I ain't nobody's bargain
But hell a little touchup
And a little paint...
You might need somethin' to hold on to
When all the answers they don't amount to much
Somebody that you can just talk to
And a little of that human touch
Baby in a world without pity
Do you think what I'm askin's too much?
I just want to feel you in my arms
And share a little of that human touch...
We let it all slip away
In the end what you don't surrender
Well the world just strips away
Ain't gonna find no miracles here
Well you can wait on your blessings darlin'
But I got a deal for you right here
I ain't comin' 'round searchin' for a crutch
I just want someone to talk to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch
Ain't no bread from heavenly skies
Ain't nobody drawin' wine from this blood
It's just you and me tonight
Do you uthink what I'm askin's too much?
I just want something to hold on to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch
Well it comes with a hard hard price
You can't shut off the risk and pain
Without losin' the love that remains
We're all riders on this train
Show me soomebody who ain't
Yeah I know I ain't nobody's bargain
But hell a little touchup
And a little paint...
When all the answers they don't amount to much
Somebody that you can just talk to
And a little of that human touch
Do you think what I'm askin's too much?
I just want to feel you in my arms
And share a little of that human touch...
Song Info
Submitted by
nutt On Apr 28, 2002
More Bruce Springsteen
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Thunder Road
Dancing In The Dark
Born in the U.S.A.
Secret Garden
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By far the best bit of this song is between 1:53 and 3:12. How it goes from slow and steady - soulful, to full on rock.. those few beats, BAM BAM BAM, at 2:17, then...
"Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize Well it comes at a hard hard price You can't shut off the risk and the pain Without losin' the love that remains We're all riders on this train"
Wow! Just, Wow... gets the hairs on my arms and neck standing up each and every time I hear it - I try not to sing along to him, but its impossible. This song just moves me like no other i've heard in my life so far.
Brilliant!
Thanks Boss, for this song!
@joe1982_york IMO, Bruce writes some of the best middle eight/bridges in pop music... He knows how to raise the stakes and then “bring it home” (as he sings in Glory Days).
@joe1982_york IMO, Bruce writes some of the best middle eight/bridges in pop music... He knows how to raise the stakes and then “bring it home” (as he sings in Glory Days).
Human Touch is a great example of this. Also, the middle eight/bridge in My Hometown is another good example... He’s got a lot of them, though...
Human Touch is a great example of this. Also, the middle eight/bridge in My Hometown is another good example... He’s got a lot of them, though...
I believe this just might be the best song Springsteen has ever made :)
It totally rocks, everything is just right, the music, the lyrics, all just right :P
I agree. I'm a huge Springsteen fan but Human Touch IS one of, if not, his best.
I agree. I'm a huge Springsteen fan but Human Touch IS one of, if not, his best.
I think it's pretty straight-forward... serious relationships produce pain, so neither of them are looking for anything too serious. But companionship is always nice, and so this song is about just wanting someone to be around, something without a lot of complications.
That's how I"ve always interpreted it.
That's how I"ve always interpreted it.
I would like to say I triple love this song and that is only half as much as I love the Pretenders. But I believe it has nothing to do with them. Bruce is just layin down how messed up it can be trying to have a love or even a life in this world at this time. The power of the poetry is AWESOME in that one minute he sings of so you've been messed up show me someone who aint- then spins a car analogy about touch up and a little paint. But after all he can find wrong in the world and himself he still makes the best offer ANYONE ever gets - someone to talk to and a little of that human touch. Yes that can be sex and just a hug even AT THE SAME TIME maybe. Feel it people this is a masterwork!
Oooh, the thought of Bruce offering to be my fuckbuddy. Take me to that planet now!
Oooh, the thought of Bruce offering to be my fuckbuddy. Take me to that planet now!
He's saying he already has a girlfriend but wants to use another to keep him company when he's lonely. THAT's what the song (and dance) is about. Nothing new here. Springsteen could never sing that great and his music was never very convincing. In essence, he's boring and he's a hasbeen.
He's saying he already has a girlfriend but wants to use another to keep him company when he's lonely. THAT's what the song (and dance) is about. Nothing new here. Springsteen could never sing that great and his music was never very convincing. In essence, he's boring and he's a hasbeen.
With the materialist world we are in, what we all need is "human touch". Some of us all busy with our work schedules..and forget about our loved ones and relationships. Some of us .. just afraid to open up and stay lonely.. What we all need is "feel a little of human touch.."
Sparkyboy , I don't think, like mrgimme, that this song has anything to do with the Pretenders. It is "pretenders" like it says. (check http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/HumanTouch.html if you dont have the Human Touch booklet) But hey, you are welcome to interpret the song however you like :-)
Song is my Break Up Story...
In the end what you don't surrender Well the world just strips away...
...you never own anything in life...even love can slip through your hands anyday and theres nothing in the world you can do against...
Girl ain't no kindness in the face of strangers Ain't gonna find no miracles here...
Ain't no mercy on the streets of this town...
...take the music video in the train...theres no love in a big city and especially not in the faces of strangers...hard for somebody how`s seeking for love...no country for old lovers...
an for the Best Lines:
...So you been broken and you been hurt Show me soomebody who ain't Yeah I know I ain't nobody's bargain But hell a little touchup And a little paint...
...as hard it is to have been hurt, there are 6 billion people in this world who went through the same at one point in their life...you grow through these feelings...they make you strong...they make you... As in "Tougher than the rest" (I know you get what you can get) Springsteen is aware that their are certain girls in the world a man can never have...concentrate on the ones you can have...on the ones that match...thats why the Boss is just a ordninary guy like me...a rough boy with a lot of love...
Kind of ironic today - in light of the Smartphone and Cyber friends. this is one, i wil not pin my feelings..id rather keep them. this song is way too deep for all that non sense.
Basically I think that the video clip depicts the song exactly They have a break up because they do not show their true feelings towards each other. He had tried to convince her to get back with him but she refused. Probably because of pride. As a last ditch effort he lays it all down on the line: I ain't lookin' for prayers or pity I ain't comin' 'round searchin' for a crutch I just want someone to talk to...
Tell me in a world without pity Do you think what I'm askin's too much?
They had been separated for a while and it seems that he never really found anything out there that was remotely as kind or warm as her. But she doesn't want to be hurt by him again
Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize Well it comes with a hard hard price You can't shut off the risk and pain Without losin' the love that remains
The line: We're all riders on this train ... This is I think basically a filler. He needed a word that rhymed with remains He did that in one of his other songs too Dancing in the Dark "and they'll be carving you up alright" he wanted the great line in the song: "hey baby I'm just about starving tonight" but to find a line that would fit in the previous rhyming line was a bit far fetched (a bit off topic).
But just like in the video he does convince her and she takes him back willingly. Great song great great video.
@wooffred I agree with you, he is looking to revive a failed relationship.
The train image recurs in his songs (eg Land of Hope and Dreams): it means we're all in this world together and we must make the best we can of our lives.
One of my absolute favourite Springsteen songs, and not only because Bruce is SO HOT in the video.
@wooffred I agree with you, he is looking to revive a failed relationship.
The train image recurs in his songs (eg Land of Hope and Dreams): it means we're all in this world together and we must make the best we can of our lives.
One of my absolute favourite Springsteen songs, and not only because Bruce is SO HOT in the video.
this song ROCKS!!!