There is a live version of "Backstreets" where Springsteen riffs into this song, which makes me think this song was around for some time before being recorded for the "The River" in 1980 -- there's several key lines or concepts from songs here "They can't hurt us now" -- Because the Night
"There's machines and there's fire waiting on the edge of town" -- "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
and the entire second verse could easily fit into "Racing in the Street"
This is the eptiome of "Springsteen Cool" :I swear I'll drive all night just to buy you some shoes/ And to taste your tender charms
Driving all night suggests a stalking desperation, which is tempered by a gentlemanly reference to "tender charms" and a promise of a practical gift. That's why he's the boss
There is a live version of "Backstreets" where Springsteen riffs into this song, which makes me think this song was around for some time before being recorded for the "The River" in 1980 -- there's several key lines or concepts from songs here "They can't hurt us now" -- Because the Night "There's machines and there's fire waiting on the edge of town" -- "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
and the entire second verse could easily fit into "Racing in the Street" This is the eptiome of "Springsteen Cool" :I swear I'll drive all night just to buy you some shoes/ And to taste your tender charms Driving all night suggests a stalking desperation, which is tempered by a gentlemanly reference to "tender charms" and a promise of a practical gift. That's why he's the boss