 Born To Run (1975) [ larger cover art ] |
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Musicbrainz DBIn the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages on Highway 9
Chrome-wheeled, fuel-injected and steppin' out over the line
Oh, baby, this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap
It's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
'Cause tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Yes, girl, we were
Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend
I wanna guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims
And strap your hands 'cross my engines
Together we could break this trap
We'll run 'til we drop, and baby, we'll never go back
Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire?
'Cause, baby, I'm just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta know how it feels
I wanna know if love is wild
Babe, I wanna know if love is real
Oh, can you show me?
Beyond the palace
Hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard
Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
Kids are huddled on the beach in the mist
I wanna die with you, Wendy, on the street tonight
In an everlasting kiss
One, two, three, four
The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
Everybody's out on the run tonight, but there's no place left to hide
Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness
I'll love you with all of the madness in my soul
Oh, someday, girl, I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place where we really wanna go
And we'll walk in the sun
But 'til then, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Aw, honey, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Come on, Wendy, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Run
Mmm
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Mmm
Whoa
Oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:21 As a Canadian I don't see it that way. I don't think Bruce sees it that way either. Misterfixit wrote: "You were born to run" says a lot of things in a simple sentence. For the Jingoists amongst us American it says everything. "America first and foremost, ruler of the world, the top, the ultimate, AMERICA!". I am sure that the nay-sayers and the leftie lickspittles will find fault with this statement. So be it and so mote it be. America is still the one and only hope for the world. End of political rant. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:18 Rock n roll is an act. It's performance. It's art. It's politics. Can't think of a rock n roller that wasn't acting out their thoughts/dreams. PA1749 wrote: Springsteen always sounds like he trying to force his emotions. It comes off as a rock n' roll act to me. I never bought it or liked it. |
| leafmold | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:17 Misterfixit wrote: "You were born to run" says a lot of things in a simple sentence. For the Jingoists amongst us American it says everything. "America first and foremost, ruler of the world, the top, the ultimate, AMERICA!". I am sure that the nay-sayers and the leftie lickspittles will find fault with this statement. So be it and so mote it be. America is still the one and only hope for the world. End of political rant. Oh please. This song is just about the angst and longing of youth. Nothing political about it. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:16 Probably true. Orodrigues wrote: The most beautiful rock song ever made! |
| PA1749 (Room 106) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:16 Springsteen always sounds like he trying to force his emotions. It comes off as a rock n' roll act to me. I never bought it or liked it. |
| Orodrigues (Resende (RJ), Brazil) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:15 The most beautiful rock song ever made! |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:15 A 10 but possibly not his best work.  |
| camatcba (Lumberjack Software Hack Node) | Posted: May 22, 2013 - 11:13  i WAS HOPING I'D NEVER HAVE TO HEAR THIS SONG AGAIN. |
| ottovonb | Posted: Mar 20, 2013 - 16:45 Misterfixit wrote: "You were born to run" says a lot of things in a simple sentence. For the Jingoists amongst us American it says everything. "America first and foremost, ruler of the world, the top, the ultimate, AMERICA!". I am sure that the nay-sayers and the leftie lickspittles will find fault with this statement. So be it and so mote it be. America is still the one and only hope for the world. End of political rant. From all I've read the ancient Romans felt the same about their culture, as did the Byzanntines, as did the British, as did the Soviets, as did the Nazis, on and on. Empires, they come and they go and somehow civilization in general gets by without them and builds new ones upon the old. Hubris goeth before the fall, I think that's worth bearing in mind. And now, how about let's get back to the music eh? |
| ottovonb | Posted: Mar 20, 2013 - 16:38 Huey wrote: Very tiring...hate it. I much prefer the arcade fire before this. 4. Ha! Touché! Well played my friend. |
| Huey (Netherlands) | Posted: Mar 20, 2013 - 16:36 Very tiring...hate it. I much prefer the arcade fire before this. 4. |
| Misterfixit (Nashville) | Posted: Mar 20, 2013 - 16:35 "You were born to run" says a lot of things in a simple sentence. For the Jingoists amongst us American it says everything. "America first and foremost, ruler of the world, the top, the ultimate, AMERICA!". I am sure that the nay-sayers and the leftie lickspittles will find fault with this statement. So be it and so mote it be. America is still the one and only hope for the world. End of political rant. |
| ottovonb | Posted: Mar 20, 2013 - 16:33 Perfect ear floss to dislodge that sticky Arcade Fire residue still clinging from a few minutes ago. Thank you oh merciful R&R god. Thank you. |
| oídos_abiertos (SoCal) | Posted: Dec 16, 2012 - 14:32 The Boss rocked the 12-12-12 show, as did The Who, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, etc. Old rockers still rockin' it!  |
| martinc (Ottawa Canada) | Posted: Nov 16, 2012 - 07:47 Saw him a couple of weeks ago. Had not seen him since the mid 1980s. It was 3.5 hours of great music and entertainment. His voice was strong, guitar playing still top notch (though he didn't play as much as I'd like) and the band was tight and included 17 musicians. Sometimes in all the Bruce hype you can loose sight of the artist that he is. Live he brings that home. His repertoire is so deep he played this long and didn't play Born in the USA and they were tons of songs I still had hoped he would have played. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Oct 14, 2012 - 21:14 love this classic song... Springsteen to campaign for Obama in Ohio Springsteen has been a supporter of Obama’s, endorsing him in April 2008 and playing at several rallies in Obama’s first campaign. The president uses Springsteen’s song, “We Take Care of Our Own,” in his 2012 campaign song playlist at rallies... |
| BlueHeronDruid | Posted: Oct 14, 2012 - 21:12 Dancing. Like nobody's watching. Which is to say, spaz.  |
| Jazbo (Beautiful Valparaiso IN.) | Posted: Sep 13, 2012 - 07:58 Still rock' n hard today...........saw him last week in Chicago....... 10 |
| cShaggy (..in the general vicinity..) | Posted: Sep 13, 2012 - 07:55 ..dunno why, but i've never been overly impressed by Bruce..this tune is Large & he has undeniable hits..maybe it's the too-tight jeans or something.. ..still this one has something.. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jun 10, 2012 - 18:14
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| jberko (Franklin, TN) | Posted: Jun 10, 2012 - 18:11 Over rated. Wayyyyy overated. |
| KristianGregory | Posted: Apr 08, 2012 - 05:31 big_gare wrote: Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuce! :-) This song, in my humble Canadian opinion, would make a great 2nd American National Anthem! Would be an odd choice for a national anthem considering how critical Brucey is of America in many of his songs |
| big_gare (Langley, Bee Cee, Canada) | Posted: Mar 07, 2012 - 13:13 Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuce! :-) This song, in my humble Canadian opinion, would make a great 2nd American National Anthem! |
| LYS | Posted: Mar 07, 2012 - 13:13 'Oh can you show me?' |
| stevesaw (Northern VA USA) | Posted: Dec 03, 2011 - 07:33 1976ish - He played at my college - in the gym. I had barely heard of him. Many many many concerts later, this is still one of the top ones I've seen. And I'm not a huge fan, it was just simply an amazing, powerful, concert. |
| apd (Toronto, On) | Posted: Dec 03, 2011 - 07:31 bump - god, I wish I had a copy of this album cover. Genius. sandpebble wrote:  |
| treatment_bound (Duluth to Madison) | Posted: Oct 31, 2011 - 14:24 p2h2d2 wrote: Fall 1977 freshman in southern college, a fellow named Hooter Jones from Short Hills, NJ played this album and exploded my diet of southern rock. Thanks Hooter Who got "Blowed Up"? These guys:  or these guys:  or maybe these guys:  |
| On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet) | Posted: Sep 30, 2011 - 23:32 Any life this song may have once had has long since been beaten out of it by constant overplay, even here on RP. How about "Meeting Across the River" for a change, or any of the lesser-played songs from The River or Tunnel of Love? Let's give this tired war horse a rest. |
| catnip (mostly wearing lard) | Posted: Aug 30, 2011 - 13:48 fredriley wrote: There's a fine line between 'classic' and 'cliché', and sadly, for me, this number falls the wrong side of the line. This is too true. The song has been played to death (and beyond) and I must admit to not particularly liking it. However I think you probably still have to admire it: if there were one song which perfectly epitomises rock, this may be it. The storyline, the structure, the surge in the middle, the repeated chorus- they're all there, in a way that some songs will always imitate but never manage to get quite right. So can we have a classic and a cliché at the same time? This will get my vote for that. As to whether it should be played here, well, up to you. Muting is an option, but an occasional outing is not the end of the world... |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Aug 30, 2011 - 13:33 fredriley wrote: There's a fine line between 'classic' and 'cliché', and sadly, for me, this number falls the wrong side of the line. I agree. There is no room for this song here. Life is too short. (another cliche I hate) |
| calispera (Brussels) | Posted: Jul 30, 2011 - 04:10 Each time I hear this song on the radio, or in a cafe, it makes my day a good day. Big effect. Each time a good surprise. |
| sandpebble (near Paradise) | Posted: Jun 28, 2011 - 18:33 |
| sandpebble (near Paradise) | Posted: Jun 28, 2011 - 18:29 Gatlinburger wrote: Every time I hear this, I can't wait for Clarence's Killer Sax!  See ya around Big Man. We'll miss you. |
| Drunkenlilacwine (Four selves I want to find) | Posted: Jun 28, 2011 - 18:18 Orodrigues wrote: The most beautiful rock of all times! Couldn't agree with you more! |
| johnjconn (chicago land) | Posted: Jun 28, 2011 - 18:18 Springsteen is the Chairman of the Board alanb wrote: "Springsteen was never the Boss. He's always been just a well payed employee."  |
| alanb (Vancouver) | Posted: Apr 26, 2011 - 13:36 "Springsteen was never the Boss. He's always been just a well payed employee." |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Apr 26, 2011 - 13:21 Poacher wrote: Thanks Fred. Was sitting here trying to work out how to say the same kind of thing without offending diehard Bruce fans and you did it perfectly. Yep. Fred perfectly offended a diehard Bruce fan... (Just kidding.) I do love this song and this album, even after several decades. |
| Orodrigues (Resende (RJ), Brazil) | Posted: Apr 26, 2011 - 13:21 The most beautiful rock of all times! |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Apr 26, 2011 - 13:20 love this classic... |
| lucylmphillips | Posted: Apr 26, 2011 - 13:19 When I was 10 years old, for Christmas, I asked for the new Album by Air Supply ( 10 year old girl...gimme a break...) and my older brother, in college and much wiser, gave me Bruce Springsteen's the River. And he said, in 20 years, you will still be listening to Springsteen. And like so very many things, my big brother was right. |
| yodasan_magoo | Posted: Mar 10, 2011 - 05:36 I remember when this came out listening to the DJ gush over this song stating that this Bruce Springsteen guy, who was mostly an unknown, was going to make it some day. Guess he nailed that one. |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Mar 10, 2011 - 05:30 This is one of those rare oft played tunes that even with relentless pounding into my cranium, I still love it! There aren't many of those I tell ya. 9 |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Mar 09, 2011 - 18:34 Amy Macdonald - Born to Run, Live (2010) |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Feb 22, 2011 - 12:27 Well said by AMG: |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Feb 22, 2011 - 12:19 marrdcheez wrote: There's no arguing about this song. It deserves to be our national anthem. Yeah - "this town rips the bones from your back, it's a death trap, its's a suicide rap, You gotta get out while we're young" Lyrics to build a nation by  |
| (former member) | Posted: Feb 06, 2011 - 04:37 Do you rate it for what it meant, or what it means now? Currently, I'm not an adolescent looking for meaning, leaving behind failure, struggling to maintain hope despite living in a rathole of a town that had nothing going for it. But, 35 years ago, I was. |
| xtalman (What dimension?) | Posted: Jan 06, 2011 - 14:28 I guess time has mellowed me a bit, use really dislike Bruce after hearing more times then I care to remember back in the day. Now I can appreciate it but I am still not wild about him. I am originally from Jersey also. |
| haresfur (Bendigo Australia) | Posted: Jan 06, 2011 - 14:27 After 35 years this song is starting to grow on me -> 6. |
| Imkirok (The Arctic Hinter Land) | Posted: Jan 06, 2011 - 14:24 My favorite song of all time, hands down. 11. |
| IrieTom (Brunswick, NY) | Posted: Dec 21, 2010 - 21:18 I'm not a hater, but I just can't be a fan. |
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