Bruce Springsteen - New York City Serenade Lyrics






Billy, he's down by the railroad tracks
Sittin' low in the back seat of his Cadillac
Diamond Jackie, she's so intact
She falls so softly beneath him
Jackie's heels are stacked, Billy's got cleats on his boots
Together they're gonna boogaloo down Broadway and come back home with the loot
It's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute
It's a mad dog's promenade
So walk tall, or baby, don't walk at all

Fish lady, fish lady, fish lady, she baits them tenement walls
She won't take corner boys, ain't got no money and they're so easy
I said, "Hey baby, won't you take my hand, walk me down Broadway
I'm a young man and I talk real loud, yeah baby, walk real proud for you
So shake it away, so shake away your street life
And hook up to the train
Hook up to the night train
Hook it up, hook up to the, hook up to the train"
But I know that she won't take the train
No, she won't take the train
No, she won't take the train
No, she won't take the train
She's afraid them tracks are gonna slow her down
And when she turns, this boy'll be gone
So long, sometimes you just gotta walk on

Hey vibes man, hey jazz man, play me your serenade
Any deeper blue and you're playin' in your grave
Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the blues boy
Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the darlin' yearlin' sharp boy
Straight for the church note ringin', vibes man sting a trash can
Listen to your junk man
Listen to your junk man
Listen to your junk man
Listen to your junk man
He's singin', singin', singin', singin'
All dressed up in satin, walkin' past the alley
Watch out for your junk man
Watch out for your junk man
Watch out for your junk man





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Bruce Springsteen New York City Serenade Comments
  1. T.... C....

    Badly Drawn Boy was right when he said the 2nd side of 'The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle' is one of the greatest pieces of music on record.

    T.... C....

    Tony Cairns ain’t that the truth

  2. M.... E....

    Hook me up to the night train

  3. M.... S....

    When my wife and I fell in love more than 20 years ago we enjoyed this song a lot. The night of this concert we were sitting in our terrace half a mile from Capannelle where this was recorded, waiting for our first baby to be born. Sound came to us clear as if we were there, it was sheer magic. Thanks Bruce.

  4. M.... F....

    56 year old man crying his eyes out at his desk every time I watch this. Absolute perfection. No words.............

  5. E.... B....

    All you musicians out there you can stop now it just does not get any better than this.

  6. V.... K....

    This is such a brilliant song, and yet, I found it too late, even though I have been Bruce fan for a long time. Strange that such a masterpiece hasn't gained enough popularity that it warrants. This is one of those songs that may take you a while to grasp, but then it also never gets old. There is so much complexity and layers that you can hear it endlessly.

  7. W.... K....

    Best bar band ever!!
    When they do requests, like this, or, especially cover songs, somebody will get the lyrics o a teleprompter for Bruce.
    But Roy didn't have sheet music for the intro here. Gary's rubbery bass part on this is great.
    One has to wonder how long ago this got slotted into rehearsals for the tour.
    Not exactly a verse/verse/ chorus number.
    Damn impressive, this whole band. The strings are a lovely addition to this.
    Just plain badass.

  8. L.... 1....

    beautiful beyond words.

  9. m.... ....

    tHE jOY ON THE FACES OF ALL THE STRING PLAYERS IS BONE CHILLING AND bRUCE AUTO ON ALL THEIR SHEET MUSIC IS VERY COOL,, GRETA TAPE.

  10. A.... M....

    Going through a rough time with the lady I love at the moment, feeling very unhappy, somehow listening to this remarkable track gives me hope everything will work out fine in the end. Thanks Bruce.

  11. S.... ....

    Um. Did I just die and go to heaven?

  12. G.... T....

    This is absolutely stunning. Always loved this. Never thought I’d see it done live so sublimely.

  13. V.... M....

    Eu amo você Bruce

  14. j.... ....

    Genius at work

  15. P.... S....

    How easy has Stevie got it , just chilling like his stoned of his head :)

    P.... S....

    Peter Scott and how easy I’ve got it, just chilling, stoned, thoroughly enjoying this tune :)

  16. J.... B....

    Such a gorgeous piece of music!

  17. 1.... ....

    Omg. I have that album in vinyl. It sits in my atick. Have not played it for 35 years, Bruce is really magic

  18. L.... H....

    I saw the E Street Band play this in 1975 in an old gym at UVA before Bruce was The Boss. It's one of the best all time songs ever.

  19. M.... E....

    A masterpiece

  20. J.... B....

    The E Street Band and their artistic leader, writer, and conductor, Bruce, never get enough credit. They are brilliant together. And it's incredible that they can create these gorgeous songs live. Most bands never come close to being this good live.

    I get that Dylan won the Nobel. I get it. He has written songs that will live forever and he was one of the greats who ushered in rock and roll. I get that. But if I had been on that committee, it would have been a tight race with Bruce. And consider that the Nobel is for literature. Who writes entire albums to tell a story?

  21. A.... P....

    Anyone else notice Gary’s brilliant base line. It holds the price together

  22. C.... m....

    By far the bosses most underrated song

  23. R.... J....

    A total music experience if it's ever been one. Speechless.

  24. W.... P....

    Are they booing at the beginning?

  25. T.... R....

    Bruce's opening notes. My god. Pure heaven.

  26. e.... r....

    Some songs make you want to dance. Some songs want to make you cry. Some songs make you want to turn off the radio. Being a Springsteen fan for 30 years I figured Racing in the Street was always going to be my favourite but now I want to hook up to the night train. This performance transports you to NYC walking in amongst all the characters and the violins just make your spirit soar. Quite a wonderful thing when 12 notes can do that and stop you in your tracks.....

  27. R.... J....

    next monday i will save mozartkino dalzburg trust me

  28. m.... h....

    Favourite Springsteen song ever x

  29. G.... A....

    AMAZING

  30. M.... V....

    Just Amazing!

  31. L.... F....

    c'est un opéra moderne magnifique quelle intro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  32. t.... ....

    Dam that guy can play tbh dam good🇬🇧👍

  33. M.... F....

    I cried like a baby. Thank you so much for this magic.

  34. E.... K....

    You never can tell - Happy Birthday

  35. m.... u....

    Buon compleanno al grande Boss

  36. M.... L....

    Congrat's man!
    Risen at twenty. Streamin', shinein' for'em fifty, livin' for ever!
    Keep on rockin'!

  37. S.... H....

    🔥Happy 70th BIRTHDAY 🗽 dear 🎁 Mr Bruce Springsteen!!!!!!! ♥️😘 grazie and love from germany :)

  38. V.... M....

    So sensitive😘😘

  39. K.... K....

    Oh dear, that piano in the
    beginning....

  40. T.... B....

    Fantastico

  41. N.... T....

    Just a wonderful song

  42. a.... ....

    now I am 51 years old and have spent the last 35 years running after our new jersey guy. in over 30 shows I've seen, I live and live again the same emotions now as then. if I am the man I am, I certainly owe it to him, to his example, to his words. and in every video I see and see I find only joy. true joy, pure, spontaneous and intense joy in every face of every single spectator. and I'm glad I was with them. and I am happy to have shared unique and true moments with them. how unique and true each of us is, also thanks to Bruce. Hugs to all. Alessandro

  43. P.... G....

    I’ve got goosebumps watching this on a crappy little phone with crappy little speakers- l can’t even begin to imagine what it would have been like to be there.

  44. R.... J....

    Best song of Springsteen ever

  45. B.... M....

    Does anyone know if the piano player is David Sanctious from the old E Street band?

    B.... M....

    The piano player here is Roy Bittan who's been in the band since 1974/5.

  46. a.... d....

    Sei un dono di Dio!! Bruce!! Grazie !! Love love !!! 😍😍😍⭐⭐⭐💙💙❤️♥️♥️😊😗

  47. v.... j....

    Fantástica!!!!!.... Una belleza.

  48. A.... K....

    Is this what it's going to be like in heaven?

  49. J.... M....

    Breath taking.

  50. E.... P....

    BRUCE UNA FETTA DELLA MIA VITA😍

  51. V.... B....

    Uma obra de arte... patrimônio d humanidade 🙏💎💎💎💘🎸🎤 AMOOOOOO 💘 Love 💘

  52. B.... T....

    Was so fortunate to see this song live 5 times during his last tour to Australia. The crowd was captivated on every occasion. To think he was so young when this album was released. Way before it’s time. Just amazing. Has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

  53. H.... P....

    Magnificent! I love this performance!

  54. H.... 7....

    Je reste toujours scotché par le niveau pianistique impressionnant de "the Professor".

  55. F.... C....

    Tre best❤️

  56. f.... ....

    Classe .. raffinatezza anima musica armonia

  57. L.... R....

    I was there. Unforgettable. Thank you Bruce

  58. M.... B....

    What a great performance - goes full Astral Weeks on us.

  59. w.... g....

    Excellente

  60. d.... g....

    meraviglioso bruce, una grande emozione esserci.

  61. G.... l....

    This is majestic brilliance, an outstanding reimagining of an old song. Bittan's piano is a delight.

  62. P.... S....

    This is jaw droppingly beautiful...
    Flawless performance, and it was unplayed for so long...!
    I'd give anything to have been there. Rome got a very special gift that night.

  63. j.... a....

    Sin comentarios es el puto amo the Boss

  64. J.... C....

    You gotta love a song thats got alot of "sax and violins"☺

  65. L.... R....

    I was there too with my daughter and what a great gig. It doesn't get much better than 'Thunder Road' sung without the band as the last song. What was also superb was the Italian organization compared with the shambles of Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park the year before.

  66. L.... L....

    12.07 minutes of perfection.

  67. a.... ....

    Can you imagine how the various members of the Roma Sinfonietta felt when they were told, "Uh, later this week, we're going to play one song with Bruce Springsteen at Ippodromo delle Capannelle. We will do one rehearsal with the band a few hours before joining him on stage. Attire will be all black, shirts, pants, shoes. Full details will be in an email that will arrive shortly, along with a pdf file of the sheet music." Ciao.

  68. J.... C....

    Gary.....oh my God! This bass is great...

  69. G.... W....

    One of the greatest performances ever. One of the greatest songs ever.

  70. T.... O....

    Wow ! Holy shit ! Perfection and passion perfectly mixed GRAZIE to the Italian musicians who were the perfect accompaniment to this wonderful song ! My tears flow like rain now .....wow :-‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘

  71. W.... A....

    My all time favourite Springsteen tune. Never heard a live recording of it before!

  72. V.... S....

    Awesome video. Awesome song.

  73. V.... B....

    Love 💘 Bruce Springsteen thank you 💕

  74. t.... ....

    Okay everybody. You can quit searching. The best video on YouTube has been found.

    t.... ....

    tonitsi78 correct my friend

  75. W.... M....

    Is a beautiful music ! I liked very ! SPRINGSTEEN is LIFE !

  76. M.... P....

    Its 2019 And i Still DON'T KNOW THIS GREAT PIANISTS NAME.since 1970.But Believe he WAS ALWAYS THERE.I THANK HIM-I LOVE MY UN-NAMED HERO-AND AT 63 NOW,STILL HAVE HIS BEAUTIFUL FINGERS ETCHED IN MY BRAIN.kat,ct.2=23-19

    M.... P....

    Roy Bittan

  77. C.... C....

    Eu te amo tanto!

  78. A.... M....

    No tiene estribillo. Pero es mágica

  79. M.... ....

    Brucie 🎸🎷❤

  80. E.... ....

    Magistral 💘

  81. J.... D....

    This one actually brought tears to my eyes.

  82. S.... N....

    Mitico!!!

  83. R.... ....

    he protecc
    he attacc
    but most importantly he plays New York City Serenade

  84. M.... S....

    Simply magic.... Make me cry...

  85. D.... P....

    I was there. I almost passed out from joy and shock. Such a stirring and memorable performance. Thank you.

  86. m.... ....

    non so cosa dire , splendido

  87. A.... A....

    wow. Thank you.

  88. m.... ....

    hard to comprehend it took 'born to run' to break this cat

  89. P.... D....

    Absolutely Love this version - so wonderfully done with the strings and the band hitting all queues perfectly. Tight, man, really tight.

  90. s.... e....

    Originalmente la introducción pertenece a David Sancious en el Piano... y en la Batería a Vinnie López...

  91. h.... ....

    Just wow. What a classical performance of everything that is superb about Springsteen, the artist. I so wish more people were aware of his genuine talent, it s too easy for the lightweights out there to pop him into the box of celebrity with too much money. This guy has worked hard and long to achieve what he has..and still gives back to audiences way more than a lot of performers. Lucky to have been along for the journey since 1980..here s to health and happiness Bruce..you deserve it.

  92. 1.... ....

    When it comes to writing expansive songs that tells a story that we all can relate to in some deep soul awakening way Bruce has no equal. I first heard this song some 40+years ago and I'm setting here now after all these years and thousands of listenings with a smile on my face and goose bumps on my arms just like the first time I heard it.

    Watching the faces of the violinist it is quite apparent that they too love this song they are playing and it brings them, just like the audience, great joy.

    In some far off future they will speak of Springsteen in the same way we now speak of Bach and Beethoven as one of the greatest composers to ever live and let's not forget he is also perhaps the greatest entertainer to have ever lived. Why I added the "perhaps" is beyond me

  93. M.... H....

    Bruce puts everything into performing his early songs, you can see how much he enjoys doing them and how proud he is when the're requested. Carry on Bruce keep on rocking🎸🎼🎷

  94. S.... S....

    Wow!! I love you Bruce!! Sensacional !! <3<3

  95. H.... f....

    Başkasın sen...

  96. M.... B....

    Das ist so Wunder schön, mit meinem neuen Kopfhörer, als stehst du mit der Band neben mir. Wunderbar ist das 😢😘😘😘😘💖💖💖💖.