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Bruce Springsteen : Born To Run
1975

  1. Thunder Road
    +1
  2. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
  3. Night
  4. Backstreets

  5. Born To Run
  6. She's The One
  7. Meeting Across The River
  8. Jungleland

Thunder Road

Capo:
V
Harp:
F
[or
Bb
with capo] (straight)
C
F
C
The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways
C
G
F
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
F
G
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
C
/b
F
Hey, that's me and I want you only
C
F
G
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again Don't run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore Show a little faith, there's magic in the night You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright Oh and that's alright with me
C
Am
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
C
F
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
C
Em
Waste your summer praying in vain
F
G
For a saviour to rise from these streets Well now I'm no hero, that's understood All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood With a chance to make it good somehow Hey what else can we do now? Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair Well the night's busting open and these two lanes will take us anywhere We've got one last chance to make it real To trade in these wings on some wheels Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks Oh-oh come take my hand We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Oh-oh Thunder Road Oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road Lying out there like a killer in the sun Hey I know it's late we can make it if we run Oh-oh Thunder Road
F
G7
C
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
F
G
F
C
F
C
F
Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
Am
Em
F
G
My car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
F
G
From your front porch to my front seat
Em
Am
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
F
Dm
F
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
G
C
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises will be broken
C
F
C
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
C
G
F
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
F
G
They scream your name at night in the street
C
/b
F
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
Em
F
And in the lonely cool before dawn you hear their engines roaring on
Dm
G
F
But when you get to the porch they're gone on the wind
Dm
So Mary climb in
F
G
C
It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
C
G
C
F
C
Em
F
G

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

|
Dm9
Dm
|
C9
C
|
Bb9
B
| |
x2
|
F
Dm
|
x8
F
Dm
| Tear drops on the city
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
| Bad Scooter searching for his groove
Bb
Gm
| Seem like the whole world walking pretty
Bb
Gm
|
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
| And you can't find the room to move
C
Well everybody better move over, that's all
Bb
'Cause I'm running on the bad side, and I got my back to the wall
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
| Tenth Avenue freeze-out
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
| Tenth Avenue freeze-out I'm stranded in the jungle Taking all the heat they was giving The night is dark but the sidewalk's bright And lined with the light of the living From a tenement window a transistor blasts Turn around the corner things got real quiet real fast I walked into a Tenth Avenue freeze-out Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Dm9
Dm
|
C9
C
|
Bb9
Bb
| And I'm all alone, I'm all alone "And, kid, you better get the picture!"
Dm9
Dm
|
C9
C
|
Bb9
Bb
| And I'm on my own I'm on my own
C9
|
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
|
F
Dm
| And I can't go home When the change was made uptown And the Big Man joined the band From the coastline to the city All the little pretties raise their hands I'm gonna sit back right easy and laugh When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half With a Tenth Avenue freeze-out Tenth Avenue freeze-out Tenth Avenue freeze-out Tenth Avenue freeze-out

Night

Capo:
I
|
Bsus4
|
Esus4
|
E
|
A
Asus4
A
Esus4
E
You get up every morning at the sound of the bell
A
Asus4
A
Esus4
E
You get to work late and the boss man's giving you hell
D
E
F#m
Till you're out on a midnight run
D
E
F#m
Losing your heart to a beautiful one
D
F#m
And it feels right as you lock up the house
Bm
B
Esus4
E
Turn out the lights and step out into the night
G
A
Bm
And the world is busting at its seams
G
A
Bm
And you're just a prisoner of your dreams
F#m
Holding on for your life
Bm
B
Esus4
E
Esus4
E
'Cause you work all day to blow 'em away in the night
A
Asus4
A
Esus4
E
The rat traps filled with soul crusaders
A
Asus4
A
Esus4
E
The circuits lined and jammed with chromed invaders
D
E
F#m
And she's so pretty that you're lost in the stars
D
E
F#m
As you jockey your way through the cars
D
F#m
And sit at the light, as it changes to green
Bm
B
Esus4
E
With your faith in your machine, off you scream into the night
G
A
Bm
And you're in love with all the wonder it brings
G
A
Bm
And every muscle in your body sings
F#m
As the highway ignites
Bm
B
Esus4
E
Esus4
E
You work nine to five and somehow you survive till the night
B
A
G#m
F#m
E
Hell, all day they're busting you up on the outside
B
D
Tonight you're gonna break on through to the inside
B
Bsus4
And it'll be right
B
Bsus4
Esus4
E
Esus4
E
It'll be right, and it'll be tonight
G
A
Bm
And you know she will be waiting there
G
A
Bm
And you'll find her somehow you swear
A
B
Em
Somewhere tonight you run sad and free
B
Esus4
E
Esus4
E
Until all you can see is the night |
Esus4
|
E
|
D
A
|
E
|

Backstreets

|
3x
| |
2x
| |
4x
| |
G
|
Em
|
D
|
C
|
C
|
D
|
G
|
D
|
C
|
D7
|
G
|
Em
|
G
Em
One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends
G
Em
Trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in
G
Em
Catching rides to the outskirts, tying faith between our teeth
D
C
D
Sleeping in that old abandoned beach house, getting wasted in the heat
G
C
G
C
And hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
G
C
G
D
Em
With a love so hard and filled with defeat
C
G
Em
Running for our lives at night on them backstreets
G
Em
Slow dancing in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing
G
Em
Where desperate lovers park we sat with the last of the Duke Street Kings
D
C
Huddled in our cars, waiting for the bells that ring
Am
C
D
In the deep heart of the night, we could let loose from everything
G
C
G
C
To go running on the backstreets, running on the backstreets
G
C
G
D
Em
Terry, you swore we'd live forever
C
G
Em
Taking it on them backstreets together
A
F#m
Endless juke joints and Valentino drag
A
F#m
Where dancers scraped the tears up off the streets dressed down in rags
A
F#m
Running into the darkness, some hurt bad, some really dying
E
D
At night sometimes it seemed you could hear the whole damn city crying
E
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down
A
D
You can blame it all on me Terry, it don't matter to me now
E
When the breakdown hit at midnight there was nothing left to say
A
E
F#m
|
B
|
D
G
D7
G
| But I hated him and I hated you when you went away |
D7
G
|
D7
G
|
Em
G
|
Em
|
G
|
Em
G
|
C
|
D7
|
G
Em
Laying here in the dark, you're like an angel on my chest
G
Em
Just another tramp of hearts crying tears of faithlessness
D
C
Remember all the movies, Terry, we'd go see
Am
C
D
Trying to learn how to walk like heroes we thought we had to be
Em
Bm
And after all this time to find we're just like all the rest
C
D7sus4
Stranded in the park and forced to confess
G
C
G
C
To hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
G
C
G
D
Em
Where we swore forever friends
C
G
|
C
|
G
|
C
| On the backstreets until the end
G
C
x8
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
Am
F
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets
D7
G
It's alright we'll go hiding on the backstreets tonight
C
Hiding on the backstreets
G
C
x3
Hiding on the backstreets, hiding on the backstreets |
D
|
C
Bm
Am
G
Am
Bm
|
C
|
D
|
G
|
C
|
C
|
D
|
G
|
D
|
C
Bm
|
Am
D7
|
G
|

Born To Run

E
A
B
E
A
B
|--0---|-----------|-----|--------|------|-----------|-----|--------|
|--0---|-----------|-----|--------|------|-----------|-----|--------|
|--1---|-----2--1--|-----|--------|------|-----2--1--|-----|--------|
|--2---|-----------|-----|--2--4--|------|-----------|-----|--2--4--|
|--2---|--2--------|--4--|--------|--2---|--2--------|--4--|--------|
|--0---|-----------|-----|--------|------|-----------|-----|--------|
E
Asus4
Bsus4
In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream
E
Asus4
Bsus4
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines
A
C#m/g#
Sprung from cages out on Highway 9
F#m
C#m/g#
E
D/e
Chrome-wheeled, fuel-injected and steppin' out over the line... oh!
A
C#m/g#
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
F#m
C#m/g#
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
E
C#m
We gotta get out while we're young
A
Bsus4
E
'Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run Wendy let me in, I wanna be your friend, I want to guard your dreams and visions Just wrap your legs round these velvet rims and strap your hands across my engines Together we could break this trap We'll run till we drop, 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 find out how it feels I want to know if love is wild, babe, I want to know if love is real |
E
|
E
|
Asus4
|
Bsus4
|
x2
|
C#m
|
C#m
B
E
|
E
|
Bm7
|
Dsus4
D
Dsus4
D
Beyond the palace hemi-powered drones
Gsus4
G
Gsus4
G
Scream down the boulevard
Asus4
A
Asus4
A
The girls comb their hair in rear-view mirrors
Csus4
C
Csus4
C
And the boys try to look so hard The amusement park rises bold and stark Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist I wanna die with you Wendy on the streets tonight In an everlasting kiss
Fsus4
F
|
Fsus4
F
|
Fsus4
F
|
C
|
Fsus4
F
|
F#sus4
F#
|
F#sus4
F
|
F#sus4
F#
|
Chromatic descent over a whole octave:
/b
/a#
/a
/g#
/g
/f#
/f
/e
/d#
/d
/c#
/c
/c
/c
/c
/b
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'll live with the sadness I'll love you with all the madness in my soul... oh! Someday girl, I don't know when We're gonna get to that place where we really want to go And we'll walk in the sun But till then tramps like us baby, we were born to run
C#m
A
B
E
Oh honey, tramps like us baby we were born to run
C#m
A
B
E
Come on Wendy, tramps like us we were born to run

She's The One

Esus4
E
...
Esus4
E
... With her killer graces And her secret places That no boy can fill With her hands on her hips Oh, and that smile on her lips Because she knows that it kills me
Asus4
A
... With her soft French cream Standing in that doorway like a dream I wish she'd just leave me alone
Esus4
E
... Because French cream won't soften them boots And French kisses will not break that heart of stone
Bsus4
B
... With her long hair falling
A
And her eyes that shine like a midnight sun
E
Oh-oh she's the one, she's the one
Esus4
E
... With the thunder in your heart at night When you're kneeling in the dark It says you're never gonna leave her But there's this angel in her eyes That tells such desperate lies And all you want to do is believe her
Asus4
A
... And tonight you'll try Just one more time To leave it all behind and to break on through
Esus4
E
... Oh she can take you, but if she wants to break you She's gonna find out that it's easy to do
Bsus4
B
... And no matter where you sleep tonight
A
Or however far you run
E
Oh-oh she's the one, she's the one
C#m
Oh-oh and just one kiss
G#m
She'd fill them long summer nights with her tenderness
F#m
That secret pact you made
B
Back when her love could save you from the bitterness, oh-oh
E
Oh she's the one, oh she's the one Oh she's the one, oh she's the one |
A
|
A
|
E
| Oh she's the one |
B
|
B
|
B
|
B
|
A
|
E
A
E
| Oh she's the one... |
E
A
E
|
E
|
E
A
E
|
E
| |
E
A
E
|
E
|
E
A
E
|
E
|

Meeting Across The River

Capo:
I
D
Hey, Eddie, can you lend me a few bucks?
C
And tonight can you get us a ride?
D
Gotta make it through the tunnel
A
Got a meeting with a man on the other side
G7sus4
Hey Eddie, this guy, he's the real thing
F
So if you want to come along
Em7
You gotta promise you won't say anything
A7
'Cause this guy don't dance
D
C
And the word's been passed this is our last chance We gotta stay cool tonight, Eddie 'Cause man, we got ourselves out on that line And if we blow this one They ain't gonna be looking for just me this time And all we gotta do is hold up our end Here stuff this in your pocket It'll look like you're carrying a friend And remember, just don't smile Change your shirt, 'cause tonight we got style Well Cherry says she's gonna walk 'Cause she found out I took her radio and hocked it But Eddie, man, she don't understand That two grand's practically sitting here in my pocket And tonight's gonna be everything that I said And when I walk through that door I'm just gonna throw that money on the bed She'll see this time I wasn't just talking Then I'm gonna go out walking Hey Eddie, can you catch us a ride?

Jungleland

|
C
Em7
|
F
C
|
Dm
|
F
G
|
Am
Em7
| |
Am
|
Dm
|
Dm
G
|
F
|
F
| |
C
Em7
|
F
G
|
x4
C
Em7
F
G
C
Em7
F
G
The rangers had a homecoming in Harlem late last night
C
Em7
F
G
C
Em7
F
G
And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine over the Jersey state line
C
Em7
F
Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge
G
C
Em7
F
Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain
Dm
Am
Dm
The Rat pulls into town, rolls up his pants
Am
Dm
Am
Dm
G
(
C
) Together they take a stab at romance and disappear down Flamingo Lane |
C
Em7
|
F
G
|
C
Em7
|
F
G
|
C
Em7
F
G
C
Em7
F
G
The Maximum Lawman run down Flamingo chasing the Rat and the barefoot girl
C
Em7
F
G
C
Em7
F
G
And the kids round here look just like shadows always quiet, holding hands
C
Em7
F
G
C
Em7
F
From the churches to the jails tonight all is silence in the world
Dm
Am
Dm
Am
Dm
F
C
|
F
|
C
|
F
| As we take our stand down in Jungleland
C
G
F
G
C
G
F
G
The midnight gang's assembled and picked a rendezvous for the night
C
G
F
G
C
G
F
G
They'll meet 'neath that giant Exxon sign that brings this fair city light
C
G
F
G
C
G
F
G
Man there's an opera out on the Turnpike, there's a ballet being fought out in the alley
C
G
F
G
C
G
F
Until the local cops' cherry top rips this holy night
Dm
C
F
G
Dm
C
F
G
The street's alive as secret debts are paid, contacts made, they vanished unseen
Dm
C
F
G
Dm
C
F
G
Kids flash guitars just like switch-blades, hustling for the record machine
Bb
C
Dm
(
C
) The hungry and the hunted explode into rock and roll bands
Bb
C
Dm
F
(
C
) That face off against each other out in the street down in Jungleland |
C
|
F
|
C
|
F
| |
C
G
|
F
G
|
x4
|
C
G
F
|
F
G
|
x3
|
C
G
F
|
F
|
Bb
F
C
In the parking lot the visionaries dress in the latest rage
Gm
Bb
F
C
Inside the backstreet girls are dancing to the records that the DJ plays
Bb
F
C
Lonely-hearted lovers struggle in dark corners, desperate as the night moves on
Gm
Bb
C
Just one look and a whisper, and they're gone |
Eb
|
Eb
| |
Ab
|
Eb
|
Ab
|
Bb
| |
Eb
|
Ab
|
Eb
|
Ab
|
Ab
|
Bb
| |
Eb
Bb
|
Bb
|
Bb
|
Eb
|
Eb
| |
Cm
Bb
|
Cm
Bb
|
Ab
Bb
|
Ab
Bb
| |
Eb
|
Bb
|
Bb
|
Ab
|
Cm
Bb
Cm
|
G7sus4
| |
Ab
Bb
|
Eb
Bb
|
Eb
Bb
|
Cm
Bb
|
Cm
Bb
| |
Ab
Bb
|
Ab
Bb
|
Eb
Bb
|
Ab
Bb
|
Eb
Bb
Abmaj7
Bb
Beneath the city two hearts beat
Cm
Bb
Cm
Bb
Soul engines running through a night so tender
Abmaj7
Bb
Abmaj7
Bb
Eb
In a bedroom locked in whispers of soft refusal
Bb
Ab
Bb7
And then surrender
Eb
In the tunnels uptown the Rat's own dream guns him down
Cm
C9sus4
Cm
C9sus4
As shots echo down them hallways in the night
Abmaj7
Bb
Abmaj7
Bb
No one watches when the ambulance pulls away
Cm
C
Cm
G
Or as the girl shuts out the bedroom light
Dm
C
F
G7sus4
G
Outside the street's on fire in a real death waltz
Dm
C
F
G7sus4
G
Between what's flesh and what's fantasy
Dm
C
F
G7sus4
G
And the poets down here don't write nothing at all
Dm
C
F
G7sus4
G
They just stand back and let it all be
Bb
Dm
And in the quick of the night they reach for their moment and try to make an honest stand
Bb
Dm7
F
C
But they wind up wounded, not even dead, tonight in Jungleland |
Am
|
Dm7
|
F
|
Asus4
|
G
|
C
|