Thunder Road
The "Born to Run" release was a monster hit for Springsteen. He no longer was classified as an "acquired taste," followed only by fans on the east coast or along the Jersey shore. Thunder Road, one of Springsteen's better works, best signifies the "escape," or "searching" threads in his music. His plea to Mary, there is something better out there somewhere, and we have to hit the road to find it, is a concept which he would reject in later years. Also, the song debuted the best pick-up line ever written in pop music, "You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright." Coming on the heels of "your soft sweet little girl's tongue," it was apparent that Springsteen's female fans were not paying much attention to the lyrics, or more likely his charisma and talent excused his pre-Clintonesque attitudes toward the fairer sex. The song however, goes beyond the issues of his and Mary's "search" for something "more." He appears to be addressing his audience at one point:
Apparently, millions were ready to "take that long walk" with Springsteen and his music. At times it would be a very rocky road. The trip had begun, and there would be few nights at Greasy Lake. The ride isn't free and Springsteen's car would take us into more than one collision with the American dream.Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely
For words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free
All the promises'll be broken
CLICK TO PLAY SONG
The screen door slams
Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
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
You can hide 'neath your covers
And study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers
Throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior 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
These two lanes will take us anywhere
We 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
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 Thunder Road, sit tight take hold
Thunder Road
Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely
For words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free
All the promises'll be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes
Of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road
In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch they're gone
On the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers
And I'm pulling out of here to win.
