In 1982, Bruce Springsteen recorded this raw, dark demo of "Born in the USA" during the sessions that would spawn his Nebraska album, my favorite of all his releases. "Born in the USA" is about the impact of the Vietnam War on America and the country's mistreatment of veterans upon their return. Of course the familiar version of the song ultimately released in 1984 has been reinterpreted by many as a patriotic anthem because, y'know, who pays attention to lyrics.
If you have some time for me Then I will sing a song for you About ninety-nine balloons On their way to the horizon Do you think of me now? Then I will sing a song for you About ninety-nine balloons And that such a thing comes from such a thing
Ninety-nine balloons On their way to the horizon Were taken for UFOs from space Hence, a general sent A squadron after them To give the alarm But there on the horizon Were just ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine jet fighters Each was a great warrior Regarded themselves as Captain Kirk There was a great display of fireworks The neighbors didn't understand And soon felt offended Then they shot at the horizon At ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine ministers of war Matches and petrol canisters Regarded themselves as clever people Already on the scent of fat quarry They shouted, "War," and wanted power Man, who would have thought That someday it would come this far Because of ninety-nine balloons
Because of ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine balloons
99 years of war Left no place for winners War ministers don't exist anymore And not one jet Today I stroll around See the world in ruins I've found a balloon I think about you and let it fly
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!
Come to my aid you're sweet as everything Come to my aid I'd give you anything I feel so betrayed by the people I love Come to my aid it's you I'm thinking of Prouder than wild Sad enough to sing Come to my aid and care for social living Why are we liable to die for survival? Why is our nation divided? Come to my aid.. In the poverty stakes see just what it means When welfare decimates you'd better care About your fellow people Why are we liable to die for survival? Why is our nation divided? Come to my aid... Come on board
I stand Feeling so connected And I'm all there Right next to you It started when I saw the ship go down I saw them struggle in the sea And suddenly the picture disappears In front of me Now we're busy making all our busy plans On foundations build to last But nothing fades as fast as the future And nothing clings like the past, until we can see More than this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDRsokQKUmk
I woke up and the world outside was dark All so quiet before the dawn Opened up the door and walked outside The ground was cold I walked until I couldn't walk any more To a place I'd never been There was something stirring in the air In front of me, I could see More than this More than this So much more than this There is something else there When all that you had has all gone And more than this I stand Feeling so connected And I'm all there Right next to you It started when I saw the ship go down I saw them struggle in the sea And suddenly the picture disappears In front of me Now we're busy making all our busy plans On foundations build to last But nothing fades as fast as the future And nothing clings like the past, until we can see More than this More than this So much more than this There is something out there More than this It's coming through And more than this I stand alone and so connected And I'm all there Right next to you Oh then it's alright When with every day another bit falls away Oh but its still alright, alright, alright And like words together we can make some sense Much more than this Way beyond imagination Much more than this Beyond the stars With my head so full So full of fractured pictures And I'm all there Right next to you More than this
This is a holdup, everybody on the ground Put your hands behind your head, don't make a sound This old system been keeping us down, down, down Now me and my friends think it's time to turn this mess around
We all know this ain't what you expected We know this must come as a surprise Imagine how it feels to be rejected, scorned and scoffed at Imagine how it feels to be despised
Too much money in too few hands We'll be on our way once you meet our small demands So come on, people, do as I say You may just live to see a better day
Everybody on the ground We're gonna pass this bag around Fill it up with what you got Fill it up with what you got
Too much money in too few hands We'll be on our way once you meet our small demands
Too much money in too few hands We'll be on our way once you meet our small demands
Here's my people, respect us as equal Fewer excuses, we don't need to prove it You'll find out what we've known all along By trying to keep us down, you've made us strong
This is a holdup, everybody on the ground Put your hands behind your head, don't make a sound Come on, people, do as I say You may just get to see a better day
Everybody on the ground We're gonna pass this bag around Fill it up with what you got Fill it up with what you got
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 7:57 am