Bruce Springsteen lyrics -- Bruce Springsteen shows -- Bruce Springsteen records

Song title: American skin (41 shots)


American skin (41 shots)

41 shots (8 times)

41 shots, and we'll take that ride
Across this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, they cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life

Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
Ain't no secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

41 shots (4 times)

41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school
She says now on these streets Charles
You got to understand the rules
Promise me if an officer stops you'll always be polite
Never ever run away and promise mama you'll keep your hands in sight

Cause is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

41 shots (4 times)

Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

41 shots and we'll take that ride
Across this bloody river to the other side
41 shots my boots caked in mud
We're baptized in these waters and in each other's blood

Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet?
This is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
Your American skin

41 shots …..

Notes: Written during the reunion tour, after the police killing (with 41 shots) of an unarmed person, it was a regular inclusion until the end of that tour.

Statistics from the KILLING FLOOR (www.brucespringsteen.it) database

Published on the following official releases:

First known live performance: 04/06/2000 Philips Arena, Atlanta,GA ,USA
Last known live performance: 25/02/2017 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland ,New Zealand

Song 'history':


It only saw the light less than a dozen times in the whole Reunion tour
The last NY show(s) of the Reunion Tour were released in both CD and DVD (more songs) 'LIVE IN NYC', which included also this song
Played during the Rising tour (12 times)
The song was then included in the ESSENTIAL compilation, released in 2003.
Played during the rehearsals for the Devils and dust Tour, in Mar/Apr 2005. but not played in the regular tour.
In the Devils and Dust tour, the song was only practiced (11/08/2005 Key Arena, Seattle,WA ,USA, during the soundcheck. and 13/08/2005 Pontiac Theatre, Vancouver ,Canada, during the soundcheck.) but never played in the regular set.
During the Working on a Dream tour, the song was played less than a dozen times
Bruce inserted it 14 times in the setlists of the Wrecking Ball tour
Published on the 'HIGH HOPES' Album, released in January 2014.
During the High Hopes tour, the song was played less than a dozen times
17 perfomances were given during the 2016 The River tour
Performed 4 times during the 2017 Summer tour

The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database