Song title: Point blank
Point blank - Album version
Do you still say your prayers little darlin’ do you go to bed at night
Prayin’ that tommorow, everything will be alright
But tommorow’s fall in number in number one by one
You wake up and you’re dying you don’t even know what from
Well they shot you point blank you been shot in the back
Baby point blank you been fooled this time little girl that’s a fact
Right between the eyes baby, point blank
right between the pretty lies that they tell
Little girl you fell
You grew up where young girls they grow up fast
You took what you were handed and left behind what was asked
but what they asked baby wasn’t right
you didn’t have to live that life,
I was gonna be your Romeo you were gonna be my Juliet
These days you don’t wait on Romeo’s
you wait on that welfare check
and on all the pretty things that you can’t
ever have and on all the promises
That always end up point blank, shot between the eyes
Point blank like little white lies you tell to ease the pain
You’re walkin’ in the sights, girl of point blank
and it’s one false move and baby the lights go out
Once I dreamed we were together again baby you and me
Back home in those old clubs the way we used to be
We were standin’ at the bar it was hard to hear
The band was playin’ loud and you were shoutin’ somethin’ in my ear
You pulled my jacket off and as the drummer counted four
You grabbed my hand and pulled me out on the floor
You just stood there and held me, then you started dancin’ slow
And as I pulled you tighter I swore I’d never let you go
Well I saw you last night down on the avenue
Your face was in the shadows but I knew that it was you
You were standin’ in the doorway out of the rain
You didn’t answer when I called out your name
You just turned, and then you looked
away like just another stranger waitin’ to get blown away
Point blank, right between the eyes
Point blank, right between the pretty lies you fell
Point blank, shot right through the heart
Yea point blank, you’ve been twisted up
till you’ve become just another part of it
Point blank, you’re walkin’ in the sights
Point blank, livin’ one false move just one false move away
Point blank, they caught you in their sights
Point blank, did you forget how to love,
girl, did you forget how to fight
Point blank they must have shot you in the head
Cause point blank, bang bang baby you’re dead. Notes:
Published on the River, but played widely during the 1978 tour. Many arrangement were proved during the sessions.. Some early version are available to see how the song evolved during the tour.
Point blank - Take 3
Do you say your prayers little darlin
Do you go to bed at night
Pray that tommorow, everything will be alright
But tomorrow's fall in number in number one by one
You wake up and you're dying
You don't even know what from
Well baby, point blank, you've been shot in the back
Point blank you been fooled little girl that's a fact
You've been shot baby, point blank, point blank
If I could take your sorrow
You know thats what I would do
And baby tomorrow
And give it all away
Baby don't you worry thats exactly what I'd do
Wrap the world in a pretty bow
And give it all to you
And baby
Point blank, right between the eyes
Point blank, right between the pretty lies they sell
We fell darling, point blank, point blank, point blank
??? the night turns into to day
All your hopes and promises, they fade away
??? just trying to stay alive
But no one survives, no one survives
??? you go looking for another fix
But girl the old distractions they just dont give the kicks they used to
You get dressed up, you go out looking for someone
??? you dont know where you've gone
???
???
???
???
Cause darling
Point blank right between the eyes
Point blank between the lies that they sell
You fell baby
Point blank right in the act
One false move and baby the lights go out, no doubt darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank. Notes:
One of the many outtakes
Point blank - Take 9
Do you say your prayers little darlin
Do you go to bed at night
Pray that tommorow, everything will be alright
But tomorrow's fall in number in number one by one
You wake up and you're dying
You don't even know what from
Well baby, point blank, you've been shot in the back
Point blank you been fooled little girl that's a fact
You fell darling, point blank, point blank
Baby if this world was mine
To do with what I want to do
I'd wrap it up in pretty bows
And I'd give it all to you
You were raised and so you ran
And those pretty things baby wants baby has to earn
???
And now little girl all you're gonna get is
Point blank right between the eyes
Point blank right between the lies they sell
You fell darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank
Well I vowed to take you sorrow
I swear that's what I'll do
And now come tomorrow
I swear thats what I'll do
???
Just trying to stay alive
Just running from ???
Where no one survives, from no one survives
I dreamed I saw you standing on the porch were you grew
Your face was in the shadows but I knew that it was you
Like you were waiting for someone
You didn't say a word, I could tell that you didn't understand
You just stood there in the screendoor, with your daddy's gun in your hand
??? baby walked away
Just staring like you were waiting, waiting to get blown away
Oh baby
Point blank right between the eyes
Point blank you've been fooled and girl thats a fact
You fell darling
Point blank you're in their sights
Point blank one false move and the lights go out
No doubt darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank Notes:
One of the many outtakes
Point blank - Take 11
Do you say your prayers little darlin
Do you go to bed at night
Pray that tommorow, everything will be alright
But tomorrow's fall in number in number one by one
You wake up and you're dying
You don't even know what from
Well baby, point blank, you've been shot in the back
Point blank you been fooled little girl that's a fact
You fell darling, point blank, point blank
Baby if this world was mine
To do with what I wanted to do
I'd wrap it up in pretty bows
And give it all to you
If I could take all your sorrow
???
I swear little girl that what I'd do
Cause thats all your're gonna get
Cause baby
Point blank right between the eyes
Point blank between the lies they sell
You fell darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank
Last night I ???? on the porch were you grew
Your face was in the shadows but I knew that it was you
Baby you looked so pale, so tired baby, so young
You were just staring out on the highway like you were waiting for someone
Baby ???
You stood there in the screendoor, with your daddy's gun in your hand
And I'll never forget the way you looked ???
Just staring like you were waiting, waiting to get blown away
Oh baby
Point blank you've been shot in the back
Point blank you've been fooled and girl thats a fact
???
Point blank you're in their sights
Point blank one false move and the lights go out
You ??? darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank Notes:
One of the many outtakes
Point blank - Take 12
Do you say your prayers little darlin
Do you go to bed at night
Pray that tommorow, everything will be alright
But tomorrow's fall in number in number one by one
You wake up and you're dying
You don't even know what from
Well baby, point blank, you've been shot in the back
Point blank you been fooled little girl that's a fact
You fell darling, point blank, point blank
Baby if this world was mine
To do with what I want to do
I'd wrap it up in pretty bows
And I'd give it all to you
You were raised and so you learn
And those pretty things baby she has to earn
And wanting all those pretty things you cant ever have
Point blank right between the eyes
Point blank right between the lies they sell
You fell darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank
Well I vowed to take you sorrow
I swear that's what I'll do
And now come tomorrow
I swear thats what I'll do
???
Just trying to stay alive
Just running from ???
Where no one survives, baby no one survives
I dreamed I saw you standing on the porch of the house were you grew
Your face was in the shadows but I knew that it was you
Baby you were so pale, so tired baby, so young
You were just staring out on the highway like you were waiting for someone
And though you didn't say a word, I could tell that you didn't understand
You just stood there in the screendoor, with your daddy's gun in your hand
And I'll never forget the way you looked when I walked away
You just stood there waiting, waiting to get blown away
Oh baby, Point blank between the eyes
Point blank with the pretty lies that they sell
You fell darling
Point blank, in their sights
??? and baby the lights go out, out darling
Point blank, point blank, point blank Notes:
One of the many outtakes
Point blank - 07-Jul-1978
Well say your prayers little darling and go to sleep tonight
Pray that come tomorrow everything will be alright
But tomorrow falls in number, you’re numbered one by one
Look up girl you’re dying, and you don’t even know what from
Well baby, point blank, right between the eyes, they got you
Point blank, right between them pretty lies that they sell
Right between the eyes, baby
Point blank, right between them pretty lies that they tell
They fed you and they raised you and then one day you learned
All the things that baby wants, baby has to earn
So you work all day until you broke at bed
And then all them pretty things you like
Well you will never have, ‘cause darling
Point Blank, they shot you from behind, baby
Point Blank, the joke’s on you, they got you girl this time
They’ve got you in their sights, baby
Point Blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
Day turns to night time
And night turns to day
There’s no time, no time for living
All things just fade away, but you go on
And you run, you keep your place, your number
You run for your life
But baby no-one survives untouched
No-one survives untouched, no-one survives
Hearts full of anger eyes filled with hate
You see them on the street, you try to turn your eyes away
But little girl, this time it’s too late
You hear their voices at night as you lock the door
There’ll be no sleep tonight for baby
She don’t believe them lies anymore
And she stumbles into the morning
Tryin’ for her usual fix
But baby them old distractions
They just ain’t got the kicks no more
And so you pack your pistol
And you go out lookin’ for someone
But you’re stuck in the middle girl
You don’t know where to aim the gun
They got you caught, they got you in their sights, baby
Point blank, they got you in their sights, baby
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
Well right between the eyes, baby,point blank, right between them pretty lies that they tell
Point blank, they got you in their sights, baby
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
Point blank, right between the eyes, oh oh oh oh
Point blank, right between them pretty lies that they sell
Point blank, point blank, point blank, right between them pretty lies that they sell
Point blank, they’ve got you in their sights, baby
Point blank, one false move, and baby the lights go out Notes:
This is the very first version of the song, played at The Roxy, Los Angeles,CA 07-Jul-1978, lyrics will later evolve night by night, until the final album take.
Point blank - 19-Sep-1978
Well say your prayers little darling and go to bed tonight
And pray that tomorrow everything will be alright
But tomorrows fall in number, in number one by one
Wake up and you’re dying, you don’t even know what from
Baby they shot you point blank, they shot you in the back baby
Point blank, you've been fooled this time, little girl that's a fact
They’ve got you in their sights, darling
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
They fed you baby and they raised you and how well you learned
The little things that baby wants, baby has to earn
You work your hands to the bar
Until you go night
Did you find that all them pretty things you want
Well you can never have, they goy you
Point Blank, right between the eyes, darling
Point Blank, right between the pretty lies that they sell
Point blank, they shot you from behind, baby
Point Blank, you've been fooled again, baby this time
Day shift turns to night shifts
And the night shifts turn to day
And all your hopes and your promises
Somehow they just fade away
And they got you holding your number
And try to stay alive, but don't you know
little darling, no-one survives, baby
No-one survives unhurt, no-one survives...
Hearts filled with anger and their eyes are tough with hate
You see them faces on the street, you turn your eyes away
But baby it’s too late.
Their voices call you, you see they wanted you
You're caught and you just turn to stay and so
You stumble out into the morning
Lookin' for your usual fix
But baby them old distractions
They don't have the kicks they used to have
So you're gonna pack your pistol
Go lookin’ for the one
But baby you’re caught in the middle
You don’t know where to aim your gun
Oh baby baby point blank
Right between the eyes, darling
Point blank, right between the pretty lies that they sell,
Point blank, you got'em in your sights, baby
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
Point blank, right between the eyes,
Point blank, right between them pretty lies that they sell
Point blank, they got you in their sights, baby
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
Point blank, they’ve got you in their sights, point blank
Point blank, one false move, and baby the lights go out
Point blank, they’ve got you in their sights, point blank
Point blank, one false move, and baby the lights go out...… Notes:
This is a 'middle time' version of the song, played at Capitol theatre, Passaic,NJ 19-Sep-1978, lyrics will later evolve night by night, until the final album take.
Point blank - 15-Dec-1978
Say your prayers little darling and go to bed tonight
Pray that tomorrow everything will be alright
But tomorrows fall in number, in number one by one
Wake up and you’re dying, you don’t even know what from
Well they shot you point blank, they shot you in the back baby
Point blank, you've been fooled this time, little girl that's a fact
Point blank, right between the eyes, they got you
Point blank, right between the pretty lies that they sell,
And there's nothing you can do about it baby
They fed you baby and they raised you, how fast you learned
That all the pretty little things that baby sees, baby has to earn
So you worked your hands down to the bone
Till drove you at night
But still that pretty little things that baby wants
She can never have, 'cause they got you point blank
They got you in their sights, baby
Point Blank, one false move and baby the lights go out,
Point blank, right between the eyes, they got you
Point blank, right between the pretty lies that they sell
Day turns to night time
And the night turns to day
And all, all of your hopes and your promises
Somehow they just fade away
Till they got you, they got you good, holding your number
And just try to stay alive, but don't you know girl
that no-one survives, baby unhurt
No-one survives untouched, no-one survives...
Hearts filled with anger, and
hearts tough with hate
You see them faces on the street, and you just turn away
But baby it’s too late
You hear 'em cryin' to you in the night
And you hear that knockin' at your door
There's no sleep for baby tonight and so
You stumble out into the morning
Searching for your usual fix
But baby them old distractions
Man they just don't give the kicks they used to
So you go home and pack your pistol
You go out lookin’ for someone
But girl, can't you see they got you caught in the middle
You don’t know where to aim your gun
Oh baby baby point blank
Right between the eyes, baby
Point blank, right between the pretty lies that they sell,
Point blank, they got you in their sights,
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out
They've got you in their sights
Point blank, one false move and baby the lights go out, baby
Point blank, one false move, and baby the lights go out
Point blank, one false move, just one false move girl,
They've got you in their sights, baby
Point blank, one false move, and baby the lights go out Notes:
This is an 'end of tour' version of the song, played at The Winterland, San Francisco,CA 12-Dec-1978, lyrics evolved night by night, until the final album take.
Published on the following official releases:
- THE RIVER (Album,1980)
- KILLER TRACKS FROM THE RIVER (12 in.,1981)
- THE RIVER / POINT BLANK (7 in.,1981)
- POINT BLANK / RAMROD (7 in.,1981)
- DEAD END STREET SOUNDTRACK (12 in.,1982)
- THE PROMISE-DVD3 (Album,2010)
First known live performance: 07/07/1978 The Roxy, Los Angeles,CA ,USA
Last known live performance: 28/07/2016 Frogner Park, Oslo ,Norway
Song 'history':
Often played during the Darkness tour (40 times)
Published on the double album THE RIVER, in 1980
A frequent number (89 apparitions) of renderings during the River tour
The Born in the U.S.A. tour counted 17 apparitions of this song
Played once in the whole Human Touch tour (16/04/1993 Indoor Arena, Sheffield ,GB)
Played at the Bridge Benefit show of 1995.
Bruce inserted it 21 times in the setlists of the Ghost of Tom Joad tour
Bruce inserted it 26 times in the setlists of the Reunion tour
Bruce gave this song one only shot through the Rising tour (14/06/2003 Idraetsparken, Copenhagen ,Denmark)
Not much used during the Devils and Dust tour, deserving only 5 renderings
Just 5 shots during the Magic tour
During the Working on a Dream tour, the song was played 4 times
Published in live version in the 3rd DVD: House Cut 'Houston '78 of 'The Promise'
Not much used during the Wrecking Ball tour, deserving only 5 renderings
Two only renderings for this song in the High Hopes tour (17/04/2014 Bridgestone Arena, Nashville,TN ,USA and 26/04/2014 Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta,GA ,USA)
Perfomed in a large number of shows (51) of the 2016 The River tour
The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database