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

Song title: Roulette


Roulette - Tracks version

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids and left my house unguarded
We packed what we could into the car
No one here knows how it started
Suddenly everything was just so out of control
Now I want some answers, mister, I need to know
I hear all the talk but I don’t know what you’re sayin’
But I think I got a good idea of the game that you’re playin’

Roulette, that’s the name
Roulette, that’s the game now
Roulette, I don’t know what they’re sayin’
Roulette, and everybody’s playin’

I grew up here on this street where nothin’ moves, just a strange breeze
In a town full of worthless memories there’s a shadow in my backyard
I got a house full of things that I can’t touch
Well all those things won’t do me much good now
I was a fireman out at Riker’s, I did my job
Mister, I’ve been cheated, I feel like I’ve been robbed
I’m the big expendable, my life’s just cancelled, null and void
But what are you gonna do about your new boy

Roulette, you’re playin’ with my life
Roulette, with my children and my wife
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, a different finger on the trigger

Down by the river that talks the night speaks in searchlights
And shortwave radios squawk, the police patrol the streets
But I’ve left behind the man I used to be, everything he believed
and all that belonged to me
I tried to find my way out to somewhere where I thought it’d be safe
They stopped me at the roadblock they put up on the interstate
They put me in detention but I broke loose and then I ran
They said they want to ask me a few questions but I think they had
other plans
Now I don’t know who to trust and I don’t know what I can believe
They say they want to help me but with the stuff they keep on sayin’
I think those guys just wanna keep on playin’

Roulette, with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, the bullet’s in the chamber
Roulette, who’s the unlucky stranger
Roulette, surprise, you’re dead
Roulette, the gun’s to your head
Roulette, the bullet’s spinning in the chamber
Roulette, pull the trigger, feel the click
No further danger

Notes: This is the Tracks version

Roulette - Out-take version 1

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids, and I left my home unguarded
We packed what we could into the car
No one here knows how it started
Suddenly everything was just so out of control
Now I need want answers, mister, I need to know
I hear all the talk but I don't know what you're sayin'
But I think I got a good idea of the game that you're playin'

Roulette, that's the name now
Roulette, that's the game now
Roulette, I don't believe what they're sayin'
Roulette, and everybody's playin'

I grew up here on this street where nothin' moves, just a strange breeze
A town full of worthless memories
This shadow in my backyard
I've got a house full of things that I can't touch
Well all those things they won't do me much good now

I was a fireman out at Riker's, I did my job
Mister, I've been cheated, I feel like I've been robbed
I'm the big expendable, my life's just cancelled, null and void
But what are you gonna do about your new boy

Roulette, you're playin' with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, a different finger on the trigger

Down by the river that talks the night speaks in searchlights
And shortwave radio squawk, and the police patrol the streets
But I've left behind the man I used to be
Everything he believed and all that belonged to me
I tried to find my way out to somewhere where I thought 'd be safe
But they stopped me at the roadblock, they blocked off the interstate
They put me in a detention but I broke loose and then I ran
They said they just wanted to ask me a few questions but I think they had other plans
I don't know who to trust and I don't know what I can believe
They say they wanna help me with the stuff, they keep on sayin
I think those guys just wanna keep on playin'

Roulette, with my life
Roulette, my kids and my wife
Roulette, bullet's in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger
Roulette, surprise, you're dead
Roulette, the gun's to your head
Roulette, the bullet's spinning in the chamber
Roulette, pull the trigger, feel the click
No further danger

Notes: Thise are the lyrics of one of the many Roulette version. There are some significant changes over the "original" tracks version

Roulette - Out-take version 2

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids, I left my home
I packed what we could into the car
No one here knows how it started
Suddenly everything seems so out of control
Mister I want some answers, I need to know

Roulette, that's the name now
Roulette, that's the name now
Roulette, bullets in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger

I grew up here on this street where nothin' moves, just a strange breeze
Through the whisperin' trees
There's a town full of worthless memories
I was a fireman out at Riker's, I did my job
Mister, I've been cheated, I've been robbed

Roulette, put a spinner in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, who's finger is on the trigger?

Notes: Thise are the lyrics of one of the many Roulette version. There are some significant changes over the "original" tracks version

Roulette - Out-take version 3

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids, I left my home unguarded
I packed my things into the car
No one here knows how this thing got started
Suddenly everything was just so out of control
Now I need some answers, mister, I I need to know
I hear all the talk but I don't know what you're sayin'
But I think I got a good idea of the game that you're playin'

Roulette, that's the name now
Roulette, that's the game now
Roulette, I don't believe what they're sayin'
Roulette, and everybody's playin'

I grew up here on this street where nothin' moves, just a strange breeze
Everyone's gone now, everyone but me
And this shadow in my backyard
I've got a house full of things that I can't touch
Well all those things they won't do me much good now

I was a fireman out at Riker's, I did my job
Mister, I've been cheated, Mister I feel like I've been robbed
I'm the big expendable, my life's just cancelled, null and void
But what are you gonna do about my little boy

Roulette, you're playin' with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, a different finger on the trigger

Down by the river that talks the night speaks in searchlights
And shortwave radio squawk, I see the uniforms comb the streets
But I've left behind the man I used to be
And all that belonged to me
I tried to take my family out to safety and security
But they stopped me at the roadblock, said they wanted to talk to me
They put me in a hospital but I escaped and then I ran
They said they wanted to help me but I think they had other plans
I left behind my family and I don't know what I can believe
All those guys, they keep on sayin
I know those guys wanna keep on playin'

Roulette, with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, the bullet's in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger
Roulette, surprise, you're dead
Roulette, the gun's to your head
Roulette, the bullet's spinning in the chamber
Roulette, pull the trigger, feel the click
No further danger

Notes: Thise are the lyrics of one of the many Roulette version. There are some significant changes over the "original" tracks version

Roulette - Out-take version 4

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids and left my home unguarded
We packed what we could into a car
No one here knows how it started
Suddenly everything was so out of control
Everything was so out of control

Roulette
That's the game
Roulette
That's the name now

I was a fireman I did my job
Mister I've been cheated, I've been robbed

Roulette
That's the game
Roulette
That's the name now

I used to be
And everything that belonged to me
And maybe

Notes: Thise are the lyrics of one of the many Roulette version. There are some significant changes over the "original" tracks version. Homdel take

Roulette - Live 1988

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids, and I left my home unguarded
We packed what we could into the car
No one here knows how it started
Suddenly everything was so out of control
I need some answers, I need to know
I hear all the talk but I don't know what you're sayin'
But I got a good idea of the game that you're playin'

Roulette, that's the name
Roulette, that's the game
Roulette, bullets spinnin' in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger

I grew up here on this street where nothin' moves, just a strange breeze now
A town filled with worthless memories
There's a shadow in my backyard
I've got a house full of things that I can't touch
Well all those things they won't do me much good now

I was a fireman out at Riker's, I did my job
Mister, I've been cheated, I feel like I've been robbed
I'm the big expendable, my life's canceled, null and void
But what are you gonna do about your new boy

Roulette, you're playin' with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, a different finger on the trigger

Down by the river that talks the night speaks in searchlights
And shortwave radio squawk, the police patrol the streets
But I've left behind the man I used to be
Everything he believes and all that belonged to me
I tried to find my way out to somewhere where I thought I'd be safe
But they stopped me at the roadblock they put up on the interstate
They put me in a detention, I broke loose and then I ran
They said they wanted to help but I think they had other plans
I don't know who to trust and I don't know who I can believe
They say they wanna help me with the stuff, they keep on sayin
I think those guys just wanna keep on playin'

Roulette, with my life
Roulette, my kids and my wife
Roulette, bullet's spinnin' in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger
Roulette, surprise, you're dead
Roulette, the gun's to your head
Roulette, the bullet's spinning in the chamber
Roulette, pull the trigger, feel the click
No further danger
No further danger
No further danger

Notes: Thise are the lyrics of one of the many Roulette version. There are some significant changes over the "original" tracks version

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

Published on the following official releases:

First known live performance: 25/02/1988 The Centrum, Worcester,MA ,USA
Last known live performance: 05/07/2016 Stadio S.Siro, Milan ,Italy

Song 'history':


Studio recordings have surfaced from the THE RIVER sessions, but the song was not used for that album.
Recorded during the TUNNEL OF LOVE studio sessions, but then not used for the album.
Often played during the Tunnel of Love tour (41 times)
The TRACKS studio out-take collection included for the first (official) time this song.
Played once in the whole Reunion tour (08/05/2000 Civic Center, Hartford,CT ,USA)
Two only performances during the Rising tour (03/10/2003 Shea Stadium, New York,NY ,USA and 04/10/2003 Shea Stadium, New York,NY ,USA)
Not much used during the Magic tour, deserving only 3 renderings
Bruce gave this song one only shot through the Working on a Dream tour (05/05/2009 John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville,VA ,USA)
Scarcely used during the Wrecking Ball tour, with 4 inclusions
Two only renderings for this song in the High Hopes tour (16/02/2014 AAMI Park, Melbourne ,Australia and 14/05/2014 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey,PA ,USA)
The song was then included in the THE TIES THAT BIND Anniversary Box, released in 2015.
Not much used during the 2016 The River tour, deserving only 3 renderings
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database