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

Song title: Shut out the light


Shut out the light

The runway rushed up at him, as he felt the wheels touch down
He stood out on the blacktop, and took a taxi into town.
He got off down on Main Street, and went into a local bar
Bought a drink and found a seat in the corner in the dark
Well she called up her mama to make sure the kids were outa’ the house
She checked herself out in the dining room mirror,
and undid an extra button on her blouse
He felt her lyin’ next to him and the clock said 4 am
He was starin’ at the ceilin’ he couldn’t move his hands

Chorus:
Oh mama, mama, mama come quick, I’ve got the shakes and
I’m gonna be sick, throw your arms around me in the cold dark night,
hey now mama don’t shut out the light, don’t you shut out the light,....

Well on his porch they stretched a banner, that said Johnny Welcome Home
Bobby pulled his Ford outa’ the garage and they polished up the chrome
His mama said Johnny oh Johnny, I’m so glad to have you back with me
His pa said he was sure they’d give him his job back at the renderin’ factory

(Chorus)

Well deep in a dark forest, a forest filled with rain
Beyond a stretch of Maryland pines there’s a river without a name
In the cold black water, Johnson Leneir stands
He stares across the lights of the city and dreams of where he’s been

Shut out the light - Extra-verse out-take

The runway rushed up at him as he felt the wheels touch down
He stood out on the blacktop and took a taxi into town
He got out down on Main Street and went into a local bar
He bought a drink and he found a seat in a corner in the dark

Well she called up her mama to make sure the kids were out of the house
She checked herself out in the dining room mirror
And undid an extra button on her blouse
He felt her lying next to him, when the clock said 4:00 a.m.
He was staring at the ceiling, he couldn't move his hands

Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light....

Well on his porch they stretched a banner that said "Johnny welcome home"
Bobby pulled his Ford out of the garage and they polished up the chrome
His mama said "Johnny oh Johnny, I'm so glad to have you back with me"
His pa said he was sure they'd give him his job back down at the factory

Now every evening, well just after supper time
He'd go into the back bedroom and he'd lock the door behind
He'd lie watching a telephone wire stretched out across a chair
Just him and a few habits he'd brought back from over there

Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light

Well deep in the dark forest, a forest filled with rain
Beyond a stretch of Maryland pines there's a river without a name
In the cold black water now Johnson Leneir stands
He stares across at the lights of the city and dreams of where he's been

As the grey moon disappears beyond that ??? sign
Stars rise, grow brighter then gone gone gone in the black and endless sky
Like the others before him, he'd gone and done his best
Now he watches the water of that nameless river rise above his chest

Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light.…

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

Published on the following official releases:

First known live performance: 22/10/1984 Oakland Coliseum, Oakland,CA ,USA
Last known live performance: 07/08/2005 Bradley Center, Milwaukee,WI ,USA

Song 'history':


Recorded during the BITUSA sessions (late 1982-mid 1984), but then not included on the album.
Played during the Born in the U.S.A. tour (23 times)
Just less than a dozen shots during the Ghost of Tom Joad tour
The TRACKS studio out-take collection included for the first (official) time this song.
Bruce gave this song one only shot through the Devils and Dust tour (07/08/2005 Bradley Center, Milwaukee,WI ,USA)
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database