Song title: The wish
The wish
Dirty old street, all slushed up in the rain and snow.
Little boy and his ma,
standin’ outside a run-down music store window.
On top of the Christmas tree shines one beautiful star,
and lyin’ underneath, a brand new Japanese guitar.
I remember in the mornin’ Ma, hearin’ your alarm clock ring.
I’d lie awake and listen to you gettin’ ready for work,
the sound of your makeup case on the sink.
And the ladies at the office, all silk stockin’s and rustlin’ skirts.
And how proud and happy you always looked, walkin’ home from work.
Well if Pa’s eyes were windows, into a world so deadly and true,
you couldn’t stop me from lookin’, but you kept me from crawlin’ through.
Well it’s a funny old world Ma,
where a little boys’s wishes come true.
Well I got a few in my pocket, and a special one just for you.
It ain’t no phone call on Sunday, flowers, or a Mother’s day card.
It ain’t no house on the hill, with a garden and a nice little yard.
I got my hot rod down on Bond Street,
I’m older but you’ll know me at a glance.
We’ll find us a rock ‘n roll bar, baby we’ll go out and dance.
Well it was me in my Beatle boots, you in pink curlers and matador pants
Pullin’ me up off the couch to do the twist for my uncles and aunts
Well I found a girl of my own now, ma, I popped the question on your birthday
She stood waiting on the front porch while you were telling me to get out there
And say what it was that I had to say
Last night we sat around laughin’, at all those things that guitar brought us,
and I laid awake thinkin’ about the other things it’s brought.
Well tonight I’m takin’s requests here in the kitchen,
this one’s for you, let me come right out and say,
that if you’re lookin’ for a sad song, well, I’m not gonna play.
Published on the following official releases:
- TRACKS (Album,1999)
- SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY (Album,2018)
First known live performance: 17/11/1990 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles,CA ,USA
Last known live performance: 15/12/2018 Walter Kerr Theatre, New York,NY ,USA
Song 'history':
Recorded during the TUNNEL OF LOVE studio sessions, but then not used for the album.
Played, in acoustic version, at the Christic Shows in LA, 16/17-Nov-1990.
18 perfomances were given during the Ghost of Tom Joad tour
The TRACKS studio out-take collection included for the first (official) time this song.
Played during the Conventional Hall shows in 2003
Bruce gave this song only two shots through the Devils and Dust tour (19/05/2005 Continental Arena, E.Rutherford,NJ ,USA and 27/05/2005 Royal Albert Hall, London ,GB)
Played during the rehearsals for the We shall overcome / The Seeger session tour, in Mar/Apr 2006. but still not played in the regular tour.
Played once in the whole High Hopes tour (22/02/2014 Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley ,Australia)
Published in live soundtrack of 'Springsteen on Broadway' show
Played each night of the Springsteen on Broadway tour
The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database