Song title: Henry boy
Henry boy
They broke your toys this morning, Henry
Rode your board right into dust
Surrounded you with strangers who you could not trust
And then they had the gall
To write your name up on the girl’s room wall
And send you out to Maria
Who spoke of babies and all
And wanted to shoot your joy
It’s hard world when you’re the new kid in town
Ain’t it, Henry Boy
Well the North Side is for diamond-studded women
Subtly selling their wares
And the West Side is for debutantes
And would-be millionaires
Oh the East Side is for lost boys
Who know their moves too well
The South Side is for gamblers, Henry
The train stops once for Hell
It’s a hard world when they’re forcing you
To live your life out on Broadway
But Henry I’m sure you’re gonna like it well
The constellation she points out to Gate Eleven
That’s where you got your connection
Let me take a look inside my magic book
I don’t think you’re beyond inventions
Oh these doctor’s appendages I’m giving you for wings
I’m sure it’ll meet the occasion
I’m gonna mix you some magic, you’ll be spittin’ sparks
Oh and the Milky Way’s a trip for dippers
They saw ya coming a mile away
In the amusement park you’ll get clipped by rippers
Hiding behind candy ‘cades
In the alleyway you’ll get ripped by strippers
All who know your name
In the stalls sit the soldier-boy kissers
Oh leave for just one day
And Henry couldn’t take it
He’s gonna be a submariner
Riding underground for the Pope
Gonna stand on the corner of Broadway
And scream “Up ‘scope !”
This song has never been published on any official release.
Very few performances of this songs are known (to me, at least!):
- 10/08/1972 Max's Kansas City, New York,NY ,USA during the Pre E-Street Solo Period
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
Unique known live performance: 10/08/1972 Max's Kansas City, New York,NY ,USA
Song 'history':
During the early years (1965-1972), played live (at least) 1 time(s) in the period immediately before forming the E Street Band.
.
Keep in mind that only a small amount of the setlists of these years has surfaced, so it may have been played a lot more.
Apart from the above live performances, the song was recorded for the Laurel Canyon / London Publishing demos
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database