Song title: Open all night
Open all night
Well, I had the carburator, baby, cleaned and checked
With her line blown out she’s hummin’ like a turbojet
Propped her up in the backyard on concrete blocks
For a new clutch plate and a new set of shocks
Took her down to the carwash, check the plugs and point
Well, I’m goin’ out tonight. I’m gonna rock that joint
Early north Jersey industrial skyline
I’m a all-set cobra jet creepin’ through the nighttime
Gotta find a gas station, gotta find a pay phone
This turnpike sure is spooky at night when you’re all alone
Gotta hit the gas, baby. I’m running late
This New Jersey in the mornin’ like a lunar landscape
Now, the boss don’t dig me, so he put me on the night shift
It’s an all-night run to get back to where my baby lives
In the wee, wee hours your mind gets hazy
Radio relays towers, won’t you lead me to my baby?
Underneath the overpass, trooper hits his party light switch
Good night, good luck. One, two power shift
I met Wanda when she was employed
Behind the counter at Route Sixty Bob’s Big Boy Fried Chicken
On the front seat, she’s sittin’ in my lap
We’re wipin’ our fingers on a Texaco road map
I remember Wanda up on scrap metal hill
With them big brown eyes that make your heart stand still
Well, at five a.m., oil pressure’s sinkin’ fast
I make a pit stop, wipe the windshield, check the gas
Gotta call my baby on the telephone
Let her know that her daddy’s comin’ on home
Sit tight, little mama, I’m comin’ `round
I got three more hours, but I’m coverin’ ground
Your eyes get itchy in the wee, wee hours
Sun’s just a red ball risin’ over them refinery towers
Radio’s jammed up with gospel stations
Lost souls callin’ long distance salvation
Hey, mister deejay, won’tcha hear my last prayer?[1]
Hey, ho, rock’n’roll, deliver me from nowhere Notes:
[1] This part is nearly identical in State trooper and other verses recall Living on the edge of the world
Published on the following official releases:
- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED HIGHLIGHT EDITION (LP,1982)
- NEBRASKA (Album,1982)
- OPEN ALL NIGHT (STEREO / MONO) (7 in.,1982)
- OPEN ALL NIGHT (ONE SIDED) (7 in.,1982)
- OPEN ALL NIGHT / THE BIG PAYBACK (7 in.,1982)
First known live performance: 03/10/1982 Stone Pony, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA
Last known live performance: 08/02/2014 Perth Arena, Perth ,Australia
Song 'history':
Published on the solo album NEBRASKA, in 1982
One only performance during the 1982-1984 period, during which Bruce played, with various small groups or guesting, in a number of bars and small clubs of the New Jersey area (03/10/1982 Stone Pony, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA)
18 perfomances were given during the Born in the U.S.A. tour
Two only renderings for this song in the Human Touch tour (25/07/1992 Meadowlands Arena, E.Rutherford,NJ ,USA and 30/07/1992 Meadowlands Arena, E.Rutherford,NJ ,USA)
One only rendering for this song in the Ghost of Tom Joad tour (08/11/1996 St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold,NJ ,USA)
It only saw the light less than a dozen times in the whole Devils and Dust tour
Played during the rehearsals for the We shall overcome / The Seeger session tour, in Mar/Apr 2006.
Bruce performed this song during each show of the The Seeger Session tour
Played during the Wrecking Ball tour (17 times)
Bruce gave this song only two shots through the High Hopes tour (28/01/2014 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town ,South Africa and 08/02/2014 Perth Arena, Perth ,Australia)
The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database