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

Song title: Streets of Philadelphia


Streets of Philadelphia

I was bruised and battered
I couldn’t tell what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
Saw my reflection in a window
Didn’t know my own face
So brother don’t leave me
On the streets of Philadelphia

I walk the avenue ‘til my legs feel like stone
I heard voices of friend vanished and gone
At night I hear the blood in my veins
Just as black and wispy as the rain

On the streets of Philadelphia

Ain’t no angel gonna greet me
It’s just you and I my friend
And my clothes don’t fit me no more
Thousand miles just to slip this skin

Night has fallen, I’m flying away
I can feel myself fading away
So receive me brother with your fateless kiss
or will we leave each other alone like this?
On the streets of Philadelphia

Notes: Written for the 'Streets of Philadelphia' film.

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

Published on the following official releases:

First known live performance: 27/01/1994 Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles,CA ,USA
Last known live performance: 09/09/2016 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia,PA ,USA

Song 'history':


The song made its first official apparition being included, as inedit track, GREATEST HITS compilation, released in 1995.
Recorded during the TGOTJ sessions, but then not used for the album.
A frequent number (60 apparitions) of renderings during the Ghost of Tom Joad tour
Played during the Reunion tour (12 times)
Two only renderings for this song in the Rising tour (06/10/2002 First Union Center, Philadelphia,PA ,USA and 11/08/2003 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia,PA ,USA)
The song was then included in the ESSENTIAL compilation, released in 2003.
Played once in the whole Working on a Dream tour (29/04/2009 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia,PA ,USA)
Played only a couple of times in the whole Wrecking Ball tour (29/03/2012 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia,PA ,USA and 03/11/2012 KFC Yum Center, Louisville,KY ,USA)
Two only renderings for this song in the 2016 The River tour (07/09/2016 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia,PA ,USA and 09/09/2016 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia,PA ,USA)

The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database