Song title: When the lights go out
When the lights go out - Tracks take
Now you say you have a best friend, you trust him with your life
You trust him with your money, you trust him with your kids
You’d even trust him with your wife
You better watch what’s goin’ on when the lights are out
When the night is dark, when there ain’t nobody lookin’ around
Yeah when the lights are out, down in this dirty little town
Well now the world is dark and funny, better listen up to what I say
You ain’t gonna know what’s going on by what you see in the light of day
You gotta watch what’s goin’ on when the lights are out
When the night is dark, when there ain’t nobody lookin’ around
Yeah when the lights are out down in this dirty little town
Now you swear that she trusted you
Within reason I understand
But you kept slippin’ in late at night
And in the mornin’ you had that smell on your hands
Well now the world is turning, Rome is burning
Me, I’m watching and I’m learning
They say sure as God’s hand and the tickin’ of the clock
The lord’s light’ll shine under every slimy rock
Well last night I slept the sleep of fear
And I heard God’s voice whispering in my ear
He said you better watch what’s going on when the lights are out
When the night is dark, when there ain’t nobody lookin’ around
Yeah when the lights are out down in this dirty little, down in this dirty little town Notes:
This is the “Tracks” take, recorded at the Record Plant, 6/12/90.
When the lights go out - Christic take
Well you say you have a friend
You trust him with your life
You trust him with your car, you trust him with your kids
You even trust him with your wife
You better watch what’s going down when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there ain’t nobody looking around
WHen the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Well now the world is dark and funny
You better listen to what I say
You ain’t gonna know what’s going on
By what you see in the light of day
You better watch what’s going on when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there ain’t nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Well now baby she trusted Billy
With reason you understand
But Billy he kept coming home late at night
And in the morning he had that smell on his ring
Well now the world is turning
Rome is burning
Me I’m watching
And I’m learning
They say it sure is God’s hand in the ticking of the clock
the Lord’s light shining under every dirty rock
Well now last night I slept right here
And I heard God’s voice whisper in my ear
You better watch what’s going on when the lights go out
When the night is dark, when there ain’t nobody looking around
When the lights go out
Down in this dirty little town
Down in this dirty little town
Down in this dirty little town Notes:
Live version played at the Christic Institute, on 17/11/1990.
Published on the following official releases:
Very few performances of this songs are known (to me, at least!):
- 16/11/1990 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles,CA ,USA during the Christic Shows 1990
- 17/11/1990 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles,CA ,USA during the Christic Shows 1990
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
First known live performance: 16/11/1990 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles,CA ,USA
Last known live performance: 17/11/1990 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles,CA ,USA
Song 'history':
Played, in acoustic version, at the Christic Shows in LA, 16/17-Nov-1990.
Recorded during the HUMAN TOUCH / LUCKY TOWN studio sessions, but then not used for the albums.
The TRACKS studio out-take collection included for the first (official) time this song.
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database