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

Song title: Southern son


Southern son - Hammond demo

Born on the Hudson, twenty-two years gone
Bred and raised in the city
From my papa's knee I learned the Union songs
But Grandma sang lullabies of Dixie
And though the Northern winters fill my heart with joy
It's a southern sun that shines down
On this Yankee boy

Mama would speak of Paris nights
And boatin' on the Seine
She said "yeah we're gonna see it all too
Soon as Papa comes home again"
She'd speak to me in broken French
Dressed like a painting of Lautrec's
In the night she'd clutch me to her breast
And say "you'll make it outta here yet"
And though the Parisienne women
They strut so fine down the Eiffel mall
It's a southern one I sing my songs for

Well with the local bunch of do-good boys
And an old man from the West
We crossed the land in a caravan
We travelled with the best
There were circus acts and vaudeville hacks
And even a Mississippi Delta Queen
She told me the news and sold me the blues
In an alley in New Orleans
And though the Western plains are stained
With the blood of great cowboys
It's a southern sun
That shines down on this Yankee boy

Notes: Come from 1972 Hammond and London Publishing demos


Southern son - London publishing demo

Born on the Hudson, twenty-two years gone
Bred and raised in the City
From my daddy’s knee I learned the Union songs
But Grandma sang lullabies of Dixie
And though the Northern winter fill my heart with joy
It’s a Southern sun that shines down
On this Yankee boy

Mama dreamed of Paris nights
And boatin’ on the Seine
She said, we’re gonna make it there too
Soon as Papa comes home again
And she’d speak to me in broken French
Dressed like a painting of Lautrec’s
In the night she’d clutch me to her breast
And say, we’ll make it out of here yet
And though the Parisienne women
Strut so fine down the Eiffel mall
It’s a Southern one I sing my songs for

Well with a local bunch of do-good boys
And an old man from the West
We crossed the land in a caravan
Yes we travelled with the best
With circus acts and vaudeville hacks
And a Mississippi Delta Queen
She told me the news and sold me her blues
In an alley in New Orleans
And though the Western plains are still stained
With the blood of great cowboys
It’s a Southern sun
That shines down on this Yankee boy

Notes: Come from 1972 Hammond and London Publishing demos


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


This song has never been published on any official release.

Never played in regular set.
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
Recorded for the historical 'Hammond demos' in May 1972 and also for the Laurel Canyon / London Publishing demos
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database