INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET

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Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm and a beat-up old Buick but dressed just like dynamite,
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street,
But they said, "Johnny, it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap."
And the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a cheater."
Well the pimps swung their axes and said, "Johnny, you're a liar."
And from out of the shadows came a young girl's voice, said: "Johnny don't cry."

Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.
I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so crowded and there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All the golden heeled fairies in a real bitch-fight pull thirty-eights and kiss their girls goodnight.

Goodnight, it's alright, Jane
Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame,
We may find it out on the street tonight, baby,
Or we may walk until the daylight, maybe.

Well like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fine
Like a late Juliet she knew she'd never be true but then she didn't really mind,
Upstairs a band was playin' and the singer was singin' something about going home,
She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight, but just don't leave me alone."
And Johnny cried, "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down the cops have found the vein."
Them bare foot boys left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys, they said their homes ain't no good,
They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each other goodbye.

Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down the street,
He called down, "Hey little heroes, summer's long but I guess it ain't very sweet around here anymore",
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat, Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on, dream on,
And the sister prays for lost souls then breaks down in the chapel after everyone's gone.

Jane moves over to share her pillow but opens her eyes to see Johnny up and putting his clothes on,
She says, "Those romantic young boys (those romantic young boys), all they ever want to do is fight",
Those romantic young boys (those romantic young boys), they're callin' through the window:
"Hey, Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"

And Johnny whispered, "Goodnight, it's all tight Jane,
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight, baby."
Goodnight, it's alright Jane,
I'm gonna meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane,
We can find it out on the street tonight, baby,
Or we may walk until the daylight, maybe...

This The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle gem was played in various versions on a regular basis until 1976, then a few times during the 1977 and the Darkness On The Edge Of Town tours (4 times, in September 1978). Then, a single appearance in the The River tour (on 29 December 1980, Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, NY). Forgotten for quite 20 years, comes back in the Reunion tour on 25 September 1999 in Philadelphia (4 performance in the Reunion Tour). At the last two Convention Hall shows (07 and 08 December 2001) the song was played in the 'Solo piano' version, never heard about it since 1975!