Spirit in the Night

Bruce Springsteen

About Spirit in the Night

"Spirit in the Night" is a song written and originally recorded by American singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen for his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N. J. (1973). It was also the second single released from the album. A cover version titled Spirits in the Night (spirit being plural), performed by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, was released on the album Nightingales and Bombers and as a Top 40 single.


Year:
1973
5:00
130 
#1

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Crazy Janey and her mission man
Were back in the alley tradin' hands
'Long came Wild Billy with his friend G-Man
All duded up for Saturday night
Well, Billy slammed on his coaster brakes
And said, "Anybody want to go on up to Greasy Lake?
It's about a mile down on the dark side of Route 88
I got a bottle of rosé so let's try it
We'll pick up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe
And I'll take you all out to where the gypsy angels go
They're build like light
And they dance like spirits in the night (all night), in the night (all night)
Oh, you don't know what they can do to you
Spirits in the night (all night), in the night (all night)
Stand up right now and let them shoot through you

Well now, Wild Billy was a crazy cat
And he shook some dust out of his coonskin cap
He said, "Trust some of this, it'll show you where you're at
Or at least it'll help you really feel it"
By the time we made it up to Greasy Lake
I had my head out the window and Janey's fingers were in the cake
I think I really dug her 'cause I was too loose to fake
I said, I'm hurt, she said, honey, let me heal it
And we danced all night to a soul fairy band
And she kissed me just right, like only a lonely angel can
She felt so nice
Just as soft as a spirit in the night (all night), in the night (all night)
Janey don't know what she do to you
Spirit in the night (all night), in the night (all night)
Stand right up and let her shoot through me

Now, the night was bright and the stars threw light
On Billy and Davy dancin' in the moonlight
They were down near the water in a stone mud fight
Killer Joe gone passed out on the lawn
Well now, Hazy Davy got really hurt
He ran into the lake in just his socks and his shirt
Me and Crazy Janey was makin' love in the dirt
Singin' our birthday songs
Janey said it was time to go
So we closed our eyes and said goodbye to Gypsy Angel Row
Felt so right
Together we moved like spirits in the night (all night), in the night (all night)

Oh you don't know what they can do to you
Spirit in the night (all night), all night (all night)
Oh, stand right up and let her shoot through you
Like a spirit in the night (all night), all night (all night)
All night (all night), all night (all night), all night (all night), all night (all night)
All night
All night

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Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed "The Boss", is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who records and tours with the E Street Band. Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock, poetic lyrics, Americana sentiments centered on his native New Jersey and his lengthy and energetic stage performances, with concerts from the 1970s to the present decade running up to an uninterrupted 250 minutes in length. more »

22 fans

Written by: Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"Spirit in the Night" was one of the first songs Bruce Springsteen wrote for his debut album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." in 1973.
Song Themes
The song narrates a story of youthful rebellion and explores themes of friendship, adventure, and escape.
Impact on Career
Although the song did not bring huge commercial success for Springsteen initially, it has since become one of his most loved songs.
Manfred Mann's version
Manfred Mann's Earth Band covered "Spirit in the Night" in 1977 for their album "Nightingales & Bombers." This cover version became more popular than Springsteen's original.
Commercial Success
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band's version of "Spirit in the Night" reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Springsteen's Live Performances
"Spirit in the Night" has become a staple during Springsteen's concerts. Bruce often crawls through the crowd while performing it.
Lyrical Depth
The song features a host of detailed characters including Crazy Janey, Wild Billy, and Hazy Davy.
Band Members
Clarence Clemons, a member of Springsteen's E Street Band, was instrumental in “Spirit in the Night,” performing the iconic saxophone solo.
Unusual Song Structure
The song does not have a clear chorus, which is an unusual structure in most pop songs. This emphasizes Springsteen’s storytelling lyricism.
Influence
"Spirit in the Night" became influential and many artists have since covered it, including Manfred Mann's Earth Band, The Jukes, and Greensky Bluegrass.

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