For You

Bruce Springsteen

About For You

"For You" is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen in 1972 for his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N. J., released in 1973. It was later included on the compilation album The Essential Bruce Springsteen. The song has been covered by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, The Format, and Greg Kihn.


Year:
2003
4:40
179 
#1

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Princess cards she sends me with her regards
Oh, barroom eyes shine vacancy, to see her you gotta look hard
Wounded deep in battle, I stand stuffed like some soldier undaunted
To her Cheshire smile, I'll stand on file, she's all I ever wanted
Oh, but you let your blue walls get in the way of these facts
Honey, get your carpetbaggers off my back
You wouldn't even give me time to cover my tracks
You said, here's your mirror and your ball and jacks
But they're not what I came for, and I'm sure you see that too

I came for you, for you, I came for you
But you did not need my urgency
I came for you, for you, I came for you
But your life was one long emergency
And your cloud line urges me
And my electric surges free

Crawl into my ambulance, your pulse is getting weak
Oh reveal yourself all now to me, girl, while you've got the strength to speak
'Cause they're waiting for you at Bellevue with their oxygen masks
But I could give it all to you now, if only you could ask
Oh, and don't call for your surgeon, even he says it's too late
It's not your lungs this time, it's your heart that holds your fate
Don't give me my money, honey, I don't want it back
You and your pony face and your Union Jack
Well, take your local joker and teach him how to act
I swear I was never that way, even when I really cracked
Didn't you think I knew that you were born with the power of a locomotive
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound?
And your Chelsea suicide with no apparent motive
You could laugh and cry in a single sound

And your strength is devastating in the face of all these odds
Remember how I kept you waiting when it was my turn to be the God?

You were not quite half so proud when I found you broken on the beach
Remember how I poured salt on your tongue and hung just out of reach
And the band, they played the homecoming theme as I caressed your cheek
Yeah, that ragged, jagged melody, she still clings to me like a leech
But that medal you wore on your chest always got in the way
Like a little girl with a trophy so soft to buy her way
We were both hitchhikers but you had your ear tuned to the roar
Of some metal-tempered engine on an alien, distant shore
So you left to find a better reason than the one we were living for
And it's not that nursery mouth that I came back for
It's not the way you're stretched out on the floor
'Cause I've broken all your windows and I've rammed through all your doors
And who am I to ask you to lick my sores?
And you should know that's true

I came for you, for you, I came for you
But you did not need my urgency
I came for you, for you, I came for you
But your life was one long emergency
And your cloud line urges me
And my electric surges free
Ooh
Ooh

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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


15 facts about this song

Song Composition
"For You" is a song from Bruce Springsteen's debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." released on January 5, 1973.
Manfred Mann Cover
The band Manfred Mann's Earth Band covered "For You" on their album "Chance" released in 1980.
Lyric Content
Springsteen's original "For You" lyrics are vivid, illustrating a deep personal connection and portraying scenes of desperation and unrequited love.
Album Success
Despite the initial commercial failure of Springsteen's debut album, it has since been viewed as a significant piece in his discography, and "For You" is considered one of its standout tracks.
Performance
"For You" is one of the most performed songs by Bruce Springsteen, and it continues to feature in his live shows even today.
Commercial Outcomes
Though not released as a single, "For You" contributed to Springsteen's breakthrough in the U.S., giving him his first top 5 album with "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." on Billboard 200.
Manfred Mann's Version
Manfred Mann's version of "For You" deviates from the original composition, focusing more on a synthesizer-dominated arrangement that was common in late-1970s rock.
Chart Performance
Manfred Mann's cover of "For You" reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart and number 36 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Contribution to Career
The success of "For You" and other tracks in Springsteen's debut album paved the way for his future critical acclaim and commercial success.
Live Version Differences
In live performances, Springsteen often alters the tempo and arrangement of "For You," which showcases his versatility as an artist.
Lyrics Interpretation
"For You" is often interpreted as Springsteen’s reflection of his personal experiences, giving listeners an insight into his emotional world.
Genre
The song is classified under the rock genre and is representative of Springsteen's early sound, influenced by folk, rock, and blues.
Manfred Mann’s Rendition
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is well known for doing covers of several Bruce Springsteen songs, with "For You" being one of their most successful renditions.
Critical Reception
Both versions of the song, despite their differences in musical style and arrangement, have received generally positive reviews over the years.
Song Duration
The original song by Bruce Springsteen runs for about 4 minutes and 39 seconds in length, while Manfred Mann's cover of "For You" is approximately 5 minutes and 40 seconds long.

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