Lost in the Flood

Bruce Springsteen

About Lost in the Flood

"Lost in the Flood" is a song by Bruce Springsteen. It was released on his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N. J. in 1973.


Year:
1973
5:17
138 
#1

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The ragamuffin gunner is returnin' home like a hungry runaway
He walks through town all alone--"He must be from the fort," he hears the high school girls say
His countryside's burnin' with wolfman fairies dressed in drag for homicide
The hit-and-run plead sanctuary, 'neath a holy stone they hide
They're breakin' beams and crosses with a spastic's reelin' perfection
Nuns run bald through Vatican halls, pregnant, pleadin' immaculate conception
And everybody's wrecked on Main Street from drinking unholy blood
Sticker smiles sweet as Gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud
And I said, "Hey, gunner man, that's qucksand, that's quicksand, that ain't mud
Have you thrown your senses to the war, or did you lose them in the flood?"

That pure American brother, dull-eyed and empty-faced
Races Sundays in Jersey in a Chevy stock super eight
He rides 'er low on the hip, on the side he's got "Bound for Glory" in red, white and blue flash paint
He leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him Jimmy the Saint
Well, that blaze-and-noise boy, he's gunnin' that bitch loaded to blastin' point
He rides head first into a hurricane and disappears into a point
And there's nothin' left but some blood where the body fell, that is, nothin' left that you could sell
Just junk all across the horizon, a real highwayman's farewell
And I said, "Hey kid, you think that's oil? Man, that ain't oil, that's blood"
I wonder what he was thinking when he hit that storm, or was he just lost in the flood?

Eighth Avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air
Some storefront incarnation of Maria, she's puttin' on me the stare
And Bronx's best apostle stands with his hand on his own hardware
Everything stops, you hear five quick shots, the cops come up for air
And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, they're shootin' up the street
And that cat from the Bronx starts lettin' loose, but he gets blown right off his feet
And some kid comes blastin' 'round the corner, but a cop puts him right away
He lays on the street holding his leg, screaming something in Spanish, still breathing when I walked away
And somebody said, "Hey man, did you see that? His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud"
I wonder what the dude was sayin', or was he just lost in the flood?
Hey man, did you see that, those poor cats are sure messed up
I wonder what they were gettin' into, or were they just lost in the flood?

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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

Album Classification
"Lost in the Flood" is a song from Bruce Springsteen's debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." which was released in 1973.
Lyric Symbolism
The song involves three main characters: all of whom are grappling with the disillusionment and aftermath of the 1960s. The lyrics are quite complex and are filled with detailed, symbolic imagery, much of which perhaps reflects the "lost" feeling of many Vietnam War veterans.
Social Commentary
The song serves as a strong anti-war piece, providing a grim look at the impact of the Vietnam War on the American youth that were sent off to fight.
Musical Style
The song is noticeably darker and more dramatic than most songs on the 'Greetings' album, displaying the kind of epic songwriting style that marked Springsteen's later work, post "Born to Run".
Live Performance
Even though "Lost in the Flood" wasn't released as a single, it has proven enduringly popular as a concert number, performed regularly on tours throughout Springsteen's career.
Unofficial Trilogy
This song is regarded by some fans as the first part of a trilogy, with the other two parts being "Adam Raised a Cain" and "Independence Day". Though Bruce Springsteen himself never confirmed this.
Album Significance
"Lost in the Flood" holds the significance of being one of the few songs that dominate the starting phase of Springsteen’s universe, featuring characters and scenes that would become central to his work later down the line.
Song Length
With a runtime of 5 minutes and 14 seconds, it is one of the longest tracks on the "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." album.
Springsteen's Band
The E Street Band, Springsteen's long-term backing band, played on the track, even though they were not officially named as such until later releases.
Limited Airplay
Despite the lack of radio play and the absence of a U.S. single release, "Lost in the Flood" is ranked among Springsteen's best tracks by fans and critics.

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