Lost in the Flood
Bruce Springsteen
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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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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.
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Lyric SymbolismThe 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.
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Social CommentaryThe 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.
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Musical StyleThe 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".
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Live PerformanceEven 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.
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Unofficial TrilogyThis 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.
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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.
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Song LengthWith a runtime of 5 minutes and 14 seconds, it is one of the longest tracks on the "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." album.
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Springsteen's BandThe 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.
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Limited AirplayDespite 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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"Lost in the Flood Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/31898766/Bruce+Springsteen/Lost+in+the+Flood>.
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