Balboa Park
Bruce Springsteen
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He lay his blanket underneath the freeway As the evening sky grew dark Took a sniff of toncho from his coke can And headed through Balboa Park Where the men in their Mercedes Come nightly to employ In the cool San Diego evening The services of the border boys He grew up near the Zona Norte With the hustlers and smugglers he hung out with He swallowed their balloons of cocaine And brought 'em across the Twelfth Street strip Sleeping in a shelter If the night got too cold Runnin' from the migra Of the border patrol Past the salvage yard 'cross the train tracks And in through the storm drain They stretched their blankets out 'neath the freeway And each one took a name There was X-man and Cochise Little Spider his sneakers covered in river mud They come north to California End up with the poison in their blood He did what he had to do for the money Sometimes he sent home what he could spare The rest went to high-top sneakers and toncho And jeans like the gavachos wear One night the border patrol swept Twelfth Street A big car come fast down the boulevard Spider stood caught in its headlights Got hit and went down hard Car sped away Spider held his stomach Limped to his blanket 'neath the underpass Lie there tasting his own blood on his tongue Closed his eyes and listened to the cars rushin' by, so fast
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Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Artist Background"Balboa Park" is a song by Bruce Springsteen, a prominent American singer-songwriter often dubbed as "The Boss." His career spans over five decades with successful hits in rock, folk, and heartland rock genres.
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Album InformationThe song is from the album named "The Ghost of Tom Joad" released in 1996. The album marks a departure from the E Street Band sound Springsteen is known for, focusing more on folk and acoustic elements.
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Song Theme"Balboa Park" explores the hardships faced by immigrants in America — a common theme in the "The Ghost of Tom Joad" album. The song tells the story of a young boy who immigrates to the US and falls into a life of drugs and crime.
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Title SignificanceBalboa Park is a real location in San Diego, California. Springsteen chose this title to reflect the park’s status as a gathering place for young immigrants, underscoring the song’s thematic concern with immigration and American culture.
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Critical ReceptionThough not a commercial hit like many of Springsteen’s other songs, "Balboa Park" received critical praise for its deeply felt storytelling and sensitive portrayal of the immigrant experience.
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Live Performances"Balboa Park" has been rarely performed live by Springsteen compared to his other songs. However, when it is, it's noted for Springsteen’s soulful rendition and the emotional connection that the song creates with the audience.
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Music StyleWith its simple acoustic guitar accompaniment and focus on lyrical storytelling, "Balboa Park" exemplifies the folk music style that characterizes much of Springsteen's "The Ghost of Tom Joad" album.
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Song Length"Balboa Park" is relatively short, with a total running time of 3 minutes and 19 seconds, reflecting the concise and focused nature of folk narratives.
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Writer and ProducerAs with all the songs in the album, "Balboa Park" was written and produced by Bruce Springsteen himself, reflecting his commitment to maintaining a personal connection with his music.
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ImpactThe song and the album it belongs to continued to resonate with fans and critics for its poignant commentary on social issues, further cementing Springsteen's reputation as a socially conscious artist.
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"Balboa Park Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33482330/Bruce+Springsteen/Balboa+Park>.
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