New York City Serenade

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Track 7 of The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle, 1973.

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Credits

• The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (1973)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
  • Richard Blackwell: congas
  • Clarence Clemons: saxophone, backing vocals
  • Danny Federici: backing vocals
  • Vini Lopez: conga, triangle, tambourine, clapping, backing vocals
  • David Sancious: piano, mellotron
  • Garry Tallent: bass

Performances

Performed live 107 times. 2017-02-16 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2017-02-14 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2017-02-04 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2017-02-02 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2017-01-30 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia 2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia 2017-01-25 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia 2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia 2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA 2016-09-11 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2016-09-09 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA 2016-09-07 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA 2016-09-01 Nationals Park, Washington, DC 2016-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 2016-08-28 United Center, Chicago, IL 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy 2014-02-26 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2013-07-11 Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy 2009-11-07 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2003-10-03 Shea Stadium, New York City, NY 2000-06-20 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1999-09-30 United Center, Chicago, IL 1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA 1999-08-27 FleetCenter, Boston, MA 1999-08-11 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1975-08-15 Bottom Line (The), New York City, NY (Late) 1975-08-13 Bottom Line (The), New York City, NY (Late) 1975-08-10 Allen Theatre, Cleveland, OH 1975-08-08 Akron Civic Theatre, Akron, OH 1975-08-02 Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, VA 1975-08-01 Mosque (The), Richmond, VA 1975-07-30 Carter Barron Amphitheatre, Washington, DC 1975-07-28 Carter Barron Amphitheatre, Washington, DC 1975-07-26 Keystone Hall, Kutztown State College, Kutztown, PA 1975-07-25 Keystone Hall, Kutztown State College, Kutztown, PA 1975-07-22 Geneva Theatre, Geneva, NY 1975-07-20 Palace Concert Theater, Providence, RI 1975-03-08 DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC 1975-02-23 Westbury Music Fair, Westbury, NY 1975-02-19 University Auditorium, Penn State University, University Park, PA 1975-02-06 Widener Field House, Widener College, Chester, PA 1975-02-05 Main Point (The), Bryn Mawr, PA 1974-12-08 Burlington Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT 1974-12-07 Geneva Theatre, Geneva, NY 1974-12-06 State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ 1974-11-29 War Memorial, Trenton, NJ 1974-11-23 Mainstage Auditorium, Salem State College, Salem, MA 1974-11-16 Leonard Gym, American University, Washington, DC 1974-11-08 Ritz Music Hall, Corpus Christi, TX 1974-11-01 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA 1974-10-29 Music Hall, Boston, MA 1974-10-26 Julia Sanderson Theater, Springfield, MA 1974-10-25 Spaulding Auditorium, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (Late) 1974-10-20 Dining Hall, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA 1974-10-19 Memorial Chapel Concert Hall, Union College, Schenectady, NY 1974-10-18 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ 1974-10-12 Alexander Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (Late) 1974-10-04 Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, NY 1974-09-21 Hunt Union Ballroom, State University Of New York, Oneonta, NY 1974-09-20 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA 1974-08-14 Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ (Late) 1974-07-30 Troubadour (The), West Hollywood, CA 1974-07-25 Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, CA 1974-07-13 Bottom Line (The), New York City, NY (Late) 1974-06-21 Garage (Le), Spray Beach, NJ (Early) 1974-06-01 Memorial Gymnasium, Kent State University, Kent, OH 1974-05-24 War Memorial, Trenton, NJ 1974-05-09 Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA (Late) 1974-05-09 Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA (Early) 1974-05-04 Panzer Gym, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 1974-04-26 Alumnae Hall, Brown University, Providence, RI 1974-04-20 Helfferich Hall, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 1974-04-19 State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ 1974-04-10 Charlie's Place, Cambridge, MA (Late) 1974-04-10 Charlie's Place, Cambridge, MA (Early) 1974-04-09 Charlie's Place, Cambridge, MA (Early) 1974-04-07 Bishop Dougherty Student Center, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 1974-04-06 Burlington County College, Pemberton, NJ 1974-04-05 MacMorland Center, Widener College, Chester, PA 1974-03-24 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ 1974-03-16 Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, TX 1974-03-10 Liberty Hall, Houston, TX (Early) 1974-03-09 Liberty Hall, Houston, TX (Late) 1974-03-03 Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, DC (Late) 1974-03-03 Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, DC (Early) 1974-02-24 Main Point (The), Bryn Mawr, PA (Late) 1974-02-12 Student Center Ballroom, University Of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 1974-01-26 Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, VA 1974-01-25 Mosque (The), Richmond, VA 1974-01-06 Joe's Place, Cambridge, MA 1973-12-15 Nassau Community College, Garden City, NY 1973-11-25 Curry Hicks Cage, University Of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 1973-11-17 Roxy Theatre, Philadelphia, PA (Late) 1973-10-31 Main Point (The), Bryn Mawr, PA (Late) 1973-10-30 Main Point (The), Bryn Mawr, PA (Late) 1973-10-26 Geneva Theatre, Geneva, NY 1973-10-20 Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH 1973-09-29 Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, PA 1973-09-08 Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 1973-07-31 My Father's Place, Roslyn, NY (Late) 1973-07-23 Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY (Early) 1973-07-22 Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY (Early) 1973-07-18 Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY (Late)

Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances) Performed at 0 show(s) of 118 on the 2023-24 International Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 266 on the Springsteen On Broadway run. Performed at 10 show(s) of 14 on the Summer '17 Tour. Performed at 10 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 1 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 1 show(s) of 133 on the Wrecking Ball Tour. Performed at 1 show(s) of 83 on the Working On A Dream Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 99 on the Magic Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 56 on The Seeger Sessions Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 1 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 5 show(s) of 132 on The Reunion Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 128 on The Ghost Of Tom Joad Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 102 on the World Tour 1992-93. Performed at 0 show(s) of 20 on the Human Rights Now! Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 67 on the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 156 on the Born In The U.S.A. Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 138 on The River Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 111 on the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 54 on The Lawsuit Tour. Performed at 12 show(s) of 116 on the Born To Run Tour. Performed at 61 show(s) of 201 on The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle Tour. Performed at 5 show(s) of 166 on the Greetings From Asbury Park Tour. Performed at 0 known other show(s), plus 0 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle (1973).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 25 official live downloads:

• 2017-02-16 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• 2017-02-14 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• 2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• 2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• 2017-02-04 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• 2017-02-02 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• 2017-01-30 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• 2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• 2017-01-25 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• 2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• 2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
• 2016-09-11 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2016-09-09 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
• 2016-09-07 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
• 2016-09-01 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
• 2016-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-08-28 United Center, Chicago, IL
• 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
• 2014-02-26 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• 2013-07-11 Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy
• 2009-11-07 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 1999-09-30 United Center, Chicago, IL
• 1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA

On The Tracks

NEW YORK SONG - V1		uncirculating
NEW YORK CITY SERENADE - V2	9:58	PS / EY / SA914 / GT / ROOI
NEW YORK CITY SERENADE - V3	9:53	WIESS

Note: "New York Song" aka "New York City Song", was composed 1972–1973, and played live from January 3 through June 2, 1973. On June 22, V1 was recorded for Album #2 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York. In the following week, an idea to combine it with elements of "Vibes Man", another 1972 composition, was hatched, and "New York City Serenade" V2 was recorded on June 28, 1973. Credit has been assigned to David Sancious, who made the arrangement suggestions, though he tried to side-step by saying "I don’t think they constituted the arrangement." V3 is presumably the result of overdubs on August 7 and September 13, 1973, including addition of strings, group vocals and congas to the final mix. Thanks to Richard Blackwell for information on the history of this song.

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^{Studio Sessions: The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle}

Lyrics

New York City Serenade

Billy, he's down by the railroad tracks
Sitting low in the back seat of his Cadillac
Diamond Jackie, she's so intact
And she falls so softly beneath him
Jackie's heels are stacked
Billy's got cleats on his boots
Together they're gonna boogaloo down Broadway
And come back home with the loot
It's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute, it's a mad dog's promenade
So walk tall
Or baby, don't walk at all

Fish lady, oh, fish lady, fish lady, she baits them tenement walls
She won't take corner boys, they ain't got no money, and they're so easy
I said, "Hey, babe, ah, baby, won't you take my hand, waltz with me down Broadway"
Whoa, mama, take my arm and move with me down Broadway, yeah
I'm a young man, I'm talkin' real loud, yeah, baby, walk it real proud for you
Ah, so shake it away, so shake away your street life, shake away the city life
And hook up to the train, ah, hook up to the night train
Ah, hook it up, hook up to the, hook up to the train
But I know that she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
No, she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
Oh, she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
Oh, she won't take the train, no, she won't take the train
She's afraid them tracks are gonna slow her down
And when she turns, this boy'll be gone
So long
Sometimes you just gotta walk on
Walk on

Hey, vibes man, hey, jazz man, ah, play me a serenade
Any deeper blue, you'll be playin' in your grave
Save your notes: don't spend 'em on the blues boy
Save your notes: don't spend 'em on the darlin' yearlin' sharp boy
Straight from the church note ringin', vibes man sting a trash can
Listen to your junkman
Ah, listen to your junkman
Listen to your junkman
Oh, listen to your junkman
He's singin' (singin')
He's singin' (singin')
He's singin' (singin')
All dressed up in satin, walkin' down the alley (singin')
Singin', singin', sing, yeah, sing, yeah, singin', singin', singin', yeah, sing, yeah
(Singin', singin', singin') Ooh, ooh, ooh, oh, yeah
(Singin', singin', singin') Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh, yeah
Ah, shake it, downtown, watch it, oh, watch out for your junkman
Shake it, watch out, bah, ah, ah, watch out for your junkman
Ah, shake that guitar, shake that damn guitar, ah, watch out for your junkman
Ah, shake, talkin' 'bout it, ah, ah, come on, little girl
Watch out
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Oh, ah, yeah
Oh, huh, oh, huh
Shake that damn guitar
Ah, watch out for your junkman
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Watch out for your junkman
Uh, huh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, huh, huh, huh
Watch out for your junkman
Oh, watch out for your junkman

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

Gallery

^{Graph accurate to the end of the Wrecking Ball Tour, December 2012.}

Links

• MusicBrainz

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