Shut Out The Light

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Disc 2 Track 17 of Tracks, 1998.

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Credits

• Tracks (1998)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion
  • Soozie Tyrell: violin

Performances

Performed live 35 times (not including snippet performances). 2005-08-07 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI 1996-12-12 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 1996-12-03 Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL 1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1996-11-25 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1996-11-24 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1996-11-20 Louisville Palace (The), Louisville, KY 1996-10-26 Event Center Arena, San Jose, CA 1996-10-17 Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO 1996-10-03 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN 1996-09-26 Hill Auditorium, University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1996-09-25 E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH 1985-06-29 Parc De La Courneuve, Paris, France 1985-06-18 Olympiastadion, Munich, West Germany 1985-06-13 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 1985-06-09 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 1985-06-05 St. James' Park, Newcastle, England 1985-04-04 Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1985-04-03 Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1985-03-21 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1985-01-26 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY 1985-01-23 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI 1985-01-18 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC 1985-01-16 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 1985-01-10 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY 1985-01-08 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN 1984-12-17 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA 1984-11-15 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO 1984-11-11 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO 1984-11-08 ASU Activity Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 1984-11-04 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-11-02 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-29 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-26 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-22 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA

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 0 show(s) of 14 on the Summer '17 Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 0 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 133 on the Wrecking Ball Tour. Performed at 0 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 1 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 132 on The Reunion Tour. Performed at 11 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 23 show(s) of 156 on the Born In The U.S.A. Tour. Performed at 0 known other show(s), plus 0 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on Born In The U.S.A. (Single, 1984) and Tracks (1998).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 3 official live downloads:

• 1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
• 1996-11-24 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
• 1996-09-25 E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH

On The Tracks

SHUT OUT THE LIGHT - V1a	4:33	LM-16 / UH
SHUT OUT THE LIGHT - V1b	3:25	LM-18
SHUT OUT THE LIGHT - V1c	3:56	1984 b-side / BACK
SHUT OUT THE LIGHT - V1d	3:51	TRACKS

Note: All of the above use the same core recording from January 19, 1983 at Springsteen's home studio in Los Angeles, but four different mixes. V1a is considered by many to be the definitive version of the song – it contains two additional verses that were cut from the three other mixes. V1c contains a violin part courtesy of Soozie Tyrell that she overdubbed, probably on May 23 or 25, 1983 at The Hit Factory (her first session work for Bruce). V1d brings the violin more to the fore in the mix. "Shut Out The Light" was considered for the album before it was released in 1984 as the b-side to "Born In The U.S.A.". The theme of a Vietnam veteran returning home was also explored in the 1981 demo "Vietnam", which also includes the opening couplet "The runway rushed up at him as he felt the wheels touch down / He stood out on the blacktop and took a taxi into town."

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^{Studio Sessions: Born In The U.S.A.}

Lyrics

Shut Out The Light

The runway rushed up at him as he felt the wheels touch down
He stood out on the blacktop and took a taxi into town
He got out down on Main Street and went into a local bar
He bought a drink and found a seat in a corner off the dark
Well she called up her mama to make sure the kids were out of the house
She checked herself out in the dining room mirror
And undid an extra button on her blouse
He felt her lying next to him, the clock said 4:00 am
He was staring at the ceiling
He couldn't move his hands

Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light

Well on his porch they stretched a banner that said "Johnny Welcome Home"
Bobby pulled his Ford out of the garage and they polished up the chrome
His mama said "Johnny oh Johnny, I'm so glad to have you back with me"
His pa said he was sure they'd give him his job back down at the factory

Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light

Well deep in a dark forest, a forest filled with rain
Beyond a stretch of Maryland pines there's a river without a name
In the cold black water Johnson Leneir stands
He stares across the lights of the city and dreams of where he's been

Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

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