Sleepy Joe's Café

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Track 5 of Western Stars, 2019.

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Western Stars (2019)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitars, glockenspiel, keyboards, banjo
- Ron Aniello: bass, keyboards, guitars
- Jon Brion: Farfisa, Moog
- Lenny Castro: conga, shaker
- Barry Danielian: trumpet
- Clark Gayton: trombone
- Charles Giordano: accordion
- Ed Manion: saxophone
- Gunnar Olsen: drums
- Curt Ramm: trumpet

^{Performed live 1 times (not including snippet performances).}

2019-04-00 Stone Hill Farm, Colts Neck, NJ

^{Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances)}

Performed at 1 known other show(s), plus

0 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Western Stars (2019).

A live version is released on Western Stars (Songs From The Film) (recorded April 2019).

SLEEPY JOE'S CAFÉ - V1		uncirculating
SLEEPY JOE'S CAFÉ - V2	3:14	WESTERN

Note: A demo of "Sleepy Joe's Cafe" was most likely recorded 2010 at Stone Hill Studio, Colts Neck, New Jersey. Completed by Ron Aniello and Springsteen over a period of several years, ending early 2019, as stated by Ron Aniello on his Instagram: "started in 2010… finished in 2014… finished again in 2018. Sometimes it takes a minute…" Various elements were recorded separately and overdubbed; Lenny Castro’s part was recorded at Ocean Way Studios. Various drum parts were recorded for the song, including takes by Matt Chamberlain and Steve Jordan; a version by Gunnar Olsen, recorded at Stone Hill Studio in 2014, was ultimately chosen.

^{Studio Sessions: Western Stars}

Sleepy Joe's Café

There's a place out on the highway 'cross the San Bernardino line
Where the truckers and the bikers gather every night at the same time
At seven the band comes in and locals dance the night away
At Sleepy Joe's Café

I drive on down from the big town Friday when the clock strikes five
As the red sun sets in the ocean, I start to come alive
Summer girls in the parking lot slap on their makeup and they flirt the night away
At Sleepy Joe's Café

Joe came home in '45 and took out a G.I. loan
On a sleepy little spot and Army cook could call his own
He married May, the highway come in and they woke up to find
They were sitting on top of a pretty little gold mine

Saturday night the lights are bright as the folks pour in from town
Joe keeps the blues playin', at the bar May lays the beers down
I come through the door and feel the workweek slip away
See you out on the floor and Monday morning's a million miles away

At Sleepy Joe's Café
At Sleepy Joe's Café
At Sleepy Joe's Café

^{Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.}