Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm in a beat-up old Buick
But dressed just like dynamite
He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street
But they sighed "Johnny it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap"
And the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a cheater."
Well the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a liar"
And from out of the shadows came a young girl's voice said: "Johnny don't cry"
Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.
I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so crowded, there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight
All them golden-heeled fairies in a real bitch fight
Pull .38s and kiss the girls good night

Oh good night, it's alright Jane
Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe

Well like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fine
Like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind
Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home
She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight but just don't leave me alone"

And Johnny cried "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down the cops have found the vein"
Oh them barefoot boys left their homes for the woods
Them little barefoot street boys they say homes ain't no good
They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each other good-bye

Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down the street
He called down "Hey little heroes, summer's long but I guess it ain't very sweet around here anymore"
Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat, Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on, dream on
And the sister prays for lost souls, then breaks down in the chapel after everyone's gone

Jane moves over to share her pillow but opens her eyes to see Johnny up and putting his clothes on
She says "Those romantic young boys
All they ever want to do is fight"
Those romantic young boys
They're callin' through the window
"Hey Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"
And Johnny whispered:
Good night, it's all tight Jane
I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane
We may find it out on the street tonight baby
Or we may walk until the daylight maybe



Lyrics submitted by oofus

Track duration: 09:15


Incident On 57th Street song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:This could be Bruce's most vivid and melodic song. Spanish Johnny is an ambitious small-time hood who might have been working for established pimps but started to go after their territory or women, and was chased out by them. Really, his motivation is to make something out of himself. Restless and looking for another angle, he drives to a new neighborhood and meets Jane. He woos her into being a partner in crime, working some sort of deal on the street. But the cops find out and Johnny has failed again. He watches the kids playing down the street and gets melancholy, thinking he has run out of chances. But some night while he is sleeping with Jane, someone invites him to participate in another deal "to make a little easy money." He is drawn to the opportunity and leaves Jane alone, just like she knew he would because she knows his type. Jane has clearly been down this road before with other guys like Johnny.
    Flag hanamion December 29, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I'm shocked that there are only 13 comments, since this is not just one of Bruce's best songs, but perhaps one of the top 5 songs recorded in the past 50+ years, maybe ever! Many would probably disagree, but just consider the narrative, plot, and mental pictures this song evokes. Not to mention beautiful piano arrangements and an almost haunting vocal performance. This is the real deal. Somehow, I find it fitting that Bruce wrote what I think is unequivocally his best song at 23 or 24 years old, before he became the legendary Boss of rock n roll. This is one of those rarest of rare musical gems that can change your life in a listen. Check out youtube for a variety of live versions, each of which is somehow more awesome than the next, no matter what order you play them.
    Flag differentstrokes5on April 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I first heard this song I was like wow what a story!! Then I thought about it for a long time and then it reminds me of the love story in East Side story. This is a great song and really well written in the early days of Bruce's career!!
    Flag Linkpast95on February 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:. I can listen to IO57S over and over. No one else could sing than him. It's art. I get all kinds of entertainment in the song. Story. A break down. Poetry. Great guitar at the end. The female background singers are great. Turns my imagination on. Can make you weep. Goooood night it's allll right jaane.
    Flag Bigbib28on October 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Ah well, perhaps it was Eddie Money's Take me Home Tonight then :D

    This song means a lot for me and is one of my personal favourites from the boss. Still doubting whether to see him this year at a festival... Moments like these are surely swaying me to the postal office for that ticket ^^
    Flag LittlePrincezzon March 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Fallenchief, just a quick note. This song was written about 5 or 6 years before I Don't Wanna Go Home was written by Van Zandt...just thought I'd throw that out there. Still one of his most moving songs. Saw him open w/ it in Philly on the reunion tour...one of the greatest things I've ever seen.
    Flag Magic Raton September 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i also wanted to add something that i found pretty cool, when bruce says:Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home
    he was referring to the song i don't wanna go home by southside johnny and the asbury jukes, of whom bruce was a good friend.
    Also for anyone who likes this song there is an amazing version from main point '75 on youtube, great concert by the way
    Flag fallenchief123on July 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song reminds me so much of a west side story, not that hard to understand but such a great epic tale from early in bruces career, that whole album is fantastic. this song is a great story about a forbidden love that was never meant to be, just to young kids caught up in the fiery passions of young love in the city
    Flag fallenchief123on July 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow - How can a piano & vocal be so, so wow
    Flag nagromnaion February 23, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:basically this is a story about a spannish guy... who promises the girls (prostitutes) everything to make them fall for him... and then leaves them... while he's promising the world in the background his past loves are calling him a liar... the girls are desperate for love and to have johnny take them out of the world they live in... but johnny is no savior... and he does what he always does and by the end of the song he leaves "Jane" like the others promised he would... the call of the street is too much for johnny to resist... meanwhile he is making the same promises he can't keep... such a song of desperation... beautiful and powerful
    Flag adrock1011on October 16, 2007   Link

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