Atlantic City
Bruce Springsteen
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Well, they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night Now they blew up his house, too Down on the boardwalk they're gettin' ready For a fight, gonna see what them racket boys can do Now there's trouble busin' in from outta state And the D.A. can't get no relief Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade And the gamblin' commission's hangin' on by the skin of its teeth Well, now everything dies, baby, that's a fact But maybe everything that dies someday comes back Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty And meet me tonight in Atlantic City Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away But I got debts that no honest man could pay So I drew what I had from the Central Trust And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus Now, baby, everything dies, baby, that's a fact But maybe everything that dies someday comes back Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty And meet me tonight in Atlantic City Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold But with you forever I'll stay We're goin' out where the sands turnin' to gold now Put on your stockings, babe, 'cause the nights gettin' cold and Everything dies, baby, that's a fact but maybe Everything that dies someday comes back Now I've been lookin' for a job but it's hard to find Down here it's just winners and losers And don't get caught on the wrong side of that line Well I'm tired of comin' out on the losin' end So, honey, last night I met this guy And I'm gonna do a little favor for him Well I guess everything dies, baby, that's a fact But maybe everything that dies someday comes back So put your sweet hair up nice and make yourself look pretty And meet me tonight in Atlantic City Meet me tonight in Atlantic City Come and meet me tonight in Atlantic City And meet me tonight in Atlantic City (Tonight in Atlantic City) (Tonight in Atlantic City) (Meet me tonight in Atlantic City) (Tonight in Atlantic City) (Tonight in Atlantic City)
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Album Details"Atlantic City" is a song by renowned American musician Bruce Springsteen. It was first released on his 1982 solo album "Nebraska."
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Song OriginNotably, Springsteen wrote and recorded "Atlantic City" on a basic four-track cassette recorder at his home in New Jersey.
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Song InspirationThe song is named after the city in New Jersey and was particularly inspired by the trying times of the city in the early 1980s, including the collapse of old economic structures and the advent of the casino industry.
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Music VideoAn unstable period in Atlantic City's reconstruction is depicted in the 1982 music video for the song which Springsteen himself does not appear in.
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Reception & PopularityDespite being a bleak composition, "Atlantic City" has been one of Springsteen’s most popular and enduring songs. It was listed as one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Cover VersionsThe song has seen countless covers by different artists including Mumford & Sons, The Band, Ed Sheeran, and many more.
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ThemeThematically, "Atlantic City" is often seen as a harbinger of the darker style of Springsteen's subsequent albums, a significant shift from his earlier work characterized by a hopeful, euphoric tone.
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Live PerformancesSpringsteen regularly includes "Atlantic City" in his live performances. His 2000 live version, in fact, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
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Lyrical ContentIts lyrics discuss a protagonist who needs to reshape his way of life in response to economic shifts but remains involved in illegal activities, revealing a deep level of uncertainty and desperation.
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Unique Recording"Atlantic City" was part of the album Nebraska which was unique for being recorded on a 4-track cassette in Springsteen's home. Despite attempts to re-record the songs with a proper band, the original home recordings ended up being released.
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RecognitionRolling Stone magazine listed "Atlantic City" at number 13 on its list of The 100 Greatest Bruce Springsteen Songs, underlining its significance.
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