Lyrics Spotlight - Drive All Night

"I swear I'll drive all night again, just to buy you some shoes."
--Drive All Night, The River

When I posted about the top 100 Springsteen songs, it was not only a blatant attempt at getting you to click on the links and read our archives.  I also listed the songs to spotlight those we haven't  yet discussed in roughly 200 blog posts.  The highest ranking song was "Drive All Night", coming in at number 14.

While there is no denying the popularity of "Drive All Night", the song never quite clicked with me.  Tucked in at the end of The River's second album, it is yet another song covering the topics of cars and women.  And while I do love songs dedicated to the ladies, it is the car aspect that loses me.

As a city dweller for roughly 10 years, I've come to embrace public transportation.  Many people hate public transportation, preferring to go where they want at whatever time they want.  However, a car is a very expensive investment, as gas and maintenance can cost a pretty penny.  I always saw the freedom gained by using a car cancelled out by the options you lose by having less money.  Furthermore, as the functional alcoholic that I am, I prefer being able to drink as much as I want, whenever I want, and not have to worry about how to get home.  In addition, you can sleep on public transportation, or read a book, or write a blog article....

Anyway, back to the song.  While Clarence's solo in the middle is fantastic, the song is too long, and doesn't have the dramatic flair of other eight-minute-plus Bruce epics like "Jungleland" or "New York City Serenade".  But what sticks in my craw about this song is the lyrics in the chorus.  Driving all night, for a pair of freaking shoes?!?

First of all, the narrator of this song must have nothing going on in his life.  Seriously, does he not have to work in the morning?  How can he justify such a long journey for something so frivolous?  And this isn't an easy mission - not only is it taking all night, but he is battling the wind, the rain, and the snow!  And what kind of woman would be impressed by this?  I know that if I came back at 4 in the morning on a harsh winter night and gave my girlfriend a pair of shoes, she'd think I was insane.  This is the only scenario in my mind where this songs makes sense:

Bruce and his lady friend were having a nice Italian dinner, that she cooked all day.  While Bruce is slurping up his pasta fagioli, he gets marinara on his girlfriend's shoes.  The horror!  And, to top it off, his girlfriend is a nurse, and she has to wear those boring nurse shoes to work (she can't work in high heels or designer shoes), and her shift starts at 5AM.  So, Bruce, to make it up, goes out driving all night to find an all-night shoe-store.

You know, that story I just pulled out of my ass isn't half-bad.  If you have the same issues with the song as I do, try remembering this back story to give it more context.

Top Ten Springsteen Road Trip Songs

Legends of Springsteen is excited to present a guest post from Mark Dowling, Springsteen fanatic and New York City-based improv performer and sketch writer.

Here’s a list of songs that are essential to any road trip playlist. They are broken up into two categories: Day Time and Night Time. The Day Time songs are the ones that you’re more likely to sing along with and get stares while stopped at a red light. The Night Time songs are the ones you kind of hum while your girlfriend sleeps in the passenger’s seat. It’s hard to pick just ten songs, which is why I cheat a little bit and double up.

Here’s the list!

Day Time

These are the songs that make you want to drive on a long stretch of highway on a sunny day with the windows rolled down and your sunglasses on.

1.Rosalita (The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle)
2.Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (Born to Run)
3.The Promised Land (Darkness On the Edge of Town)
4.Pink Cadillac (Tracks)
5.Waitin’ On a Sunny Day / Lonesome Day (The Rising)

Also worth mentioning: “Darlington County” and "The E Street Shuffle."

Night Time

These are the songs you listen to on the long drive back. You’re on a dark empty road and all you have to guide you are your headlights.
1.Thunder Road / Backstreets (Born to Run)
2.I’m On Fire (Born in the U.S.A.)
3.The River (The River)
4.Streets of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Soundtrack)
5.Racing In the Street (Darkness On the Edge of Town)

“Jungleland” is a great song (am I going against the grain?) but it’s an obvious choice. I almost included “Secret Garden” but couldn’t find a place for it.

To make sure all of these where accurate choices, I tested each one of them out behind the wheel of my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.