New evidence has recently come to light about the origin of what is widely recognized as one of Springsteen's best songs, Badlands. At an estate sale last month in Freehold NJ, a New York music collector discovered what appears to be an early version of the lyrics of Badlands which were handwritten on the back of a copy of the sailing instructions for the 1975 Orange Coffee Pot Regatta at Surf City YC. They have not yet been authenticated but there seems little doubt that they are in Bruce's own hand and that the song was originally inspired by his frustrations as a Laser sailor.
Black flagged today,
Trouble on the race course,
Got a head on collision,
Smashin' up my boat worse,
I'm caught in a crosswind,
That I don't understand.
I don't give a damn,
for the same old mid-fleet scenes,
I don't give a damn,
for just the in betweens,
Honey, I want the lead, I want clear air,
I want to win right now.
Talk about a dream,
try to make it real
You wake up in the night,
with a fear so real,
You spend your life racing
for a trophy that just don't come.
Well, don't waste your time waiting,
Bad winds, why do I get them every day?
Let the poor results stand
As the price I've gotta pay.
Seems I'll never win the Coffee Pot
'Cos these bad winds are all I got.
That will make your back burn.
Working on the Rules
till you get your facts learned.
Baby, I got my Rules
learned real good right now.
Last man wanna be fast
Fast man wanna win
And a winner ain't satisfied
till he wins everything.
I wanna sail out today
I wanna find out what I got.
I believe in the tips that you told me
I believe in the boat that you sold me
I believe in my new sail
and I pray, that someday it may raise me
above these bad winds.
Bad winds, why do I get them every day?
Let the poor results stand
As the price I've gotta pay.
Seems I'll never win the Coffee Pot
'Cos these bad winds are all I got.
For the ones who sail a Laser,
Know a Laser is the best ride,
And on a Laser you'll be glad you're alive
I wanna find one race that ain't gonna screw me
I wanna be the ace,
I wanna spit in the face of these bad winds.
Bad winds, why do I get them every day?
Let the poor results stand
As the price I've gotta pay.
Seems I'll never win the Coffee Pot
'Cos these bad winds are all I got.
5 comments:
Yeah, I used to see him near the back of the fleet. I think his boat was named 'Rosalita'.
That's right. Rosalita always jumped a little lighter… at least until Papa lowered the boom. She was always last at every event until about 1984 but since then has only made sporadic appearances. I think some of the other sailors at the back of the fleet in those days were Weak Knees Willie, Sloppy Sue and Big Bones Billy. Rumor has it that Bruce's Laser is now stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Why do the posts that take the longest to write get the fewest comments?
Because the author has said all there is to be said on this topic?
Although probably not true in this case. There is probably plenty of scope for other bloggers with twisted minds to find evidence of sailing inspiration in Springsteen's lyrics……
And if somebody doesn't beat me to it I am VERY tempted to write a post about the Laser sailing exploits of Weak Knees Willie, Sloppy Sue and Big Bones Billy.
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