Born To Run
- Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
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Of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through the mansions of glory
In suicide machines
Sprung from cages on Highway 9
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin' out over the line
Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
'Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run
Yes, girl, we were
Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend
I wanna guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims
And strap your hands 'cross my engines
Together we could break this trap
We'll run 'til we drop, baby, we'll never go back
Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire?
'Cause, baby, I'm just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta know how it feels
I want to know if love is wild
Babe, I want to know if love is real
Oh, can you show me
Beyond the Palace, hemi-powered drones
Scream down the boulevard
Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
Kids are huddled on the beach in the mist
I wanna die with you, Wendy, on the street tonight
In an everlasting kiss
(One, two, three, four)
The highway's jammed with broken heroes
On a last chance power drive
Everybody's out on the run tonight
But there's no place left to hide
Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Oh, someday, girl, I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place
Where we really wanna go and we'll walk in the sun
But 'til then, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Oh honey, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Come on with me, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
"Born To Run" is a song about escaping from a small town and dreaming to live a better life in the big city. The lyrics tell the story of two young lovers, who dream of leaving their hometown and start a new life together. In the chorus, the song proclaims that tramps like them were born to run and they have to get out of the town while they're young. The song also portrays the concept of unfulfilled dreams and the promise of freedom that lies beyond the horizon. The song has a sense of urgency, as the singer makes a desperate plea to Wendy to come with him and escape their current lives. They both dream of breaking free and living their dreams while they are still young.
The song heavily relies on vivid imagery to paint the picture of the story. The opening line refers to the daily grind of life on the streets, further adding to the idea of living in a small, rundown town. Springsteen wrote of the dangers of life in their hometown, with the lines "This town rips the bones from your back, it's a death trap, it's a suicide rap..." referring to the people’s desperation to escape the town's limiting factors. The song follows the recurring motif of Springsteen's writings; the yearning for a better life and a fresh start.
Line by Line Meaning
In the day we sweat it out on the streets
During the day we work hard on the streets
Of a runaway American dream
In pursuit of an unattainable American dream
At night we ride through the mansions of glory
At night we travel through wealthy neighborhoods
In suicide machines
In fast, dangerous cars
Sprung from cages on Highway 9
Escaped from confinement on Highway 9
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin' out over the line
Riding in flashy cars with powerful engines, pushing the limits
Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back
The town is very difficult and takes a toll on your body
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
The town is dangerous and difficult to survive in
We gotta get out while we're young
We have to leave before it's too late
'Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run
Because we are wanderers who were meant to travel
Yes, girl, we were
It's true
Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend
I want to be close to you and help you achieve your dreams
I wanna guard your dreams and visions
I want to protect your hopes and aspirations
Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims
Hold onto me tightly as we ride in my luxury car
And strap your hands 'cross my engines
Hold onto the car's engine for stability
Together we could break this trap
We can escape this difficult situation together
We'll run 'til we drop, baby, we'll never go back
We'll keep running until we can't anymore, and we won't look back
Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire?
Will you take a risk with me?
'Cause, baby, I'm just a scared and lonely rider
I'm afraid and alone, but I need you
But I gotta know how it feels
I need to experience it for myself
I want to know if love is wild
I want to know if love is exciting and unpredictable
Babe, I want to know if love is real
I want to know if love is genuine and authentic
Oh, can you show me
Will you teach me?
Beyond the Palace, hemi-powered drones
Outside the fancy buildings, powerful vehicles
Scream down the boulevard
Speed down the street
Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
Women groom themselves in car mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
Men try to look tough and cool
The amusement park rises bold and stark
The theme park stands out and is easily noticeable
Kids are huddled on the beach in the mist
Children are gathered on the beach in the fog
I wanna die with you, Wendy, on the street tonight
I want to spend my last moments with you tonight
In an everlasting kiss
Locked in an eternal embrace
(One, two, three, four)
Counting off the beat
The highway's jammed with broken heroes
The road is full of defeated people
On a last chance power drive
Giving it one last shot with everything you have
Everybody's out on the run tonight
Everyone is trying to escape
But there's no place left to hide
There's nowhere to go
Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness
We can endure the hardships together
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
I'll love you with all my passion and intensity
Oh, someday, girl, I don't know when
Someday, maybe, but I'm not sure when
We're gonna get to that place
We'll get to our destination
Where we really wanna go and we'll walk in the sun
Where we want to be and we'll enjoy life
But 'til then, tramps like us
But for now, we're wanderers
Baby, we were born to run
We were meant to travel and explore
Oh honey, tramps like us
We're wanderers
Baby, we were born to run
We were meant to travel the world
Come on with me, tramps like us
Come with me, my fellow wanderers
Baby, we were born to run
We were meant to go on adventures
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ajjimenez9140
LYRICS:
In the day we sweat it out on the streets
Of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through the mansions of glory
In suicide machines
Sprung from cages on Highway 9
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin' out over the line
Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
'Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run
Yes, girl, we were
Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend
I wanna guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims
And strap your hands 'cross my engines
Together we could break this trap
We'll run 'til we drop, baby, we'll never go back
Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire?
'Cause, baby, I'm just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta know how it feels
I want to know if love is wild
Babe, I want to know if love is real
Oh, can you show me
Beyond the Palace, hemi-powered drones
Scream down the boulevard
Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
Kids are huddled on the beach in the mist
I wanna die with you, Wendy, on the street tonight
In an everlasting kiss
The highway's jammed with broken heroes
On a last chance power drive
Everybody's out on the run tonight
But there's no place left to hide
Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Oh, someday, girl, I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place
Where we really wanna go and we'll walk in the sun
But 'til then, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Oh honey, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Come on with me, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run
Songwriters: Bruce Springsteen
@ryanmon1212
This was my Dads favorite song. He unfortunately passed away 3 days ago...Dad i'm playing this song loud in the apartment for you.
@peterpreece5411
Hope you are ok ❤❤
@donknotts85
Sorry for your loss Ryan. What a FANTASTIC song to remember your dad to. Rest easy bro
@jonnymill5520
X
@CP-os1pc
It is my favorite God bless ur dad
@billwine590
Sorry for your loss. Your dad had great taste.
@stephenoverthrow2463
How in God's name can anyone write a song like that at the age of 24/25 years is unbelievable. The greatest songwriter of our age! Must have heard Born to run 20 plus times live, you know what's coming, you know gonna happen, but it still blows your mind when the first and last chord is struck. Thanks for the ride, Bruce.
@user-sw4vi8bn6o
He wrote it at the age of 23! He said he wanted to write the greatest R&R song of all time! His quote, I think he succeeded!!
@MrJonpac
Only 20 times. I listen 20 times a day
@Char_H
I had to put my dog down during the summer of 2022, she had completely deteriorated and couldn’t really walk anymore. Her passing completely shattered my heart as she has been a major part of my life. As I’m driving away from the vets office this song starts playing and I just start bawling, this song gave me so much comfort in that moment and I felt like she was finally able to run again and be free. What an amazing song perfect for an amazing dog like her <3