Detroit Medley
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Devil with a blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with a blue dress on
Devil with a blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Devil with a blue dress on
Fee, fee, fi, fi, fo, fo, fum
Look at Molly now, here she comes
Wearin' her wig hat and shades to match
She's got high-heel shoes and an alligator hat
Wearin' her pearls and her diamond rings
She's got bracelets on her fingers, now, and everything
She's the devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress,
Devil with the blue dress on
Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress,
Devil with the blue dress on
Wearin' her perfume, Channel # 5
Got to be the finest looking woman alive
She looks so pretty every time she walks by
The boys are too nervous even to say "Hi"
Not too skinny, she's not too fat
She's a real humdinger and I like it like that
She's the devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress,
Devil with the blue dress on
Devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress,
Devil with the blue dress on

("Good Golly Miss Molly" interlude:)
Good golly, Miss Molly, you sure like to ball
Good golly, Miss Molly, you sure like to ball
While you're rockin' and rollin'
Can't you hear your mama call
From the early, early mornin' 'til the early, early nights
See Miss Molly rockin' at the House of Blue Lights
Good golly, Miss Molly, you sure like to ball
While you're rockin' and rollin'
Can't you hear your mama call
Hey!
Oh see, see see rider
Oh see, what you have done now
Oh see, see see rider
I said see, what you have done now
Ahh You made me love you
now, now, now your man has gone

Oh, I'm going with my baby, and I won't be back till fall yeah
Oh, I'm going with my baby, and I won't be back till fall yeah
And if I find me a new girl, I won't be back at all

Ah Jenny Jenny Jenny, wont you come along with me
Jenny Jenny Jenny, wont you come along with me
I worry bout you baby (?spendin nights in misery?)

Spinnin', spinnin' spinnin' spinnin' like a spinnin' top
Spinnin', spinnin' spinnin' spinnin' like a spinnin' top
Come along baby (?...feelin' love?)

Yeah see, see see rider
Oh see, what you have done now
Oh see, see see rider
Ah come on see, what you have done now
Ahh You made me love you
now, now, now, now your man has gone
Ah Jenny Jenny Jenny, wont you come along with me
Jenny Jenny Jenny, wont you come along with me
Come along girl (??)




Spin spin spinnin like a spinnin top
Spin spin spinnin like a spinnin top

Overall Meaning

"Detroit Medley" is a song by Bruce Springsteen that features a medley of various R&B and rock and roll hits. The first section of the song is a cover of the song "Devil with a Blue Dress" by Shorty Long that tells the story of a woman named Molly who is the "devil with the blue dress on." The song describes Molly as being a beautiful woman who is well-dressed, well-groomed, and smells great. The men who see her are too nervous to talk to her, but they can't help but be attracted to her.


The song then transitions into a cover of "Good Golly Miss Molly" by Little Richard, which is a fun, upbeat song about a woman who likes to party and dance. The final section of the song is a cover of "See See Rider," a blues song that tells the story of a man who has been left by his lover and is now trying to move on. The song ends with a reference to "Jenny Jenny," another well-known R&B hit.


Overall, "Detroit Medley" is a fun, energetic tribute to the R&B and rock and roll hits of the past, and it shows Springsteen's love and appreciation for these genres.


Line by Line Meaning

Devil with a blue dress, blue dress, blue dress
Referring to a woman who is wearing a blue dress


Devil with a blue dress on
The woman is actually wearing a blue dress


Fee, fee, fi, fi, fo, fo, fum
Nonsense words with no real meaning, used to introduce the next line


Look at Molly now, here she comes
Drawing attention to the woman who is approaching


Wearin' her wig hat and shades to match
Describing the accessories that the woman is wearing


She's got high-heel shoes and an alligator hat
Continuing to describe the woman's outfit


Wearin' her pearls and her diamond rings
Describing the jewelry that the woman is wearing


She's got bracelets on her fingers, now, and everything
More description of the woman's accessories


She's the devil with the blue dress, blue dress, blue dress,
Repeating the earlier statement about the woman's dress


Devil with the blue dress on
Reinforcing the fact that the woman is actually wearing a blue dress


Wearin' her perfume, Channel # 5
Describing the scent of the woman's perfume


Got to be the finest looking woman alive
Expressing admiration for the woman's appearance


She looks so pretty every time she walks by
Further emphasis on the woman's attractiveness


The boys are too nervous even to say "Hi"
Observing that the woman's beauty intimidates men


Not too skinny, she's not too fat
Commenting on the woman's physical proportions


She's a real humdinger and I like it like that
Expressing the artist's appreciation for the woman's appearance


Good golly, Miss Molly, you sure like to ball
Addressing the woman directly, implying that she is promiscuous


While you're rockin' and rollin'
Reference to dancing, the genre of the music


Can't you hear your mama call
Imagining the woman as a child who is disregarding parental responsibilities


From the early, early mornin' 'til the early, early nights
Once again referencing the woman's promiscuity


See Miss Molly rockin' at the House of Blue Lights
Naming a specific venue where the woman can be found dancing


Oh see, see see rider
Beginning a new section of the song, which is about a different person or situation


I said see, what you have done now
Asking the person being addressed to take responsibility for some negative action


Ahh You made me love you
Expressing that the artist has become emotionally invested in the addressed person


now, now, now your man has gone
Alluding to the possibility that their relationship may have caused someone else to leave


Oh, I'm going with my baby, and I won't be back till fall yeah
Announcing the singer's plans to go away with their significant other for the season


And if I find me a new girl, I won't be back at all
Suggesting that the singer would not hesitate to move on to someone else if they met the right person


Ah Jenny Jenny Jenny, wont you come along with me
Switching to addressing a new person, the artist is inviting someone named Jenny to join them


I worry bout you baby (?spendin nights in misery?)
Expressing concern for the addressed person's well-being


Spinnin', spinnin' spinnin' spinnin' like a spinnin' top
Describing the feeling of infatuation


Come along baby (?...feelin' love?)
Inviting the addressed person to join in the feeling of love and infatuation


Ah come on see, what you have done now
Repeating the earlier request for the addressed person to take responsibility for their actions


now, now, now, now your man has gone
Reiteration of the idea that the addressed person's actions have caused someone to leave


Come along girl (??)
Repeating the invitation for the addressed person to join the artist


Spin spin spinnin like a spinnin top
Reiterating the feeling of infatuation


Spin spin spinnin like a spinnin top
Repetition of the earlier line




Contributed by Annabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@ronweber2303

Anyone that says they " don't like Springsteen" has NEVER SEEN Springsteen!

@ronoord5410

Bruce is brilliant, fantastic, fabuleus , one of af a kind, next level! The boss rules!👊🏼

@pennyt9535

No fancy stage sets, no fancy designer outfits, nothing but PURE TALENT and showmanship! and NO phones in the audience, just people enjoying a concert! this is the best!

@Leeder1109

well this was 1980.... nobody had those cel phones

@dszfafreyiu3400

Seen him do over a 4-Hour show in Chicago in78 and80
it was fantastic

@claudio_calcagno

Ricordo l'esperienza dei concerti quando avevo 20 anni. L'importante era esserci e goderseli. L'attesa per i biglietti. Le code davanti al negozio da prima dell'alba sperando ne arrivassero abbastanza, la preparazione atletica per essere in forma e non sentire la fatica. Il viaggio di andata in auto con gli amici e lo stereo ad alto volume. La coda davanti al cancello con una bottiglia d'acqua. Niente zainetti per non perdere tempo ai controlli. La corsa nello stadio per arrivare primi. E poi 3 ore di godimento cantando e ballando. Il giorno dopo pensavi 6 kg in meno ed eri senza voce. Poi sono arrivati i pit. Gli ingressi scaglionati. Le lotterie per assegnare l'ordine di ingresso.. gli smartphone con cui oggi tutti vogliono portarsi le immagini a casa piu impegnati a registrare che a divertirsi. Forse per la sicurezza è meglio così, ma è come fare una corsa in macchina col limitatore impostato sul cruis control

@cheddarcheese7928

The Greatest live performer EVER!!..If I was there during this performance I think my head would of popped off!.Incredible!!

@markrushton1516

It was that level every night which was crazy. Plus the set list changed night to night

@liberpettis9228

Stop him! No, better not! The E Street Band and Bruce at their peak!!!!!

@JH_75

Ive seen every tour since 1992 and have always had my mind blown, but this is a different level. The guy is just a force of nature. What I would give to go back in time and be in this crowd. He's a damn superhero. Bruce! There is just no one else like him.

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