New York City Serenade
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics

Billy, he's down by the railroad tracks
Billy is sitting by the railroad tracks.

Sittin' low in the back seat of his Cadillac
Billy is sitting in the back seat of his Cadillac.

Diamond Jackie, she's so intact
Diamond Jackie is beautiful and unharmed.

And she falls so softly beneath him
Billy and Diamond Jackie are together and in love.

Jackie's heels are stacked, Billy's got cleats on his boots
Jackie is wearing high heels and Billy is wearing boots with cleats.

Together they're gonna boogaloo down Broadway and come back home with the loot
Billy and Jackie plan to dance down Broadway and return home with stolen goods.

It's midnight in Manhattan, this is no time to get cute
It's late at night in Manhattan, they can't afford to be foolish.

It's a mad dog's promenade
The streets are dangerous and chaotic.

So walk tall, or baby, don't walk at all
They must be confident and strong or not walk at all.

Fish lady, fish lady, fish lady, she baits them tenement walls
The woman sells fish and puts bait on tenement walls to attract customers.

She won't take corner boys, ain't got no money and they're so easy
The woman won't sell to young men without money because they are too easy to cheat.

I said, "Hey baby, won't you take my hand, walk with me down Broadway
The artist asks the woman to walk with him down Broadway.

Oh mama take my hand, and walk with me down Broadway, yeah
The singer asks the woman to take his hand and walk with him down Broadway.

I'm a young man and I talk real loud, yeah baby, walk real proud for you
The singer is a proud young man who talks loudly and wants to impress the woman.

So shake it away, so shake away your street life
He urges her to leave her old life behind.

And hook up to the train
He suggests she leave with him on a train.

But I know that she won't take the train
He knows she is too afraid to take the train with him.

She's afraid them tracks are gonna slow her down
The woman is scared that the train will slow her down.

And when she turns, this boy'll be gone
She knows that when she turns around, the singer will be gone.

So long, sometimes you just gotta walk on, walk on
Sometimes you just have to move on.

Hey vibes man, hey jazz man, oh play me your serenade
The artist wants a musician to play a bluesy tune for him.

Any deeper blue and you're playin' in your grave
He wants a deep, mournful tune.

Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the blues boy
He warns the musician not to waste all his talent on playing the blues.

Save your notes, don't spend 'em on the darlin' yearlin' sharp boy
He advises the musician not to waste his talent on shallow womenizers.

Straight for the church note ringin', vibes man sting a trash can
He wants the music to have a religious feel and doesn't mind if it's played on unconventional instruments.

Listen to your junk man
He tells the musician to listen to the man who collects scrap metal.

Ah, listen to your junk man
He emphasizes the importance of listening to the junk man.

He's singin', singin', he's singin', singin'
The junk man is singing.

All dressed up in satin, walkin' past the alley
The junk man is wearing fancy clothes and walking past an alley.

Singin', singin', singin', singin'
The junk man is still singing.

Watch out for your junk man
He warns to be careful around the junk man.