Since forming in 1972, the band's members have changed; however, core members include saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan and, of course, guitarist/singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt joined the band while recording Born to Run and made this record at least possible. He became one of the most honored and most influential members.
Other musicians important to the band include guitarist Nils Lofgren (who stepped in after Van Zandt quit); guitarist/singer Patti Scialfa (who is also Springsten's wife); and pianist David Sancious and drummers "Mad Dog" Vini Lopez and Ernest "Boom" Carter, who all had left the band prior to Born to Run. Also, The Rising tour saw the official addition of violinist Soozie Tyrell.
In 1989 the band split up, after the massive success of the Born in the USA tour and the quieter Tunnel of Love tour. However, in 1999, the band reunited and embarked on a rather successful 18-month reunion tour - the "E-United Tour" - and now were powered by three guitars (Springsteen, Van Zandt and Lofgren, with Scialfa usually playing a fourth, acoustic guitar).
Following the events of September 11, 2001, Springsteen and the Band embarked on their first studio recordings (excepting a short recording session for Springsteen's 1995 Greatest Hits album) since 1984's Born in the U.S.A. The band recorded The Rising in 2002, and then hit the road for another marathon, two-year tour.
After The Rising, Springsteen recorded two more albums without the E Streeters followed by "Magic", released in October 2007 and featuring the hit single "Radio Nowhere". Magic was followed up by a traditionally strong tour throughout 2008, during which original band-member and friend Danny Federici passed away. Federici had already been temporarily replaced by Charlie Giordano, with whom Springsteen played the year before during the Seeger Sessions. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rounded the 100-show tour at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration.
On January 27, 2009 Springsteen's twenty-fourth album "Working on a Dream" will be released. According to the official press release, Working on a Dream was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album. A new tour for 2009 is expected to be announced soon. Springsteen and the E Street Band will play The Super Bowl halftime show on February 1, 2009.
Saturday 27th July 2009 saw Bruce and the E-Streeters played The Glastonbury Festival, England. This was the band's first-ever UK festival performance, a total of 135,000 people watched an epic, two-and-a-half hour headlining set.
Current members
* Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
* Garry Tallent - bass guitar, tuba
* Max Weinberg - drums, percussion (joined September 1974)
* Roy Bittan - piano, synthesizer (joined September 1974)
* Steven Van Zandt - lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals (officially joined July 1975 after playing in previous bands; left in 1984 to go solo; rejoined in early 1995) Steven Van Zandt
* Nils Lofgren - guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals (replaced Steven Van Zandt in June 1984; remained in group after Van Zandt returned)
* Patti Scialfa - backing and duet vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion (joined June 1984; became Springsteen's wife in 1991; they have a daughter and two sons)
* Soozie Tyrell - violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals (joined 2002, occasional appearances before that)
Former members
* Vinnie 'Mad Dog' Lopez - drums (inception through February 1974, when asked to resign)
* David Sancious - keyboards (June 1973 to August 1974)
* Ernest 'Boom' Carter - drums (February to August 1974)
* Suki Lahav - violin, backing vocals (September 1974 to March 1975)
* Danny Federici - organ, electronic glockenspiel, accordion, other keyboards (on medical leave of absence from late November 2007, temporarily replaced by Charles Giordano) (Danny passed away on April 17, 2008 after a battle with cancer.)
* Clarence Clemons - saxophone, percussion, backing vocals, larger-than-life persona and Springsteen foil (died 2011)
You Can Look
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for something pretty I could hang on my wall
I knocked over a lamp before it hit the floor I caught it
A salesman turned around said, boy, you break that thing you bought it
You can look but you better not touch boy
You can look but you better not touch
Mess around and you'll end up in dutch boy
Well I came home from work and I switched on channel five
There was a pretty little girly lookin' straight into my eyes
Well I watched as she wiggled back and forth across the screen
She didn't get me excited she just made me feel mean
You can look but you better not touch boy
You can look but you better not touch
Mess around and you'll end up in dutch boy
You can look but you better not, no you better not, no you better not touch
Well I called up Dirty Annie on the telephone
I took her out to the drive-in just to get her alone
I found a lover's rendezvous, the music low, set to park
I heard a tappin' on the window and a voice in the dark
You can look but you better not touch boy
You can look but you better not touch
Mess around and you'll end up in dutch boy
You can look but you better not, no you better not, no you better not touch
You can look but you better not touch boy
You can look but you better not touch
Mess around and you'll end up in dutch boy
You can look but you better not, no you better not, no you better not
No you better not, no you better not
I said you better not, so you better not, woah
The lyrics to Bruce Springsteen's song "You Can Look" are about the temptation and consequences of lusting after something that one cannot have. The singer starts by describing a trip to the mall, where he was looking for something pretty to hang on his wall. He accidentally knocks over a lamp, but catches it before it hits the floor. A salesman warns him that if he breaks something, he will have to buy it. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer is constantly reminded that he can look but not touch.
The second verse describes the singer watching a woman on TV, but instead of being attracted to her, he feels only anger and frustration. The third verse tells the story of the singer going on a date with "Dirty Annie", but even in the privacy of their car, they are interrupted by a tapping on the window and a voice in the dark. Throughout the song, the refrain reminds the listener of the consequences of giving in to temptation: "Mess around and you'll end up in Dutch."
The song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving in to our desires without considering the consequences. It also speaks to the idea that sometimes the things we want the most are the ones that we cannot have.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday I went shopping buddy down to the mall
The singer went to the mall to shop.
Looking for something pretty I could hang on my wall
The singer was looking for artwork to decorate their home.
I knocked over a lamp before it hit the floor I caught it
The singer accidentally knocked over a lamp but managed to catch it before it broke.
A salesman turned around said, boy, you break that thing you bought it
The salesman warned the artist that they would have to pay for the lamp if they dropped and broke it.
You can look but you better not touch boy
The artist is warning someone that they can look at something but should not touch it.
Mess around and you'll end up in dutch boy
If someone disobeys the warning and touches the object, they will be in trouble.
Well I came home from work and I switched on channel five
The singer came home from work and turned on the TV.
There was a pretty little girly lookin' straight into my eyes
A woman on the TV caught the artist's attention.
Well I watched as she wiggled back and forth across the screen
The artist watched as the woman moved seductively on the TV.
She didn't get me excited she just made me feel mean
The woman on the TV did not arouse the artist, but instead made them feel angry or frustrated.
Well I called up Dirty Annie on the telephone
The singer called someone named Dirty Annie.
I took her out to the drive-in just to get her alone
The artist went on a date with Dirty Annie to be alone with her.
I found a lover's rendezvous, the music low, set to park
The singer found a secluded spot to park and be intimate.
I heard a tappin' on the window and a voice in the dark
Someone tapped on the car window and spoke in a whisper, possibly interrupting the singer's romantic moment.
You can look but you better not touch boy
The singer is warning someone that they can look but should not touch something.
Mess around and you'll end up in dutch boy
If someone touches the object after being warned not to, they will face consequences.
No you better not, no you better not
The warning not to touch something is repeated for emphasis.
I said you better not, so you better not, woah
The singer emphasizes the warning again, adding urgency.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mervyn Dendy
Alongside The Who in 1970/71, Bruce at this stage of his career put on the best and most exciting live shows in the entire history of rock. Incredible! 🥰🥰
Lennon K
No artist has as much enthusiasm and energy as The Boss. I love the way he brings light and is very energetic, he jumps, hops, squeals and runs across the stage. 😍😍 You can see how much fun he is having and enjoying himself, he lives on the stage!
Györgyi Toth
😍
Oliver Whitby
One of the best vocal performances of all time you save me time after time thank you my god
Györgyi Toth
Nincr
Valquiria Bueno
Bruce é incrivelmente incrível 🎤🎸👏👏👏💘
Györgyi Toth
Noce
Rece Markou
Is it weird this is my favorite song by Bruce?
Robert Shea
no, all his songs are great, this one has great energy
Teodoro Medeiros
A bit 😃