Born To Run
London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin' out over the line
Oh-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 want to 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 till we drop, baby we'll never go back
Oh-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 a mist
I wanna die with you Wendy on the street tonight
In an everlasting kiss

1-2-3-4!

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-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 till 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

Ru-uh-uh-un
Mm-mm-mm-mm
Uh-uh-uh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Ru-uh-uh-uh-un
Mm-mm-mm-mm
Whoa-oh-oh-oh




Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Ru-uh-uh-un

Overall Meaning

The song "Born to Run" by the London Symphony Orchestra is an ode to the American Dream and the human desire for escape. The opening lines set up the contrast between the dreary reality of everyday life and the shimmering promise of wealth and adventure. It's a song about the search for something more, for a life that isn't dictated by circumstance or fate. The verse about "Sprung from cages out on highway 9" is a reference to the New Jersey Turnpike, where Bruce Springsteen grew up, and the sense of restlessness and confinement that can come from living in a place where you feel trapped or trapped in. The chorus is a rallying cry for the restless, the dreamers, and those who refuse to accept the hand they've been dealt. It's a song about fighting against the odds, about taking risks, and about living life to the fullest.


The second verse is about connection and companionship. It's about finding someone who shares your dreams and desires and who can help you break free from the chains that bind you. Wendy is a recurring character in Springsteen's songs, often portrayed as a symbol of hope and liberation. Here, she represents a kind of salvation, a beacon of light in a world that is often dark and oppressive. The imagery of wrapping legs around "velvet rims" and strapping hands across "engines" is a metaphor for the thrill of the road, the rush of speed, and the thrill of danger. It's about finding someone who is willing to take risks with you, who is brave enough to face the unknown, and who is as excited about the journey as you are.


The song's bridge is a kind of manifesto for the human spirit. It's about the need to push boundaries, to test limits, and to explore what it means to be alive. The stanza about the "amusement park rising bold and stark" is a nod to the fleeting nature of childhood, to the moment when we realize that life is not always fair or just. The final verse is about never giving up, about holding onto hope, and about believing that someday, we'll find the place we were meant to be. It's a song about the beauty of the journey, not just the destination, and about the power of the human spirit to persevere in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream
During the day, we work hard on the streets, striving for the American Dream.


At night we ride through the mansions of glory in suicide machines
At night, we're driving fast through wealthy neighbourhoods in our cars that could be dangerous.


Sprung from cages out on highway 9, Chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin' out over the line
We've escaped from confinement on the highway, driving fast with our high-tech cars.


Oh-oh, Baby this town rips the bones from your back
This town is so harsh that it wears us down both physically and emotionally.


It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
Living here is dangerous and puts us at risk of harm or death.


We gotta get out while we're young
We need to leave this place before it's too late.


'Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
As outsiders, we were made to run and live fast-paced lives.


Wendy let me in I wanna be your friend
I want to be close to you and form a strong bond.


I want to guard your dreams and visions
I want to protect and support your goals and aspirations.


Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims
Put your trust in me and we'll live life on the edge together.


And strap your hands 'cross my engines
Hold on tight as we go through life with a sense of danger and excitement.


Together we could break this trap
If we work together, we can escape the dangers and struggles of this town.


We'll run till we drop, baby we'll never go back
We'll keep pushing forward until we're exhausted because we can't go back to the way things were.


Oh-oh, will you walk with me out on the wire
Will you take risks with me and walk on the edge of danger?


'Cause baby I'm just a scared and lonely rider
Even though I push myself to the limit, I still feel scared and alone.


But I gotta know how it feels
I need to experience the thrill of living dangerously.


I want to know if love is wild
I want to know if love can be just as intense as the dangerous lifestyle we live.


Babe I want to know if love is real
I want to know if love is genuine and can stand the test of time.


Beyond the Palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard
Powerful cars speed through the city making loud noises.


Girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
Women are always looking out for themselves and getting ready to move forward.


And the boys try to look so hard
Men are trying to look tough and strong even though they may feel scared or unsure.


The amusement park rises bold and stark
The bright lights of the amusement park shine brightly against the dark night sky.


Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist
Children are gathering on the beach in a dense fog.


I wanna die with you Wendy on the street tonight
I want to experience life - good or bad - with you, Wendy, on the street tonight.


In an everlasting kiss
We'll be forever bonded by this moment and our love for each other.


The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
People in a desperate situation are speeding down the highway towards their last chance at freedom or success.


Everybody's out on the run tonight
Everyone is trying to escape their current reality and live a life of adventure.


But there's no place left to hide
Despite our efforts to escape, there's nowhere left to go.


Together Wendy we can live with the sadness
If we stick together, we can endure the tough times and sadness that come with life.


I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
I'll love you with all of the intensity and passion that comes with our dangerous lifestyle.


Oh-oh, someday girl I don't know when
At some point in the future, we don't know when, we'll achieve our dreams.


We're gonna get to that place
We'll arrive at our desired destination.


Where we really wanna go
We'll end up where we truly want to be.


And we'll walk in the sun
We'll finally be able to live a happy and content life in the light of day.


But till then tramps like us Baby we were born to run
Until we reach our goals, we'll keep running and living a life that's on the edge.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Fernando

Beautiful!

Loes Krüger-Smith

Dit is even wat anders maar zeker niet minder mooi! LoveIt!

Luke Simpson

I MUST get this CD box set!

Slaughter013

thanks for the upload...the jazz or orchestral covers of this song are better than the original in my opinion. GREAT MUSIC!

Oliver's Elevators

@joe jitsu if you don't have anything useful to add, don't even bother saying anything. It's awesome that traditional orchestras are respecting one of the best rock songs in history, and they're not trying to rewrite it - that's why it sounds just like the original. It sounds really cool to have all the orchestral instruments, especially the chimes and timpani, and I'm glad this cover was made.

Mike Bliss

@joe jitsu The song is actually INCREDIBLY heroic despite the otherwise bleak outlook. The main character is determined to get to that special place with his girl no matter how long it takes them, even if he can only reach it in death.

It took me 27 years to understand this song (half because I couldn't understand what the hell Bruce was saying, and half because I just hadn't experienced enough life to understand it yet), but it's actually one of the most Romantic and optimistic songs I've ever heard.

I don't agree with all the orchestration choices, but this is a damn good job.

Jon B

It's a good cover but you're just wrong. That is all.

EricH_1983

@Slaughter013 True, I like your opinion!?!

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