Bruce Springsteen
Freehold (Live at Continental Airlines Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ - 7/18/1999]
This one's for you ma !
I was born right here on Randolph street in Freehold
Here right behind that big red maple in Freehold
I went to school right here
Got laid and had my first beer
Here in Freehold
Well, my folks all lived and worked right here in Freehold
I remember running up the street, past the convent to the church in Freehold
I chased my daddy down in these bars
I first fell in love with this guitar
Here in Freehold
I had my first kiss at the YMCA canteen on a Friday night
Maria Espinosa, baby where are you tonight?
You were 13 but way ahead of your time
I walked home with a limp but I felt just fine
That night in Freehold
Well, the girls at Freehold Regional yeah they all looked pretty fine
I had my heart broke at least a half a dozen times
Now I wonder do they miss me ? Do they still get the itch ?
Would they have dumped me if they knew I'd strike it rich?
Straight out of Freehold
Well, lot of good folks gave us kids a hand in Freehold
When we started up our rock and roll band in Freehold
Yeah we learned pretty quick how to rock it
I'll never forget the feeling of that first 5 bucks in my pocket
That I earned in Freehold
Well, I got out of here hard and fast from Freehold
Everybody wanted to kick my ass back then in Freehold
Well, if you were different, or black or brown
It was a pretty redneck town
Back then in Freehold
Well now, something broke my daddy's back in Freehold
He left and for 30 years he'd never come back
'cept once he drove from California in just three days
Called my relatives some dirty names
And pulled straight out of Freehold
Now he's there by the highway buried in the dirt
His ghost flippin' the bird
To everybody in Freehold
Well, my sister got pregnant at 17 in Freehold
Well back then people they could be pretty mean
Ah honey, you had a rough road to go
Now you ain't made of nothin' but soul
I love you more than you'll ever know
We both survived Freehold
Well, my buddy Mike, well, he's the mayor now in Freehold
I remember when we had a lot more hair in Freehold
I left and swore I'd never walk those streets again, Jack
Now all I can say is "holy shit, I'm back!"
Back in Freehold
Well I read something in the papers a few weeks ago, it was pretty funny
The town council was debating whether to put up a statue of me in my hometown
But it costs too much money
Well I'd like to thank the town council my friends
For saving me from the humiliation
And displaying the good hard common sense
We learned in Freehold
Well, this summer everything was green
Rode my kids on the fire engine through the streets of Freehold
I bored them with where dad was born and raised
And first felt the sun on his face
In Freehold
Well, I still got a lot of real good friends back there
I can usually find me a free beer somewhere
With offers of free meals I am blessed
Should I go crazy, blow all my money, hit the tabloids, become fatter for moronic talk shows, turn my life into a complete fuckin' mess
Well at least I'll never go hungry I guess
In Freehold
I got a good Catholic education in Freehold
It led to an awful lot of masturbation in Freehold
Well, father, it was just something I did for a smile
Hell, I still get a good one off once in a while
I dedicate it to Freehold
Don't get me wrong, I ain't puttin' anybody down
In the end it all just goes and comes around
In my hometown
Back in Freehold