Blinded by the Light
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen. It was originally released as the first track on his first album, Greetings from Asbury Park N.J. (1973); as the first single from that album it was a dud, failing to chart, although the track later gained airplay on progressive rock radio. It then attained its greatest success when it was remade by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, whose version reached Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1977. As of 2006, the Manfred Mann's Earth Band recording of "Blinded by the Light" is still Springsteen's only Number 1 single as a songwriter on the Hot 100.
Springsteen wrote the song after most of the others on Greetings were finished, and was intended to be the first single, which it was. It is also one of the few songs Springsteen ever wrote the words to before arranging the music. Those swiftly-paced, jumbled lyrics are stream of consciousness descriptions of a series of bizarre individuals he met while a young artist in New Jersey. Playing small venues, such as bars along the Jersey Shore, Springsteen recounts various characters from these events. He alludes to Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, then his drummer, in the opening line "Madman drummers", as well as the "silicone sister" (bartender, possibly referring to an erotic dancer) who encourages him to play a particular, unknown song. United by the chorus: "Yeah (s)he was blinded by the light/Cut loose like a deuce another runner in the night/Blinded by the light/(S)he got down but (s)he never got tight, but (s)he's gonna make it (alright) tonight", the song goes on to chronicle Springsteen's trouble to get the bar patrons, who rarely cared about or even heard the music, to get excited and into the performance.
The central reference is to the religious conversion of Paul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, but Springsteen was referring metaphorically to the music industry and wealth and fame.
The lyrics of the song feature extensive use of internal rhyme in lines such as the following:
- Some brimstone baritone anti-cyclone rolling stone preacher from the east
- He says "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in its funnybone, that's where they expect it least."
The chorus of the song features the commonly misunderstood lyric, "Blinded by the light, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night." ("Deuce" refers to a '32 Ford Deuce Coupe.) Many listeners incorrectly hear the word "douche" in place of "deuce." Manfred Mann changed this line slightly (as "revved up like a deuce") and repeated it much more frequently in their version than Springsteen did in the original; they also omitted parts of the verses and rearranged the order of the remaining lyrics. The lyrics "wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night" may be clearly heard on the Earth Band's version. On later live performances of this song by the original Earth Band vocalist Chris Thompson, he can be heard singing "wrapped up like a DEUCE, another runner in the night".
Springsteen's version has been described as folky and acoustic compared to the Earth Band's harder rock take on the song, which prominently features early electronic keyboards. The theme from the popular Piano song 'Chopsticks' is played throughout the song.
However, Bruce Springsteen, in his 2005 VH1 Storytellers appearance, lightheartedly made the assertion that the sole reason that Manfred Mann's version of the song went to number one is that the altered lyric is actually "revved up like a douche". Bruce said, "The original lyric is 'cut loose like a deuce' referring to a two seat hot-rod, a little deuce coupe. Manfred Mann changed the lyric to 'revved up like a douche.' which is a feminine hygienic procedure." It should be noted, however, that Manfred Mann's Website lists the lyric as "deuce" rather than "douche". It was once rumored that Chris Thompsons' New Zealand accent may be responsible for swapping deuce for douche.
A reference to the song was made in an episode of Saturday Night Live, where David Spade plays a character who cannot make sense of the lyrics to the refrain of the song. The short-lived sketch comedy show The Vacant Lot featured a group of friends, all with their own different interpretations.
The mondegreen was further referenced in an episode of VH1's animated show ILL-ustrated, where P. Diddy opts to sample Manfred Mann's version for his new song, and dresses up as a douche in the video as the sky rains boxes of feminine hygiene products. Upon being informed of the correct line, he no longer wishes to use the song.
Listen close to the Earth Band song and you will hear what sounds like a splice in the audio tape, at the second chorus exactly before the word 'night' is sung the second time. This 'splice' sound can be heard when playing the song in stereo, but it is more noticeable when playing the song in mono.
[edit] External links
- "Blinded by the Light" lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's official site
- Lyrics to Manfred Mann's cover of "Blinded by the Light"
| Preceded by: "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary MacGregor | Billboard Hot 100 number one single February 19 1977 | Succeeded by: "New Kid in Town" by Eagles |
