She’s The One is one of the most emotionally charged and fervent rock songs I recall hearing and that’s why I rate it so highly on Bruce’s historic break-out record Born to Run. It often goes under the radar against other big name songs on the record like the last entry here – the title track, but after copious listens this track hasn’t lost any of its vigor or allure to my senses. From that pulsating piano rhythm by Roy Bittan in the opening and the captivating lyrics. Then boom! The simple guitar riff in time with the rhythmic pounding of Max Weinberg’s drums really get my rock juices flowing. The rest as seen in the ‘Barcelona’ performance below is just a coalesce of the best that rock has to offer. She’s the One has got to be in my top 10 Bruce Desert Island keepers.
It’s a crescendo rock song exploring themes of love, desire, and the destructive power of infatuation. The simplicity of its rock and roll form is deceptive. Lyrically, it touches on themes of romantic obsession and lust, but there’s a darker, more complicated undercurrent—the woman in the song is unattainable, and perhaps even destructive to the protagonist.
She’s The One was one of the songs that Springsteen wrote before beginning to record the Born to Run album, along with Born to Run, Thunder Road and Jungleland, although originally he was not sure whether to include it on the album. I bet he is relieved that he did because it became a fan favourite and a popular live selection being played 565 times. Springsteen has claimed that he wrote the song primarily because he wanted to hear E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons play its sax solo and high marks to him on achieving that. It’s also a nostalgic homage to the roots of rock and roll. We are talking about the apex of Rock’n Roll here.
[Verse 1]
With her killer graces
And her secret places
That no boy can fill
With her hands on her hips
Oh, and that smile on her lips
Because she knows that it kills me
With her soft French cream
Standing in that doorway like a dream
I wish she’d just leave me alone
Because French cream won’t soften them boots
And French kisses will not break that heart of stone
[Chorus 1]
With her long hair falling
And her eyes that shine like a midnight sun
Oh, she’s the one
She’s the one
Hey! Hey!
[Verse 2]
That thunder in your heart
At night when you’re kneeling in the dark
It says you’re never gonna leave her
But there’s this angel in her eyes
That tells such desperate lies
And all you want to do is believe her
And tonight you’ll try just one more time
To leave it all behind and to break on through
Oh, she can take you, but if she wanna break you
She’s gonna find out that ain’t so easy to do
[Chorus 2]
And no matter where you sleep
Tonight or how far you run
Oh, she’s the one
She’s the one
[Bridge]
Oh, and just one kiss
She’d fill them long summer nights with her tenderness
That secret pact you made
Back when her love could save you from the bitterness
Oh, she’s the one
References:
1. She’s the One (Bruce Springsteen song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Oh, Lord have mercy!!! I was so ecstatic when I saw him in Dallas last year and he played this. It was a highlight in a show chock full of them.
This one?
That’s the one!
There is not a song on that album that I don’t like…love this one.
I’ve grown a bit tired of a couple, but the rest especially ‘She’s the One’ and ‘Backstreets’ have improved over time. The clincher for me when I first heard it was ‘Thunder Road’. I played that song more than any other song in my youth, if I had to guess.
Yea I’ve heard the album a lot no doubt…I try not to count that against it… but sometimes it’s hard not to
Do you think you have heard any other album by him more than this one such as ‘The River’ or Greetings?
BTR is in my top 10 ‘Desert Island’ rock records no doubt.
On my own…yes Greetings but in General…no….this one is it…oh and Born in the USA
I couldn’t get into Greetings like I did The Wild as we have said to death. BITUSA was so monumental and as I read being the highest selling album behind ‘Thriller’.
Oh it was huge and I had the cassette in my car at the time…I wore BITUSA out.