Yesterday afternoon I was strolling on my way to check out a newly opened cultural centre and cinema called Lumina. I went to see The Mastermind, which was just released here two days ago. I’m already eyeing the new Springsteen biopic, set to launch there next Thursday – though, if the early critics are to be believed, it’s not exactly setting the world on fire.
Anyway, as I was approaching Lumina, today’s featured song came on my music player and quite literally put a spring in my step. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out sounds unlike anything else on Born to Run, an album that still sits proudly in my top ten ‘all-time’ list. Where most of that record contains cinematic street epics and operatic rock, Tenth Avenue sounds like it belongs in a soul club on a Saturday night – which is apt given the day of this article’s release. It’s a song which tells a semi-mythic version of the formation of the E Street Band.
To my ears, the song’s sound is a cross between James Brown’s funk-voice and soul rhythm, and Motown’s driven pop – all filtered through Springsteen’s gritty Jersey poetry. My favourite moments are when Bruce hollers “I’m on my own” (kind of a prelude to how he commences – Racing in the Street on the next record) and then declares, “The Big Man joined the band!” – at which point Clarence Clemons takes over with a short saxophone solo that always makes the hair on my arms stand on end.
Springsteen met him in 1971 when Clemons came into a club called the Student Prince in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where Bruce was playing. It was a stormy night, and the door flew off the hinges when Clemons opened it. Springsteen would talk about how he “Literally blew the door off the place.”
– Songfacts
Now, onto a personal story I never tire of telling – and please forgive me if you’ve heard it before. I was so spellbound by Born to Run in my youth that I handwrote an entire lyrics booklet for the album, complete with a little string to bind the pages together. Lyrics weren’t so easily accessible back then, so I transcribed what I thought Bruce was singing, like a devoted scribe of a great musical sermon. Alongside Mike Batt’s Tarot Suite (1979), Born to Run remains one of the most cherished albums of my youth.
Most of the following was abridged from the Wikipedia article below:
Springsteen stated in the Wings for Wheels documentary about the Born to Run record “I still have no idea what it means (Tenth Avenue). But it’s important.” The song’s protagonist, “Bad Scooter“, is a pseudonym for Springsteen himself (as indicated by the initials they share). The idea for the composition of the horn intro was Steven Van Zandt’s. The single was a chart dud, getting no higher than No. 83 on the Billboard in early 1976. But the song it’s said is one of his most popular live songs and has always had a strong following on album-oriented rock radio and amongst Springsteen’s fan base.
After Clemons’ death, Springsteen used the song as a memorial/tribute to both him and the late Danny Federici on the Wrecking Ball Tour, the first E Street Band tour without Clemons. During the song’s third verse of “Big Man joined the band“, Springsteen paused the song where Clemons’ sax solo would traditionally be performed while a video of Clemons and Federici played on the stage screens.
[Verse 1]
Tear drops on the city
Bad Scooter searching for his groove
Seem like the whole world walking pretty
And you can’t find the room to move
Well everybody better move over, that’s all
‘Cause I’m running on the bad side
And I got my back to the wall
[Chorus 1]
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
[Verse 2]
Well, I was stranded in the jungle
Tryin’ to take in all the heat they was giving
Till the night is dark but the sidewalks bright
And lined with the light of the living
From a tenement window a transistor blasts
Turn around the corner, things got real quiet real fast
[Chorus 2]
I walked into a Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out
[Bridge]
And I’m all alone, I’m all alone
And kid you better get the picture
And I’m on my own, I’m on my own
And I can’t go home
[Verse 3]
When the change was made uptown
And the Big Man joined the band
From the coastline to the city
All the little pretties raise their hands
I’m gonna sit back right easy and laugh
When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half
References:
1. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out – 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 
You know who I think of when I hear this song? A little Van Morrison and some Stax records in there…it’s one of my favorites off of that album. Transcribing lyrics is hard at times…we had to do it when we covered a song back then…Springsteen and Jagger was not easy.
Thanks for the heads-up about Stax Records, Max — I’d actually never heard of them until you mentioned it! Clearly, you’re more familiar with the musical influences of that era (and genre) than I am. Also, I hadn’t considered that cover bands would had to transcribe lyrics as well. Ouch.
Btw, nice win by your lot last night. Yamamoto is having a PS to die for.
You would like Stax a lot. Bascially Matt…and this is just me but Motown was more smooth pop-soul…. Stax was more rough R&B soul… so Stax had an edge to it.
You wouldn’t believe the words I would sing to Brown Sugar. I just sang them like it sounded…of course I never came close to the right words.
They needed at least one win in Toronto so that was a welcomed relief last night. He was brilliant!
Soul and R&B are hardly at the top of my preferred genre list, but of course I love how Bruce and Stevie incorporated it in Tenth Avenue.
That would’ve been hilarious — seeing you singing the wrong lyrics to Brown Sugar (not that I would’ve noticed!). So no one ever corrected you, or did they just not know any better either — like me?
I’m looking forward to tonight’s game Max. I’ll never forget Ohtani’s miraculous game last week. Is it the best ever game you have seen by an MLB player?
Cheers man.
No one corrected me…because they didn’t know the words!
Oh last night’s game. I was up til 2am in the morning…that was like two heavy weight fighters going at it… The Jays are much tougher than last year’s Yankees.
Game 3 I saw up until the end of the 9th inning. Tiredness took hold of me, but I’m glad Freddy stepped up in the 18th. I hope you ended up getting some sleep after all that excitement.
Last night – Game 4 was a wake-up call. I don’t know why they sent Ohtani out again in the 7th. Even the commentators here said he should be taken out in the sixth – he was looking tired too – even before then. Obviously tonight is just about a ‘must win’ scenario for Dodgers given they are going back to Toronto for the remainder. Good luck to your boys.
Oh…they didn’t have another starter that could start…I agree…he looked gassed as well as everyone else…
Thanks man…yea…it should be a good series…good thing is they have Yamamoto pitching Saturday…so that is a positive…he has been lights out.
They’ll put Yamamoto in on Friday won’t they? That Toronto novice pitcher Trey Yesavage is a stud – also his overhead like action is so impressive.
I’m sorry to be a downer, but I really don’t like the Dodgers chances from here on in – unless they miraculously find their bats again like they did pre – World Series.
Yea but unless he shuts them out…they are in trouble. Matt…their offense didn’t get going against the Phillies, Brewers, and now the Blue Jays…6 runs is the most they scored since September……Mookie is not hitting at all…
Yep…if they don’t find out how to hit again…they are toast
Ok, I stand corrected on the offense during PS.
Have a good day Max.
Oh they should with that lineup! It’s almost like a team slump…but Mookie is the one that is just not hitting.
Yeh, Mookie is like 4 for 35 or something. May be his mega gold chain is starting to weigh him down ;-P
LOL…I will tell you what it is I think…this is the first year he played Short Stop…which converting from Outfield to Shortstop is totally unheard of Matt…but even he admitted and other shortstops have said…it wears you down. He will win a gold glove but I would move him to second or outfield again…even he admitted that it took a toll on him physically.
I didn’t know any of this. That’s interesting – thanks for enlightening me. Got the fingers crossed for tonight.
Yea…at least force a game 7 where anything could happen.
There’s no excuses with Yamamoto pitching. Go down swinging lads.
“Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” is one of my all-time favorite Springsteen songs. As Max noted, it’s got a neat Stax vibe. That’s not a coincidence. Little Steven, who came up with the horn parts on the spot in the studio, is a huge Stax fan.
I’m planning to see “Deliver Me From Nowhere” tonight. Based on what I’ve read, this is NOT a film for more casual Springsteen listeners. It’s also not your typical biopic telling most or all of an artist’s career.
Instead, the film narrowly focuses on the making of “Nebraska,” which I think is fair to say is not the most accessible Springsteen album, especially when you predominantly know him from other albums like “Born to Run”, “The River” and “Born in the U.S.A.”
Regarding Stax — as I was just telling Max — I’m not familiar with them and in no way a connoisseur of the kind of music they put out. I also had no idea Little Steven was a fan of their records. You guys are full of great info!
I’m looking forward to reading what you thought of the movie. There seems to be quite a range of opinions even among Springsteen fans!
Great MF song. Great album. I used to get this album out from the library before I owned it & then I played it to death. LOVE LOVE LOVE Springsteen. Saw him in concert in 1978, man HE ROCKED.
If I had to pick just one album to introduce someone to Springsteen, it would undoubtedly be this one. I love that you first borrowed it from the library — that’s sweet, haha.
Springsteen live in ’78 — now that must have been a mind-blowing concert! Lucky you, gal.
Love Music by the Boss. Thank you.
BRUUUUUUCE!
That’s why he’s never actually been booed — haha.
👍. 😊
This is my least favorite song off Born to Run, just because all the other songs on here are so epic, but it’s a fun tune and, like you said, it’s always a big hit live.
Mine is ‘Meeting Across the River’ – the only song from BTR I haven’t featured yet. ‘Tenth Avenue’ has grown on me over time. I agree it’s a lot of fun. It’s cool to get your feedback. Thanks.