Bruce Springsteen

Santa Ana

Bruce Springsteen


From the tin rooftop the little boy did watch 
The procession down through town 
Through the museum where Daniel whupped the Devil 
With them boys from the underground 
Where the Giants of Science fight for tight control 

Over the wildlands of New Mexico 
Sam Houston's ghost's in Texas fighting for his soul 
And the townsfolk rest uneasy beneath the guns of Kid Cole 
And the kid says: "Hey, where's Santa Ana 
He who could romance the dumb into talking 
Take a chance with me tonight, my contessa, 
If it don't work out I ain't lame, I can walk" 
Now some folks think cancer's taken to the streets of this town 
But Sandy eats her candy and then lays her money down 
Them cats are in from the canyons to strut their stuff in town 
But there's only secret sinners here 
Lord, there's only secret thieves 
Only a fool would try to save 
What the desert chose to leave 
And hey there se¤orita, 
With your playboys in their Spanish bandanas 
French cream won't soften those boots, baby 
French kisses will not break your heart 

Oh painted night set free with light 
Glows outside the Rainbow Saloon 
Matching braces with a Spanish lady 
'Neath a graduation moon 
No more colleges, no more coronations 
Some punk's idea of a teenage nation 
Has forced Santa Ana to change his station 
From soldier to cartoon 
And the Giants of Science spend their days and nights 
Not with wives, not with lovers, but searchin' for the lights 
They spotted in the desert on their helicopter flights 
Just to be lost in the dust and the night 
Hey my Contessa, in your juke joint rags you always bring candy for the kids 
Come waltz with me tonight se¤orita 
'Cause only fools are alone on a night like this