Bruce’s American Land

Another tour debut the other night at Madison Square Garden. The working title we’re going with is “American Land”. It’s not really known yet whether this is a new Bruce tune, but according to Backstreets, “More likely a traditional song with some new Springsteen lyrics.”

“This is an immigrant song for New York City,” Springsteen said before tonight’s new opening number — no, not a song off Led Zeppelin III, but at the moment we can’t tell you exactly what it was, either. A new Springsteen song? More likely a traditional song with some new Springsteen lyrics. On the setlist as “American Land,” it had a recurring refrain of “home in the American land,” but it wasn’t “He Lies in the American Land,” despite that song’s association with Pete Seeger and the similarity in title. Watch this space for more as we know it…. In any case, it was certainly a world premiere, an Irish reel with a Clancy Brothers/Tommy Makem feel to it; lyrically, a vivid portrait of the immigrant experience in the vein of Ry Cooder’s “Across the Borderline.” At the end, Bruce had one more dedication for it: “for all you travelers out there.” – – from Backstreets

If anyone out there has any more information on this song, please do tell (in the comments section below).

Bruce Springsteen & the Seeger Sessions Band: American Land (mp3) – working title for now until more info surfaces – live from Madison Square Garden, NYC, 06/22/2006.

• Here’s video of Bruce being interviewed on CNN yesterday morning. You tell ’em, Boss.
• My friend Charlie unleashes a steamy workplace photo upon the world, of me and his M&M man. Just keep it filled Charlie, just keep it filled. And yes, I work in a sea of cubicles.
• UPDATE: See Bruce and the Band perform “Bring ‘Em Home” and “Pay Me My Money Down“, from Thursday’s Conan O’Brien show, including Conan on guitar and Jimmy Fallon rockin’ the spoons!

UPDATE: Here are the lyrics , with a gap or two (when he starts reeling off names)…. any edits / updates are welcome!

AMERICAN LAND

What is this land of America?

So many travel there, I’m goin’ now while I’m still young
My darlin’ meet me there
Wish me luck my lovely Alison
free you when I can
And we’ll make our home in the American land

Over there the women wear silk and satin to their knees
And children near, the sweets I hear are growin’ on the trees
Gold comes rushing out the river straight into your hands
If you make your home in the American land

There’s diamonds in the sidewalks
There’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the takin’ for any hard working man
Who’ll make his home in the American land

I docked at Ellis Island in a city of light and spire
I wandered to the valley of red hot steel and fire
We made the steel that built the cities
With the sweat of our two hands
I made my home in the American land

There’s diamonds in the sidewalks
There’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the takin’ for any hard working man
Who’ll make his home in the American land

The [..], the Smiths are [..]too
The Blacks, the Irish, the Italians, the Germans and the Jews
The [..], the [..], the Asians, the Arabs miles from home

Come across the water with the fire down below
They died building the railroads
Worked their bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories
And they’ve scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago,
They’re dying now
The hands that built the country we’re always trying to keep down

There’s diamonds in the sidewalks
There’s gutters lined in song
Dear I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
There’s treasure for the takin’ for any hard working man
Who’ll make his home in the American land
Who’ll make his home in the American land
Who’ll make his home in the American land