Live 23 Mar 2012 version
41 shots, and we'll take that ride
'Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret, it ain't no secret
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school
She says, "On these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you, promise me you'll always be polite
And that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight"
Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
Go!
[Nils Lofgren guitar solo]
Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it in your heart, is it in your eyes
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
41 shots, and we'll take that ride
'Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, got my boots ??? this mud
We're baptized in these waters (baptized in these waters)
And in each other's blood (and in each other's blood)
Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
Go!
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) you can get killed just for living in
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
The above lyrics are for the live 23 Mar 2012 performance of AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) at Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, FL, during the Wrecking Ball Tour.
AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) was performed in reference to the shooting of Trayvon Martin which took place the previous month in Sanford, FL. Springsteen started the song without a spoken introduction, but he did introduce it two shows later, on 28 Mar 2012 in Philadelphia, PA, with "This is for Trayvon."
Pro-shot video of the complete live 23 Mar 2012 performance of AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) was subsequently posted on Bruce Springsteen's official website and Bruce Springsteen's YouTube channel.
List of available versions of AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) on this website:
AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) [Album version]