DAWN PATROL is a song written by Bruce Springsteen, and was planned for inclusion on his 1976 album had it seen the light. A demo of the song was reportedly cut in early 1976.
Chris Sandford wrote in his 1999 book Springsteen: Point Blank that "Springsteen began tinkering at his fourth album in January 1976. One track, 'Darkness On the Edge of Town', was already done; demos of 'Dawn Patrol', 'Frankie', 'Drifter's Barrio' and 'You're Gonna Cry' — some good, some not so polished — were being cut as fast as he could hum them."
Springsteen donated two of his compositions to Southside Johnny for use on his 1976 debut album I Don't Want To Go Home, and he also wrote the liner notes on the album's back sleeve. What somehow supports Sandford's claim is that on the back of the handwritten cover essay that he supplied to Southside Johnny, Springsteen had written eight (or nine) song titles, under the header "Album IV":
DAWN PATROL
HOUSE ON EDEN STREET / THE EDGE OF DAWN
FRANKIE
WALKING WITH THE MAN
TEXAS DRIVE IN
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
DRIFTER'S BARRIO
YOU'RE GONNA CRY
It is unclear if "House On Eden Street / The Edge Of Dawn" are two songs or one song with two alternative titles, "House On Eden Street" and "House On The Edge Of Dawn".
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List of available versions of DAWN PATROL on this website:
DAWN PATROL