I'M A ROCKER

Album version



I got a 007 watch and it's a one and only
It's got a I-Spy beeper that tells me when you're lonely
I got a Batmobile so I can reach you in a fast shake
When your world's in crisis of an impending heartbreak

Now don't you call James Bond or Secret Agent Man
'Cause they can't do it like I can
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)

If you're hanging from a cliff or you're tied to the tracks, girl
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)
Columbo split and you can't find Kojak
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)
And true love is broken and your tears are falling faster
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)
You're suffering from a pain in your heart or some other natural disaster
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)

Now I don't care what kind of shape you're in
If they put up a roadblock, I'll parachute in
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) I'm in love
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) with you
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) yeahhh

Alright

Come on!
???!

So you fell for some jerk who was tall, dark and handsome
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)
Then he kidnapped your heart and now he's holding it for ransom
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)
Well like a mission impossible I'm gonna go and get it back
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)
You know I would'a taken better care of it, baby, than that
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker)

Sometimes I get so hot girl, well, I can't talk
But when I'm with you I cool off
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) and I walk
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) and I talk
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) yeah yeah every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) yeah yeah every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) every day
(I'm a rocker, baby, I'm a rocker) whoaaa


PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Info

I'M A ROCKER is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1980 album The River. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of I'M A ROCKER as released in 1980.

Writing and Recording

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Circulating Takes

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The River

Bruce Springsteen wrapped up the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour on the first day of 1979. For the next few months, he altered between composing and practicing solo demos at his home in Holmdel, NJ (between January and June 1979), rehearsing with the band at his Telegraph Hill Road property in Holmdel, NJ (between March and May 1979), and recording in studio at The Power Station in New York City, NY (from late March to late August 1979).

By early August 1979, enough quality material had been recorded at The Power Station. According to The Ties That Bind documentary, a total of twenty-four songs had been recorded. According to Clinton Heylin's 2012 book It was looking like Springsteen's fifth album might be released in Christmas 1979. E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Springsteen's initial track sequence for the album was as follows:

Side 1:

  1. THE TIES THAT BIND
  2. THE PRICE YOU PAY
  3. BE TRUE
  4. RICKY WANTS A MAN OF HER OWN
  5. STOLEN CAR

Side 2:

  1. I WANNA MARRY YOU
  2. LOOSE ENDS
  3. HUNGRY HEART
  4. THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY
  5. RAMROD

By mid-September 1979, Springsteen replaced RICKY WANTS A MAN OF HER OWN, LOOSE ENDS, and THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY by CINDY and THE RIVER. Soon after, he removed RAMROD, restored LOOSE ENDS, and added YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH). A title, "The Ties That Bind", was selected for the album and wheels put in motion to produce artwork for the cover. Around September, at least ten tracks were mixed to completion. On 04 Oct 1979, the ten selected tracks were dubbed to two half-track reel-to-reel tapes at The Power Station, and labeled "side one" and "side two". As written on the reels, the producer was Jon Landau and the engineers were Neil Dorfsman and Bob Clearmountain, assisted by Jeff Hendrickson. The new track sequence for the album was as follows:

Reel #1:

  1. THE TIES THAT BIND [take #8]
  2. CINDY [take #3]
  3. HUNGRY HEART [take #2]
  4. STOLEN CAR [take #3]
  5. BE TRUE [take #2]

Reel #2:

  1. THE RIVER [take #5]
  2. YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH) [take #3]
  3. THE PRICE YOU PAY [take #1]
  4. I WANNA MARRY YOU [take #4]
  5. LOOSE ENDS [take #2]
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #1, front)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #1, front)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #2, front)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #2, front)

Mock covers with "The Ties That Bind" title were roughed out early in the planning. The cover shot was to be a picture of Bruce Springsteen in front of a barn, with the back cover being a shot of his face behind a screen door. In late September 1979, The Ties That Bind single album was scrapped as Springsteen's writing process continued.

A second phase of recording sessions was scheduled. Again, for the next few months, Springsteen altered between composing and practicing solo demos at his home in Holmdel, NJ (between September 1979 and February 1980), rehearsing with the band at his Telegraph Hill Road property in Holmdel, NJ (between September 1979 and February 1980), and recording in studio at The Power Station in New York City, NY (from October 1979 to June 1980).

The combined sessions from March 1979 to June 1980 produced the double album The River that was eventually released in October 1980. The studio sessions to some extent extended into August 1980 due to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's involvement in the recording of Gary U.S. Bonds' album Dedication, which was released April 1981).

Bruce Springsteen -- The River
Bruce Springsteen -- The River

The album features 20 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 83:47. It was produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Steven Van Zandt, engineered by Neil Dorfsman, and mixed by Bob Clearmountain, Chuck Plotkin, and Toby Scott.

According to recording engineer Neil Dorfsman, about 50 songs were recorded to a completed state during The River sessions. 20 were released on The River and 14 were released as B-sides and on official compilations. 14 songs are circulating via the unofficial route, but the majority of them are poor recordings of band rehearsals at the Telegraph Hill Road property, though it is likely that most of them exist as completed takes from The Power Station.

Other Official Releases

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Bruce Springsteen -- Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen -- Bruce Springsteen

12" EP - CBS (12 PRM 019) - Italy, 1980

Italy-only promotional EP.

A1- HUNGRY HEART
A2- I'M A ROCKER
B1- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
B2- BORN TO RUN
Bruce Springsteen -- "The Ties That Bind / I'm A Rocker"
Bruce Springsteen -- "The Ties That Bind / I'm A Rocker"

7" single - CBS (SSC 5207) - South Africa, 1981

Comes in a die-cut CBS company sleeve.

A1- THE TIES THAT BIND
B1- I'M A ROCKER

Other versions of I'M A ROCKER were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind: The River Collection
The live 05 Nov 1980 version of I'M A ROCKER was released on The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Wembley Arena June 5, 1981
The live 05 Jun 1981 version of I'M A ROCKER was released on the Wembley Arena June 5, 1981 official live download in 2018.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Brendan Byrne Arena August 6, 1984
The live 06 Aug 1984 version of I'M A ROCKER was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena August 6, 1984 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- MSG Nov 08, 2009
The live 08 Nov 2009 version of I'M A ROCKER was released on the MSG Nov 08, 2009 official live download in 2018.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- St. Paul, MN Nov 12, 2012
The live 12 Nov 2012 version of I'M A ROCKER was released on the St. Paul, MN Nov 12, 2012 official live download in 2020.

Live History

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Covers

At least 2 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's I'M A ROCKER.

The Party Boys -- Greatest Hits (Of Other People)
The Party Boys -- Greatest Hits (Of Other People)

LP - EMI Australia / OZ Records (OZS.1018) - Australia, 1983

This is a live album.
Solo -- Canciones De Bruce Springsteen
Solo -- Canciones De Bruce Springsteen

CD - no label (no catalog number) - Spain, 2003

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. I'M A ROCKER is a Spanish adaptation titled "Soy un rocker".

References

Some of the above info about the studio recording and the live performances is taken from Brucebase.

Available Versions

List of available versions of I'M A ROCKER on this website:

I'M A ROCKER [Album version]

Page last updated: 25 Dec 2015