SINALOA COWBOYS

Live 08 Dec 1995 version



[Spoken intro:] This next series of songs, they're all set on the California Mexico border. And uh, I was, I took up a road trip about just two years ago now. And uh, we went out through uh, over the San Diego mountains and down through this low desert in southern California and out back to Arizona. And I was in this little, this little tiny motel in this little desert, Four Corners desert town where there's like a bar and a grocery store and... and it was uh, it was a pleasure. You kinda park your bikes outside, and we'd sit out in front of the ??? at night, and a real warn ??? desert ??? heat. And it was me and some friends of mine, we'd sit down and play, play cards a little bit, and drink a little bit. And these, these two Mexican men came in from the west for having figured out the food trade and they took the ???. One was kind of a young fellow. He was, he was kinda high, and his, the other fellow was kinda about my age, I guess. He started looking at the bikes and uh, he told me that he had a brother who died recently in a motorcycle accident in southern California. He, he rode with his motorcycle ???. And, there was something, we talked for I guess about an hour or so. And there was something in the way that he talked about his, his, his younger brother that stayed in my head for a year, a year and a half. I was working on a song that was basically about the drug trade in southern California, Mexican drug gangs come up and they hire these migrant workers to cook up methamphetamine, very dangerous job, and those were the guys that end up getting busted by the DEA or, or uh, or worse get killed. And uh, I kept thinking back to this fella's voice, in the way that he talked about his brother. I guess the first, the first one in a family seems to be to protect, to, to take care, to take care of. And all that he ??? is get scared ??? grab hold of your leg, and, and... There's something that, that, that never leaves you, I don't think. And I guess this is a song about two brothers come up from Mexico. It happens when, one of the things it happens when that breaks down, when he get left with the circumstances, the trades we make, and the things that we end up being forced to take with us. It's called "Sinaloa Cowboys".

Well Miguel came from a small town in northern Mexico
He came north with his brother Louis to California three years ago
Well they crossed at the river levee when Louis was just sixteen
And found work together in the fields of the San Joaquin

Well they left their homes and their families, their father said, "My sons one thing you will learn
For everything that the north gives, it exacts a price in return"
Well they worked side by side in the orchards from morning till the day was through
Doing the work the hueros wouldn't do

Word was out some men in from Sinaloa were looking for some hands
Well deep in Fresno County there was a deserted chicken ranch
And there in a small tin shack on the edge of a ravine
Miguel and Louis stood cooking methamphetamine

Well you could spend a year in the orchards or make half as much in one ten-hour shift
Working for the men from Sinaloa, ah, but if you slipped
The hydriodic acid will burn right through your skin
And they'll leave you coughing up blood in the desert if you breath those fumes in

Well it was early one winter evening as Miguel stood watch outside
When the shack exploded, lighting up the valley night
Miguel carried Louis's body over his shoulder down a swale to the creek side
And there in the tall grass Louis Rosales died

Miguel lifted Louis's body into his truck and then he drove
To where the morning sunlight fell on a eucalyptus grove
There in the dirt he dug up ten thousand dollars, all that they'd saved
Kissed his brother's lips and placed him in his grave


Info

The above lyrics are for the live 08 Dec 1995 performance of SINALOA COWBOYS at Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA, during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica.

Ticket stub for the 08 Dec 1995 show at Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA
Ticket stub for the 08 Dec 1995 show at Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA

Columbia Records Radio Hour

A selection of four studio tracks from The Ghost Of Tom Joad album (see track list below) intercepted with interview segments with journalist Bob Costas were originally broadcast on the 21 Nov 1995 edition of the syndicated Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show which aired on U.S. album oriented rock stations. Costas conducted the interview with Bruce Springsteen that same day (21 Nov 1995) either prior to or following Springsteen's public warm-up show at the State Theater in New Brunswick, NJ. A total of 35 minutes of the 90-minute interview were used in the radio show.

Additionally, three songs from Springsteen's 08 Dec 1995 show and seven from his 09 Dec 1995 show at Upper Darby's Tower Theater (see track list below) were broadcast on the 14 Dec 1995 edition of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.

The complete Columbia Records Radio Hour show was officially issued in December 1995 on cassette and reel-to-reel tapes for promotional use in the United States. Six of the ten live tracks from part 2 of the radio show (the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast) were never made available in commercial form.

Side A:

  1. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD [1995 album version]
  2. SINALOA COWBOYS [Album version]
  3. YOUNGSTOWN [Album version]
  4. STRAIGHT TIME [Album version]

Side B:

  1. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
  2. STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
  3. DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
  4. BORN IN THE U.S.A. [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
  5. YOUNGSTOWN [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
  6. SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
  7. BALBOA PARK [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
  8. DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
  9. THIS HARD LAND [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
  10. STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]

Notes:

  • Side A is part 1 of the radio show: the 21 Nov 1995 broadcast. The tracks on this side are interspersed with segments from the interview with Bob Costas. Side B is part 2 of the radio show: the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast.
  • BORN IN THE U.S.A. is actually a mix of the live 09 Dec 1995 version (the spoken intro) and the live 08 Dec 1995 version (the song).
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour Part 1 & 2
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour Part 1 & 2

MC - Columbia (CAT 7698) - USA, 1995

This Promotion-only cassette tape contains both part 1 (the 21 Nov 1995 broadcast) and part 2 (the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast) of the radio show.

Side A: part 1
Side B: part 2
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Interviewed By Bob Costas
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Interviewed By Bob Costas

MC - NOW! Recording Systems (no catalog number) - USA, 1995

This promotion-only cassette tape contains part 1 of the radio show (the 21 Nov 1995 broadcast).

Side A: part 1
Side B: blank
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Interviewed By Bob Costas
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Interviewed By Bob Costas

MC - NOW! Recording Systems (no catalog number) - USA, 1995

This promotion-only cassette tape contains part 1 of the radio show (the 21 Nov 1995 broadcast), with commercials.

Side A: part 1
Side B: blank
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Live From The Tower Theatre In Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Live From The Tower Theatre In Philadelphia

MC - NOW! Recording Systems (no catalog number) - USA, 1995

This promotion-only cassette tape contains part 2 of the radio show (the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast), with commercials.

Side A: part 2
Side B: blank
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Interviewed By Bob Costas
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Interviewed By Bob Costas

Reel-to-reel - Columbia (no catalog number) - USA, 1995

This promotion-only reel-to-reel tape contains part 1 of the radio show (the 21 Nov 1995 broadcast), with commercials. This is one of two reel-to-reel tapes that were distributed together but each was housed in a separate box. These are 10.5-inch reels with 1/2" tape, with a running speed of 7.5 ips.
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Live From The Tower Theatre In Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour - Bruce Springsteen Live From The Tower Theatre In Philadelphia

Reel-to-reel - Columbia (no catalog number) - USA, 1995

This promotion-only reel-to-reel tape contains part 2 of the radio show (the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast), with commercials. This is one of two reel-to-reel tapes that were distributed together but each was housed in a separate box. These are 10.5-inch reels with 1/2" tape, with a running speed of 7.5 ips.

Part 2 of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show (the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast) was commercially released in Europe. Since 2005 some enterprising record labels in Europe (mostly in the UK) have been releasing Bruce Springsteen radio and TV broadcasts (and some soundboard recordings) from the seventies, eighties, and nineties. Though these releases are not authorized by Bruce Springsteen or his record company, they are lawful due to a legal loophole in Europe.

Bruce Springsteen -- 1995 Radio Hour - The Tom Joad Sessions
Bruce Springsteen -- 1995 Radio Hour - The Tom Joad Sessions

CD - Good Ship Funke (GSF020) - UK, 2016

This release contains the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.
Bruce Springsteen -- Upper Darby Theater '95
Bruce Springsteen -- Upper Darby Theater '95

CD - Rox Vox (RVCD2045) - UK, 2016

This release contains the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour
Bruce Springsteen -- Columbia Records Radio Hour

Digital album - Lilith Records (no catalog number) - UK, 2016

This is a download-only digital album. It contains the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.
Bruce Springsteen -- 1995 Radio Hour - The Tom Joad Sessions
Bruce Springsteen -- 1995 Radio Hour - The Tom Joad Sessions

2xLP - Parachute Recording Company (PARA155LP) - UK, 2018

This release contains the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.
Bruce Springsteen -- Youngstown
Bruce Springsteen -- Youngstown

LP - Roxborough Music (ROXMB018) - UK, 2018

This release contains the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.
Bruce Springsteen -- The Broadcast Collection 1975-1995
Bruce Springsteen -- The Broadcast Collection 1975-1995

5xCD - Cult Legends (CL93154) - Europe, 2023

This release contains the 05 Feb 1975 broadcast from The Main Point, the 15 Dec 1978 broadcast from Winterland Ballroom, and the 14 Dec 1995 broadcast of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show.

Other Official Releases

The live 08 Dec 1995 version of SINALOA COWBOYS was included on some issues of The Ghost Of Tom Joad EP in Europe in 1995 and in Japan 1996. It was also included on some issues of the Secret Garden EP in 1997 which was released to promote the Jerry Maguire movie soundtrack.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad

CD EP - Columbia (662949 2) - Austria, 1995

Pressed in Austria for distribution in Europe.

01- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
02- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
03- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
04- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad

CD EP - Columbia (663031 2) - Austria, 1995

Pressed in Austria for distribution in the UK.

01- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
02- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
03- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
04- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad

MC EP - Sony (no catalog number) - Japan, 1996

Promotional EP.

01- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
02- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
03- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
04- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad

CD EP - Sony (SRCS 7892) - Japan, 1996

01- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
02- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
03- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
04- DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Secret Garden
Bruce Springsteen -- Secret Garden

CD EP - Columbia (664021 2) - Australia, 1997

01- SECRET GARDEN
02- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
03- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
04- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
Bruce Springsteen -- Secret Garden
Bruce Springsteen -- Secret Garden

MC EP - Columbia (664021 8) - Australia, 1997

A1- SECRET GARDEN
A2- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
A3- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
A4- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
B1- SECRET GARDEN
B2- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
B3- STRAIGHT TIME [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
B4- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]

Requests

Please contact me if you have scans for or info about any official release containing the live 08 Dec 1995 version of SINALOA COWBOYS that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following releases:

  • Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad || MC EP - Sony (no catalog number) - Japan, 1996

Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of SINALOA COWBOYS on this website:

SINALOA COWBOYS [Album version]
SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 28 Oct 1995 version]
SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]
SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 09 Dec 1995 version]
SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 28 Oct 1999 version]
SINALOA COWBOYS [Cracker's cover version]

Page last updated: 20 May 2018