Album version
I met a little girl and I settled down
In a little house out on the edge of town
We got married and swore we'd never part
Then little by little we drifted from each other's heart
At first I thought it was just restlessness
That would fade as time went by and our love grew deep
In the end it was something more I guess
That tore us apart and made us weep
And I'm driving a stolen car down on Eldridge Avenue
Each night I wait to get caught but I never do
She asked if I remembered the letters I wrote
When our love was young and bold
She said last night she read those letters
And they made her feel one hundred years old
I'm driving a stolen car on a pitch-black night
And I'm telling myself I'm gonna be alright
But I ride by night and I travel in fear
That in this darkness I will disappear
STOLEN CAR 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 FADE AWAY as released in 1980.
Another studio version of STOLEN CAR (the official studio version) was first released on the Tracks box set in 1998.
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According to Sony's logs of Bruce Springsteen's studio sessions, STOLEN CAR was recorded on 22-21 Jun 1979, 24 Sep 1979, 21 Jan 1980, 20 Feb 1980, 01 Apr 1980, 09 Apr 1980, and 09 May 1980 at The Power Station in New York City, NY. The last three dates are most likely for mixing or overdub sessions.
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Four studio takes of STOLEN CAR are in circulation. Unofficial studio version 1 was recorded during the 21 Jun 1979 session. Official studio version was recorded during the 24 Sep 1979 session. Unofficial studio version 2, which is very similar, was likely recorded during the same 24 Sep 1979 session. The album version was likely recorded during the 21 Jan 1980 session or the 20 Feb 1980 session.
The album version is shorter, features a very different arrangement, and contains several less verses than the remaining three studio versions. Official studio version and Unofficial studio version 2 are very similar, but unofficial studio version 1 is longer and features some alternate lyrics not found in any of the other three studio versions.
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:
Side 2:
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:
Reel #2:
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).
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.
Side 1:
Side 2:
Side 3:
Side 4:
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.
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Other versions of STOLEN CAR were also officially released.
STOLEN CAR is known to have been performed at least 46 times during The River Tour (138 dates, October 1980 to September 1981). A few of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates during The River Tour. The live 05 Nov 1980 version of STOLEN CAR was released on the Arizona State University, Tempe 1980 official live download in 2015. The live 29 Dec 1980 version[/SONG] of STOLEN CAR was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 12/29/80 official live download in 2019.
STOLEN CAR was performed 6 times during the Born In The U.S.A. Tour (156 dates, June 1984 to October 1985).
STOLEN CAR was sound-checked prior to the 09 Mar 1988 show in Philadelphia, PA, (as far as it's known) but it was not performed on any of the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour's regular shows.
STOLEN CAR was sound-checked prior to the 28 Oct 1999 show in Oakland, CA, (as far as it's known) but it was not performed on any of The Reunion Tour's regular shows.
STOLEN CAR was performed twice during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005).
STOLEN CAR was performed once during the Working On A Dream Tour (83 dates, April to November 2009), on 08 Nov 2009 in New York City, NY. The live 08 Nov 2009 version of STOLEN CAR was released on the MSG Nov 08, 2009 official live download in 2018.
STOLEN CAR was performed once during the Wrecking Ball Tour (133 dates, March 2012 to September 2013), on 12 Nov 2012 in Saint Paul, MN. The song was played in its slow full-band album arrangement. The live 12 Nov 2012 version of STOLEN CAR was released on the St. Paul, MN Nov 12, 2012 official live download in 2020.
In preparation for The River Tour 2016, STOLEN CAR is known to have been practiced during at least two of the private rehearsals that took place in January 2016 prior to the tour's first leg.
STOLEN CAR was performed 40 times during The River Tour 2016 (75 dates, January to September 2016). On this tour, the song was played only on the dates when the entire The River album was performed. Audio recordings for all The River Tour 2016 shows are officially available for purchase.
STOLEN CAR was performed off-tour on 19 and 20 Feb 2003 at Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA, during the DoubleTake Magazine benefit shows.
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At least 10 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's STOLEN CAR.
Some of the above info about the studio recording and the live performances is taken from Brucebase.
List of available versions of STOLEN CAR on this website:
STOLEN CAR [Album version]
