THE FEVER

Official studio version



Alright

When I get home from my job, I turn on the TV
But I can't keep my mind on the show
When I lay down at night, I don't get no sleep
So I turn on the radio
But Lord, the only thing I hear is you whispering in my ear
The words that you used to say
Well now the days grow longer
My love grows stronger
The fever gets worse every day
I got the fever for this girl

(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Nothing that a boy can do
(When he's got the fever for a girl)
(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Left this little boy blue

Well I can remember coming home
See you standing at the stove
With the dishes on the table
Dinner ready to go
Well maybe out to a movie show
Something that you like to see
Because you were my sun in the morning
You are my moon at night
When I think about it, makes me feel alright
Well now the day grow longer
The love just grows stronger, baby
And the fever gets so bad at night
I got the fever for the girl

(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Nothing that a boy can do
(When he's got the fever for a girl)
(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Left this little boy blue
Alright

(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Baby alright
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Baby alright
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Let's make it alright

Well I can remember coming home, turning on my TV
(But he can't keep his mind on the show)
When I lay down at night I cannot get no sleep
So I turn on the radio
But still the only thing I hear is you whispering in my ear
Them words that you used to say
And now the days grow longer
And the love just grow stronger
And the fever gets bad every day
I got the fever for this girl

(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Nothing a boy can do
(When he's got the fever for a girl)
(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Left this little boy blue
Alright

(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Nothing a boy can do
(When he's got the fever for a girl)
(He's got the fever, oh he's got the fever)
Left this little boy blue

(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Alright
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Everybody
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Everybody
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
Alright
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)
With my love
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright) My love
Alright now
(Ooh ooh ooh he's gonna be alright)


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Info

THE FEVER is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and first released on the 18 Tracks collection in 1999. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's official studio version of THE FEVER as released in 1999.


THE FEVER is one of three tracks on 18 Tracks that were not originally included on the Tracks box set.

Studio Recording

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Springsteen first wrote THE FEVER in 1971, as evidenced in a dated handwritten lyric sheet titled "Fever For The Girl". Springsteen most likely performed the song live in 1972, but the first verified performance was in March 1973. A few months later, on 16 May 1973, he recorded the song with the band at 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt, NY in just one take with no overdubs. The recording features the lineup of Bruce Springsteen, Danny Federici, Garry Tallent, Clasrence Clemons, and Vini Lopez, but no David Sancious on piano. It appears that the song was never really considered for The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle despite being cut during the beginning of the album's recording sessions.

After the studio take was cut, Mike Appel utilized the song for publishing purposes, and eventually sent out copies of the take on cassette to several radio stations throughout 1973 and into 1974. The song especially became an underground hit around Houston, and throughout the whole seventies whenever Bruce and the band came to Houston there would always be that one fan shouting for THE FEVER.

During a 09 Mar 1974 show at Liberty Hall in Houston, TX, a fan yelled "The Fever" and Bruce responded with "it's a weird thing 'The Fever'... that song 'Fever' we did as a demo tape about a year ago... and Mike here... sent it down to just this radio station, you know.... and it's a song we never even did but uh like we did it on the radio today, but I promise if we'll come back, we'll work it up for you."

Before a performance of the song at a late show on 10 Mar 1974 at Liberty Hall in Houston, TX, Springsteen introduced the song by saying: "We're gonna try something now, this is something... this is a song we haven't done in about a year but we found out that they sent a demo down here... yeah, let me bring out the rest of the band ─ we're gonna give it a try for you, hope we'll remember... you know but I'm gonna send this to the boys out here... it's a song we did about a year ago, no, we did it when we were recording the second album... as a demo tape for... to demo, I don't know what for (chuckles) and I know he knows it and uh... and uh, they sent the tape, they sent the tape down here and I guess KLOF has been playing it you know... who?... is that wrong? Sorry, folks but whoever, the radio station."

18 Tracks

18 Tracks is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released on Columbia Records in 1999. The album compiles 15 tracks from the Tracks box set, plus 3 previously unreleased recordings. The collection release was intended for the more casual fans who didn't purchase the pricey 4-disc box set. It also served the purpose as a promotional tie-in for the E Street Band's The Reunion Tour that was announced at the same time of the sampler's release.

Bruce Springsteen -- 18 Tracks
Bruce Springsteen -- 18 Tracks

18 Tracks was released on 13 Apr 1999 on Columbia Records. It features 18 Springsteen compositions and clocks at 71:12. The album was released on CD, cassette tape, MiniDisc, and vinyl.

Side 1:

1.GROWIN' UPRecorded on 03 May 1972 at CBS Studios, New York City, NY
2.SEASIDE BAR SONGRecorded on 28 Jun 1973 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY
3.RENDEZVOUSRecorded live on 31 Dec 1980 at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
4.HEARTS OF STONERecorded on 14 Oct 1977 at Record Plant, New York City, NY
5.WHERE THE BANDS ARERecorded on 09 Oct 1979 at The Power Station, New York City, NY

Side 2:

1.LOOSE ENDSRecorded on 18 Jul 1979 at The Power Station, New York City, NY
2.I WANNA BE WITH YOURecorded on 31 May 1979at The Power Station, New York City, NY
3.BORN IN THE U.S.A.Recorded in January 1982 at Thrill Hill Recording, Colts Neck, NJ
4.MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWNRecorded on 05 May 1982 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY
5.LION'S DENRecorded on 25 Jan 1982 at The Power Station, New York City, NY

Side 3:

1.PINK CADILLACRecorded on 31 May 1983 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY
2.JANEY, DON'T YOU LOSE HEARTRecorded on 16 Jun 1983 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY
3.SAD EYESRecorded on 25 Jan 1990 at Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA
4.PART MAN, PART MONKEYRecorded in January 1990 at Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA
5.TROUBLE RIVERRecorded on 06 Apr 1990 at Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA

Side 4:

1.BROTHERS UNDER THE BRIDGERecorded on 22 May 1995 at Thrill Hill Recording, Beverly Hills, CA
2.THE FEVERRecorded on 16 May 1973 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY
3.THE PROMISERecorded on 12 Feb 1999 at Thrill Hill Recording, Colts Neck, NJ
1.GROWIN' UPRecorded on 03 May 1972 at CBS Studios, New York City, NY
2.SEASIDE BAR SONGRecorded on 28 Jun 1973 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY
3.RENDEZVOUSRecorded live on 31 Dec 1980 at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
4.HEARTS OF STONERecorded on 14 Oct 1977 at Record Plant, New York City, NY
5.WHERE THE BANDS ARERecorded on 09 Oct 1979 at The Power Station, New York City, NY
6.LOOSE ENDSRecorded on 18 Jul 1979 at The Power Station, New York City, NY
7.I WANNA BE WITH YOURecorded on 31 May 1979at The Power Station, New York City, NY
8.BORN IN THE U.S.A.Recorded in January 1982 at Thrill Hill Recording, Colts Neck, NJ
9.MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWNRecorded on 05 May 1982 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY
10.LION'S DENRecorded on 25 Jan 1982 at The Power Station, New York City, NY
11.PINK CADILLACRecorded on 31 May 1983 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY
12.JANEY, DON'T YOU LOSE HEARTRecorded on 16 Jun 1983 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY
13.SAD EYESRecorded on 25 Jan 1990 at Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA
14.PART MAN, PART MONKEYRecorded in January 1990 at Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA
15.TROUBLE RIVERRecorded on 06 Apr 1990 at Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA
16.BROTHERS UNDER THE BRIDGERecorded on 22 May 1995 at Thrill Hill Recording, Beverly Hills, CA
17.THE FEVERRecorded on 16 May 1973 at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, NY
18.THE PROMISERecorded on 12 Feb 1999 at Thrill Hill Recording, Colts Neck, NJ

Other Official Releases

Besides its release on 18 Tracks, the official studio version of THE FEVER was also included on one promotional single.

Bruce Springsteen -- Del Álbum "18 Tracks"
Bruce Springsteen -- Del Álbum "18 Tracks"

CD EP - Columbia (2-000510) - Argentina, 1999

Argentina-only promotional single tying with the release of 18 Tracks, reportedly limited to 100 copies. The disc comes in a plain PVC sleeve.

01- SAD EYES
02- THE FEVER
03- THE PROMISE

The official studio version of THE FEVER was also included on one various artists album.

Various artists -- Lucky You - Music From The Motion Picture
Various artists -- Lucky You - Music From The Motion Picture

CD - Columbia / Sony Music Soundtrack (82876 89625 2) - USA, 2007

Also includes LUCKY TOWN.

Other versions of THE FEVER were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story
The live 08 Dec 1978 version of THE FEVER was released on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Winterland 12/15/78
The live 15 Dec 1978 version of THE FEVER was released on the Winterland 12/15/78 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Winterland 12/16/78
The live 16 Dec 1978 version of THE FEVER was released on the Winterland 12/16/78 official live download in 2019.

Live History: on-tour

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Live History: off-tour

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Appearance in Movies

Bruce Springsteen's official studio version of THE FEVER was used in one movie.

Promotional poster for the film "Lucky You"
Lucky You

It was used in the 2007 film Lucky You, directed Curtis Hanson and starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, and Robert Duvall. The film also uses LUCKY TOWN in the soundtrack. Both songs were also included in the film's soundtrack album.

Covers

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At least 6 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's THE FEVER.

Various artists -- Songs From The Boss
Various artists -- Songs From The Boss

LP - Dover Records (ADD 3) - UK, 1988
MC - Dover Records (ZDD 3) - UK, 1988
CD - Dover Records (CCD 3) - UK, 1988

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. THE FEVER is performed by Dean Ford.
Sanne -- Where Blue Begins
Sanne -- Where Blue Begins

LP - Virgin (211 817) - Denmark, 1991
CD - Virgin (261 817) - Denmark, 1991
MC - Virgin (411 817) - Denmark, 1991
Various artists -- For You: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
Various artists -- For You: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

CD - Totem Records (TTM 480499 2) - Italy, 1995

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. THE FEVER is performed by Ernesto De Pascale and Roberto Terzani.
Various artists -- Light Of Day: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
Various artists -- Light Of Day: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

3xCD - Good Sounds / DiscMedi Blau (DM 797-02) - Spain, 2003

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. There are five issues of this album (with three track configurations) and this track was only included on the issue listed above. THE FEVER is performed by John Swank.
Catfish Flats -- Down At The Flats
Catfish Flats -- Down At The Flats

CD - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2006
JP Stingray -- Cover Me: Songs By The Boss
JP Stingray -- Cover Me: Songs By The Boss

CD - JP Music (26086224) - The Netherlands, 2024

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Credits

Thanks Oats for the lyrics corrections.

Available Versions

List of available versions of THE FEVER on this website:

THE FEVER [Official studio version]
THE FEVER [Live 21 Sep 1978 version]
THE FEVER [Live 15 Dec 1978 version]
THE FEVER [Live 16 Dec 1978 version]
THE FEVER [Live 20 Dec 1978 version]

Page last updated: 24 Feb 2019