Freehold lyrics - Bruce Springsteen

(Live at Continental Airlines Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ - 7/18/1999)

This one's for you, mom

I was born right here on Randolph Street in Freehold

Here right behind that big red maple in Freehold

I went to school right here

Got laid and had my first beer

Here In Freehold

Well, my folks all lived and worked right here in Freehold

I remember running up the street past the convent to the church here in Freehold

I chased my daddy down in these bars

And first fell in love with this guitar

Here in Freehold

I had my first kiss at the YMCA canteen on a Friday night

Maria Espinosa, baby, where are you tonight?

You were thirteen but way ahead of your time

I walked home with a limp but I felt just fine

That night in Freehold

Well, the girls at Freehold Regional they looked pretty fine

I had my heart broke at least a half a dozen times

I wonder: do they miss me? Do they still get the itch?

Would they had dumped me if they knew I'd strike it rich

Straight out of Freehold?

Well, a lot of good folks gave us kids a hand in Freehold

Man, we started up a rock-and-roll band in Freehold

And we learned pretty quick how to rock it

I'll never forget the feeling of that first five bucks in my pocket

That I earned in Freehold

Well, I got outta here hard and fast from Freehold

Everybody wanted to kick my ass back then in Freehold

Well, if you were different, black or brown

It was a pretty redneck town

Back in Freehold

Well, then something broke my daddy's back in Freehold

He left for thirty years and never come back

Except once he drove from California in just three days

Called my relatives some dirty names

And pulled straight out of Freehold

And I was there by the highway buried in the dirt

His ghost flipping the bird to everybody in Freehold

Well, my sister got pregnant at seventeen in Freehold

Well, back then, people they can be pretty mean

Oh, honey you had a rough road to go now you ain't made of nothin' but soul

I love you more that you'll ever know

We both survived Freehold

Well my buddy Mike he's the mayor now in Freehold

I remember when we had a lot more hair in Freehold

I left and swore I'd never walk these streets again, Jack

Now all I can say is "Holy shit! I'm back."

Back in Freehold

Oh, I've read something in the paper a few weeks ago

It was pretty funny

The town council was debating where to put up a statue, a statue of me in my home town

But it cost too much money

Well, I'd like to thank the town council, my friends

For saving me from the humiliation and displaying the good heart common sense

We learned in Freehold

Well, this summer everything was green

Rode my kids on the fire engine through the streets of Freehold

I bored them with where dad was born and raised

And first felt the sun on his face

In Freehold

Well, I still got a lot of real good friends back there

I can usually find me a free beer somewhere

With free dinners I am blessed

Should I go crazy, blow all my money hit the tabloids become fodder for moronic talk shows, turn my life into a complete fucking mess

But at least I'll never go hungry I guess

In Freehold

I got a good Catholic education in Freehold

It led to an awful lot of masturbation here in Freehold

Father, it was just something I did for a smile

Hell! I still get a good one off once in a while

I dedicate it to Freehold

Don't get me wrong, I ain't putting anybody down

In the end it all just goes and comes around

In my home town

In Freehold