• Blinded By The Light
• Blinded By The Lights Pauly D

'Blinded by the Light' is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. A cover by British rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in February 1977 and was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

May 17, 2004  Blinded By The Lights Lyrics: That's the one, oi / How did he not find the baggy with his hand in my shoe? / Way too close for me, oh well, at least they allowed me through / Should be a good. 'Blinded by the Light' is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. A cover by British rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in February 1977 and was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, New.

• 1History
• 3Chart performance

History[edit]

The song came about when Columbia president Clive Davis, upon listening to an early version of Greetings from Asbury Park N.J., felt the album lacked a potential single. Springsteen wrote this and 'Spirit in the Night' in response.

According to Springsteen, the song came about from going through a rhyming dictionary in search of appropriate words. The first line of the song, 'Madman drummers, bummers, and Indians in the summers with a teenage diplomat' is autobiographical—'Madman drummers' is a reference to drummer Vini Lopez, known as 'Mad Man' (later changed to 'Mad Dog'); 'Indians in the summer' refers to the name of Springsteen's old Little League team; 'teenage diplomat' refers to himself.^[1] The remainder of the song tells of many unrelated events, with the refrain of 'Blinded by the light, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night'.

'Blinded by the Light' was the first song on, and first single from, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Springsteen's version was commercially unsuccessful and did not appear on the music charts.

Cover versions and reissues[edit]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band released a version of the song on their 1976 album The Roaring Silence. Their version includes the 'Chopsticks' melody played on piano near the end of the bridge of the song. The track reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM charts. Manfred Mann's Earth Band's recording of 'Blinded by the Light' is Springsteen's only #1 single as a songwriter on the Hot 100 (he never had a #1 as a performer except as part of USA for Africa).

In 2002, Danish act Funkstar De Luxe released its disco version of this song. A 'jazzified' version can be found on Springsteen's 2007 video and audio release Live in Dublin, recorded with The Sessions Band.

A cover of the song by The Eagles of Death Metal was featured in the 2018 film Super Troopers 2.

Lyrics[edit]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band's recording of the song changes the lyrics. The most prominent change is in the chorus, where Springsteen's 'cut loose like a deuce' is replaced with 'revved up like a deuce'.^[2][3] This is commonly misheard as 'wrapped up like a douche', a well-known mondegreen.^[4][5] The lyric is actually a reference to a hot rod 'deuce coupe'. Springsteen was fond of classic hot rods in his youth, hence the line 'cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night'. Springsteen himself has joked about the controversy, claiming that it was not until Manfred Mann rewrote the song to be about a feminine hygiene product that it became popular.^[1]

Musicians[edit]

Original version

• Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
• Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez – drums, backing vocals
• Clarence Clemons – saxophone, backing vocals

with

• Harold Wheeler – piano

Manfred Mann's Earth Band cover

• Manfred Mann – organ, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
• Colin Pattenden – bass
• Dave Flett – guitar
• Chris Hamlet Thompson – vocals, guitar
• Chris Slade – drums, backing vocals

with

• Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
• Irene Chanter – backing vocals
• Susanne Lynch – backing vocals

Chart performance[edit]

See also[edit]

• Blinded by the Light (2019 film) - a 2019 British comedy-drama about an aspiring writer inspired by Bruce Springsteen songs.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'Bruce Springsteen'. VH1 Storytellers. Episode 62. April 23, 2005. VH1.
2. ^Buzzelli, Mike (April 26, 2010). 'Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night'. Observer-Reporter. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
3. ^'VH1 Storytellers: Bruce Springsteen'. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
4. ^SearchTerm=blinded+by+the+light 'Manfred Mann's Earth Band : Blinded by the Light : Real Lyric: Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night : Misheard: Blinded by the light, wrapped up like a douche' Check url= value (help). Kissthisguy.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
5. ^'Q: 'Blinded By the Light, Revved Up Like a…' What?'. Blogcritics.org. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
6. ^'Australian Chart Book'. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
7. ^Flavour of New Zealand, 20 March 1977
8. ^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 346/6. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
9. ^Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN0-89820-089-X
10. ^'Cash Box Top 100 2/05/77'. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
11. ^Steffen Hung. 'Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)'. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
12. ^'Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada'. Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
13. ^Billboard. Pop Singles of 1977. December 24, 1977. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
14. ^'Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1977'. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-26.

External links[edit]

• 'Blinded by the Light' lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's official site

'Blinded by the Light' is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. A cover by British rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in February 1977 and was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

• 1History
• 3Chart performance

History[edit]

The song came about when Columbia president Clive Davis, upon listening to an early version of Greetings from Asbury Park N.J., felt the album lacked a potential single. Springsteen wrote this and 'Spirit in the Night' in response.

According to Springsteen, the song came about from going through a rhyming dictionary in search of appropriate words. The first line of the song, 'Madman drummers, bummers, and Indians in the summers with a teenage diplomat' is autobiographical—'Madman drummers' is a reference to drummer Vini Lopez, known as 'Mad Man' (later changed to 'Mad Dog'); 'Indians in the summer' refers to the name of Springsteen's old Little League team; 'teenage diplomat' refers to himself.^[1] The remainder of the song tells of many unrelated events, with the refrain of 'Blinded by the light, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night'.

'Blinded by the Light' was the first song on, and first single from, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Springsteen's version was commercially unsuccessful and did not appear on the music charts.

Cover versions and reissues[edit]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band released a version of the song on their 1976 album The Roaring Silence. Their version includes the 'Chopsticks' melody played on piano near the end of the bridge of the song. The track reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM charts. Manfred Mann's Earth Band's recording of 'Blinded by the Light' is Springsteen's only #1 single as a songwriter on the Hot 100 (he never had a #1 as a performer except as part of USA for Africa).

In 2002, Danish act Funkstar De Luxe released its disco version of this song. A 'jazzified' version can be found on Springsteen's 2007 video and audio release Live in Dublin, recorded with The Sessions Band.

A cover of the song by The Eagles of Death Metal was featured in the 2018 film Super Troopers 2.

Lyrics[edit]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band's recording of the song changes the lyrics. The most prominent change is in the chorus, where Springsteen's 'cut loose like a deuce' is replaced with 'revved up like a deuce'.^[2][3] This is commonly misheard as 'wrapped up like a douche', a well-known mondegreen.^[4][5] The lyric is actually a reference to a hot rod 'deuce coupe'. Springsteen was fond of classic hot rods in his youth, hence the line 'cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night'. Springsteen himself has joked about the controversy, claiming that it was not until Manfred Mann rewrote the song to be about a feminine hygiene product that it became popular.^[1]

Musicians[edit]

Original version

Blinded By The Light

• Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
• Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez – drums, backing vocals
• Clarence Clemons – saxophone, backing vocals

with

• Harold Wheeler – piano

Manfred Mann's Earth Band cover

• Manfred Mann – organ, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
• Colin Pattenden – bass
• Dave Flett – guitar
• Chris Hamlet Thompson – vocals, guitar
• Chris Slade – drums, backing vocals

with

• Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
• Irene Chanter – backing vocals
• Susanne Lynch – backing vocals

Chart performance[edit]

See also[edit]

• Blinded by the Light (2019 film) - a 2019 British comedy-drama about an aspiring writer inspired by Bruce Springsteen songs.

Blinded By The Lights Pauly D

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'Bruce Springsteen'. VH1 Storytellers. Episode 62. April 23, 2005. VH1.
2. ^Buzzelli, Mike (April 26, 2010). 'Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night'. Observer-Reporter. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
3. ^'VH1 Storytellers: Bruce Springsteen'. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
4. ^SearchTerm=blinded+by+the+light 'Manfred Mann's Earth Band : Blinded by the Light : Real Lyric: Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night : Misheard: Blinded by the light, wrapped up like a douche' Check url= value (help). Kissthisguy.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
5. ^'Q: 'Blinded By the Light, Revved Up Like a…' What?'. Blogcritics.org. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
6. ^'Australian Chart Book'. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
7. ^Flavour of New Zealand, 20 March 1977
8. ^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 346/6. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
9. ^Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN0-89820-089-X
10. ^'Cash Box Top 100 2/05/77'. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
11. ^Steffen Hung. 'Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)'. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
12. ^'Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada'. Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
13. ^Billboard. Pop Singles of 1977. December 24, 1977. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
14. ^'Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1977'. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-26.

External links[edit]

• 'Blinded by the Light' lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's official site