ONE HAND'S TREMBLIN' OVER MY HEART


and it ain't gonna stop.

And, finally today, because I'm a softie and a romantic as well as a hard-boiled cynic, because the Springsteen line in the last post got me thinking about the amazing, criminally underrated song that follows it, and because, if every day should be Valentine's Day, then today, FTD and Hallmark be damned, should be Valentine's Day too. So here's a song from The Boss that understands all that, and says it far more poignantly and poetically than I ever could.

Enjoy. And Happy Valentine's Day, everyone...


VALENTINE’S DAY
Bruce Springsteen

I'm driving a big lazy car, rushin' up the highway in the dark
I got one hand steady on the wheel, and one hand's tremblin' over my heart
It's pounding, baby, like it's gonna bust right on through
And it ain't gonna stop till I'm alone again with you

A friend of mine became a father last night
When we spoke in his voice I could hear the light
Of the skies and the rivers, the timberwolf in the pines
And that great jukebox out on Route 39
They say he travels fastest who travels alone
But tonight I miss my girl, mister, tonight I miss my home

Is it the sound of the leaves
Left blown by the wayside
That's got me out here on this spooky old highway tonight
Is it the cry of the river
With the moonlight shining through
That ain't what scares me, baby
What scares me is losing you

They say if you die in your dreams, you really die in your bed
But, honey, last night I dreamed my eyes rolled straight back in my head
And God's light came shinin' on through
I woke up in the darkness scared and breathin' and born anew
It wasn't the cold river bottom I felt rushing over me
It wasn't the bitterness of a dream that didn't come true
It wasn't the wind in the grey fields I felt rushing through my arms
No, no baby -- baby, it was you
So hold me close, honey, say you're forever mine
And tell me you'll be my lonely valentine.

Posted: Wed - February 14, 2007 at 07:15 PM          

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