"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by New Jersey based singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was the first song on, and first single from, Springsteen's debut album Greetings from Asbury Park N.J. (1973).

Springsteen's version was initially unsuccessful, and failed to appear on the music charts, though it did later gain airplay on progressive rock radio.

[edit] Other versions

A version of the song recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band was a major hit, reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 on 19 February 1977. As of 2007, the Manfred Mann's Earth Band recording of "Blinded by the Light" is still Springsteen's only Number 1 single as a songwriter on the Hot 100.

Additionally, a version of the song has been released by the "Northern Southerners" using the chorus as its hook. Springsteen and Mann both have given permission for its use.

[edit] Lyrics

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Springsteen wrote "Blinded by the Light" after most of the others on Greetings were finished and is also one of the few songs for which Springsteen wrote the words before arranging the music.

The song's swiftly-paced, jumbled lyrics are stream of consciousness descriptions of a series of bizarre individuals he met while a young artist in New Jersey. Playing small venues, such as bars along the Jersey Shore, Springsteen recounts various characters from these events. He alludes to Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, then his drummer, in the opening line "Madman drummers", as well as the "silicone sister" (bartender, possibly referring to an erotic dancer) who encourages him to play a particular, unknown song. United by the chorus: "And (s)he was blinded by the light/cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night/Blinded by the light/(S)he got down but (s)he never got tight, (s)he's gonna make it (alright) tonight", the song goes on to chronicle Springsteen's trouble to get the bar patrons, who rarely cared about or even heard the music, to get excited by his performance.

[edit] External links

Preceded by "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary MacGregor	Billboard Hot 100 number one single February 19, 1977	Succeeded by "New Kid in Town" by Eagles

v • d • e Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Manfred Mann • Mick Rodgers • Noel McCalla • Geoff Dunn • Steve Kinch Chris Thompson • Steve Waller • Chris Slade • Colin Pattenden • Pat King • John Lingwood • Clive Bunker • Dave Flett • Matt Irving • Shona Laing • Richard Marcangelo • Geoff Britton • John Trotter • Pete May

Studio albums	Manfred Mann's Earth Band • Glorified Magnified • Messin' • Solar Fire • The Good Earth • Nightingales and Bombers • The Roaring Silence • Watch • Angel Station • Chance • Somewhere in Afrika • Criminal Tango • Masque • Plains Music • Soft Vengeance • 2006

Live albums	Budapest Live • Mann Alive

Compilations	The Best of Manfred Mann's Earth Band Re-Mastered • The Best of Manfred Mann's Earth Band Re-Mastered Volume II • Odds & Sods - Mis-takes & Out-takes

Songs	"Blinded by the Light" • "Mighty Quinn" • "Redemption Song"

Related articles	Discography • Manfred Mann • Manfred Mann Chapter Three • The Manfreds