Roll of the Dice: Come On

“It’s all happening out there in the street… so what are we all doing in here?”  –Bruce Springsteen, July 17, 1970

In the summer of 1970, Bruce Springsteen was 21 years old, fronting a red-hot band, and cultivating a reputation and a fervent following at the Jersey Shore and in Richmond, Virginia. (If New Jerseyans can claim to be the first to realize Bruce’s potential, Richmonders can rightfully claim to be second.)

Bruce’s previous bands had set lists with prominently featured covers, but with Steel Mill, Bruce was rapidly creating his own catalog.

Some of Bruce’s early work hinted at the brilliance to come. Others… well, others sound like what you’d expect the output of a 21-year-old songwriter in 1970 to sound like.

Case in point: “Come On.”

If “Come On” is notable for anything at all, it’s for the remarkable quality of this surviving recording (who could have known in 1970 that the young band playing at Asbury Park’s Sunshine In would have such historical significance?) and the power of Bruce’s vocals, particularly as the song shifts into gear in the third line of the song.

Well come on, are you ready
Well the temperature’s rising and summer’s coming on
Well come on, don’t let ’em catch you running ’round here
Well the time has come, let’s get on

The song itself, however, is a fairly pedestrian call-to-action for young people, inspired by any number of contemporary protest songs–including “Teach Your Children,” which Bruce alludes to twice in the song. (Bruce had a penchant even then for wearing his influences on his sleeves–see “Change It”  for another example of how young Bruce paid tribute to his influences.)

Yeah come on, are you ready
The bells are ringing and the people are singing their song
Well come on, come on, don’t you fear it
The world is crying for freedom, can’t you hear it

Well gather up your children
Bring them down to the riverside
And teach them well, show them good
They got no reason to hide

Well gather up them children
Bring them down to the riverside
And treat them well, wish them good
They got no reason to hide

Come on, you gotta be a man now
The time has come, get up and stand now
Come on, don’t you fear it
The world is crying for freedom
The world is crying for freedom, don’t you hear it

“Come On” won’t be remembered as one of Bruce’s best songs, but as a curious postscript, Steel Mill Retro (a modern-day incarnation of Bruce’s early band, led by original member (and E Streeter) Vini Lopez) officially recorded and released it (with Bruce’s blessing) in 2005 on their Dead Sea Chronicles album–earning “Come On” distinction as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s catalog of officially released compositions.

Come On
Never recorded
Never released
First performed: May 23, 1970 (Richmond, VA)
Last performed: August 14, 1970 (Richmond, VA)

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