{"id":38923,"date":"2022-10-28T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/?p=38923"},"modified":"2024-01-03T16:15:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T00:15:44","slug":"roll-of-the-dice-oh-mama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/28\/roll-of-the-dice-oh-mama\/","title":{"rendered":"Roll of the Dice: Oh Mama"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even Bruce Springsteen doesn’t always get it right on the first try.<\/p>\n

Take “Oh Mama,” for instance. Bruce wrote and performed it during his Steel Mill era, a period in which his songs were typically light on lyrical substance and heavy on instrumental jams.<\/p>\n

Even by Steel Mill standards, though, “Oh Mama” was a bit of a mess.<\/p>\n

Lyrically, it sounds like something written by a\u00a0 kid in a high school band–and that’s not a slam since Bruce was probably only twenty when he wrote it. Musically, I find “Oh Mama” a tough listen. There are certainly songs that showcase the boys’ instrumental chops and vocal skills, but this isn’t one of them.<\/p>\n

Bruce turns in a couple of fine guitar solos, Danny dominates in the mix on the organ, and Vini does his best to hold everyone together. But those vocals… ouch. Perhaps they couldn’t hear themselves in the mix (there’s some late banter suggesting as much); let’s extend the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n

And yet, “Oh Mama” is still historically significant, and if you paid close attention to the opening verse, you already know why:<\/p>\n

You get up every morning at the sound of the bell<\/em>
\nYou stumble out the door just a-feeling like hell<\/em>
\nI make it into class about a quarter past eight<\/em>
\nI hear my teacher yakking at me ’cause I’m ten minutes late<\/em>
\nSo down at my desk next to my girlfriend Mary<\/em>
\nYou were late for a date so I went out with Harry<\/em>
\nHoney don’t you know I had to stay in the class<\/em>
\nI never took my homework on that old dark road<\/em>
\nThis car, it ran out of gas<\/em><\/p>\n

That opening couplet grabbed your attention, didn’t it? Yep, “Oh Mama” is basically an early version of “Night<\/a>” (there’s even a “boss man” reference later in the song), written by a kid whose frame of reference was still closer to that of a student than a blue-collar laborer.<\/p>\n

“Oh Mama” isn’t anywhere near as romantic as “Night,” though. It’s pretty much the polar opposite in fact: Bruce spends the whole song complaining about his daily drudge while his girl busts his chops.<\/p>\n

I get up every morning at the sound of the bell<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nStumble out the door just a-feeling like hell<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nI get into class about a quarter past eight<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nI get my teacher yakking at me cause I’m ten minutes late<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nWhy do you treat me like this?<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nCause when I look in your eyes you know I just can’t resist<\/em>
\nYou’re my hully gully, baby, I’m all a-twist<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh mama, mama, mama, mama<\/em>
\nGave up on the school and I gotta get a job<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nMy teacher and papa screaming that I look like a slob<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nMy boss man won’t give me a moment of peace<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nI’m low class, pumpin’ gas, monkey in grease<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nOh mama, oh mama, why<\/em>
\nWhy do you treat me like this, I don’t know<\/em>
\nCause when I look in your eyes you know I just can’t resist<\/em>
\nYou’re my hully gully, baby, I’m all a-twist<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s not a memorable entry in the Springsteen songbook, and yet it was clearly significant enough that its author still remembered it four years later when writing material for his breakthrough album.<\/p>\n

He saved the first couplet, aged the narrator a few years, changed the focus from the day’s toil to the night’s release, wrapped it all in a bright, brash arrangement bursting with romantic zeal… and ended up with a classic that remains a fan favorite to this day.<\/p>\n

No one’s going to put “Oh Mama” on heavy rotation, but it’s a peak into the origins of a much stronger song and a great example of Bruce’s songwriting instincts. A great line waits for its time.<\/p>\n

Oh Mama
\nFirst performed:<\/strong> November 27, 1970 (Asbury Park, NJ)
\nLast performed:<\/strong> January 23, 1971 (Asbury Park, NJ)<\/p>\n

Looking for your favorite Bruce song? Check our\u00a0full index<\/a>. New entries every week!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s a bit of a mess on its own merits, but this early Steel Mill song paved the way for a Born to Run classic years later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[3543,33],"class_list":["post-38923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-roll-of-the-dice","tag-oh-mama","tag-steel-mill"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/ohmama.jpg?fit=666%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9w3Lk-a7N","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28463,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/28\/roll-of-the-dice-do-it-with-a-feeling\/","url_meta":{"origin":38923,"position":0},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Do It With a Feeling","author":"Ken","date":"August 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Almost certainly a holdover from the Steel Mill era, the heavy \"Do It With Feeling\" is ill-suited for the light-on-its-feet Bruce Springsteen Band.","rel":"","context":"In "Roll of the Dice"","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bsb-1.jpg?fit=714%2C700&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bsb-1.jpg?fit=714%2C700&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bsb-1.jpg?fit=714%2C700&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bsb-1.jpg?fit=714%2C700&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19669,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2020\/07\/18\/roll-of-the-dice-coming-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":38923,"position":1},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Coming Home","author":"Ken","date":"July 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Coming Home\" is a rare studio recording from the Bruce Springsteen Band era and an early precursor to one of Bruce's greatest hits.","rel":"","context":"In "Roll of the Dice"","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cominghome.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cominghome.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cominghome.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cominghome.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cominghome.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5526,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2018\/11\/13\/roll-of-the-dice-oh-no-no-no\/","url_meta":{"origin":38923,"position":2},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Oh No No No","author":"Ken","date":"November 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Oh No No No\" is an unfinished attempt at a he-said\/she-said. Too bad we lack the music to pair with these unpublished lyrics, so we could see what Bruce was aiming for.","rel":"","context":"In "Roll of the Dice"","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ohnonono.jpg?fit=410%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10636,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/26\/roll-of-the-dice-resurrection\/","url_meta":{"origin":38923,"position":3},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Resurrection","author":"Ken","date":"June 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce grappled with his religion through as far back as his teen years, but with a lot less subtlety. Listen to him challenge the church in his 1969 Steel Mill crowd-pleaser.","rel":"","context":"In "Roll of the Dice"","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33511,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2022\/03\/27\/roll-of-the-dice-living-in-rock-and-roll\/","url_meta":{"origin":38923,"position":4},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Living in Rock and Roll","author":"Ken","date":"March 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"One time only: Backing vocalist Francine Daniels joins the Bruce Springsteen Band for three nights only, including this only known performance of Bruce's \"Living in Rock and Roll.\"","rel":"","context":"In "Roll of the Dice"","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rockroll.jpg?fit=690%2C689&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rockroll.jpg?fit=690%2C689&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rockroll.jpg?fit=690%2C689&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27895,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2021\/06\/13\/roll-of-the-dice-ive-got-to-have-you-baby\/","url_meta":{"origin":38923,"position":5},"title":"Roll of the Dice: I Got to Have You, Baby","author":"Ken","date":"June 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's listen on the Bruce Springsteen Band's 1972 rehearsal sessions and their loose, fun performance of a lost Springsteen original.","rel":"","context":"In "Roll of the Dice"","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gottahve.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gottahve.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gottahve.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gottahve.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gottahve.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38923"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39011,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38923\/revisions\/39011"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}