Cono has great taste in music, folks. He wanted to write about this and asked me to do so. Thanks.



This song was released on Bruce Springsteen's 1973 debut Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. and is quintessential Bruce song regarding the topics he tackles. He grew up catholic, and imagery from that upbringing can be seen throughout his music. It's a thread that runs from the beginning until now. And when that particular imagery is not there one can count on basic themes of faith, redemption, and sin. He's not a one trick pony though. Much more is at play within his lyrics. I do not know how it goes under the radar, even with some long time fans, but Bruce has been political. If not outright then through his social consciousness. This song is a dichotomy of sorts. Let's look at the lyrics


The ragamuffin gunner is returnin' home like a hungry runaway
He walks through town all alone
He must be from the fort he hears the high school girls say
His countryside's burnin' with wolfman fairies dressed in drag for homicide
The hit and run, plead sanctuary, 'neath a holy stone they hide
They're breakin' beams and crosses with a spastic's reelin' perfection
nuns run bald through Vatican halls pregnant, pleadin' immaculate conception
And everybody's wrecked on Main Street from drinking unholy blood
Sticker smiles sweet as gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud
And I said "Hey, gunner man, that's quicksand, that's quicksand that ain't mud
Have you thrown your senses to the war or did you lose them in the flood?"

A man, perhaps a boy considering the age, is returning home from war. He is haggard, alone, a man without a country considering the treatment of Vietnam veterans by the very government that sent them away. Maybe before he had faith within his church, but it is all gone now. After what he has seen it is hard to find that safety and trust within those church walls. I think this is semi-autobiographical here for Springsteen. In his youth he lost that faith -- a fallen Catholic -- and he was lashing out with his songs. Anyway, the man is sinking within his own reality. He's probably turn to whatever makes him not feel a thing.


That pure American brother, dull-eyed and empty-faced
races Sundays in Jersey in a Chevy stock super eight
He rides 'er low on the hip, on the side he's got Bound For Glory in red, white and blue flash paint
He leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him Jimmy The Saint
Well the blaze and noise boy, he's gunnin' that bitch loaded to blastin' point
He rides head first into a hurricane and disappears into a point
And there's nothin' left but some blood where the body fell
That is, nothin' left that you could sell
just junk all across the horizon, a real highwayman's farewell
And he said "Hey kid, you think that's oil? Man, that ain't oil that's blood"
I wonder what he was thinking when he hit that storm
Or was he just lost in the flood?


I used to think this was the same guy back from war. Maybe so, but I don't think that as much anymore. Just another snapshot of America. The guy is a big deal with the younger generation in his town. He seems to be a rebel without a cause type. The problem is this is all he has. The joy of racing, the kids that look up to him, his car. He is dull-eyed and empty-faced which I think supports the thought that this is it for him, and he knows it. Maybe it is because he is a product of the system. Bruce said in a 2003 interview that he believes the public school system in America just builds you up to be part of the machine. There is no outlet for intelligence past books or standardized tests and many kids have no way to tap that talent or use it. This guy may be one of those kids. Regardless, his bleak future becomes bleaker as he crashes and ends his life. The hurricane is either an actual car accident or what he ends up doing to try and make a better life. I am not sure, but either way that ain't oil that's blood.


Eighth Avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air
Some storefront incarnation of Maria, she's puttin' on me the stare
and Bronx's best apostle stands with his hand on his own hardware
Everything stops, you hear five, quick shots, the cops come up for air
And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, they're shootin' up the street
And that cat from the Bronx starts lettin' loose
but he gets blown right off his feet
And some kid comes blastin' round the corner but a cop puts him right away
He lays on the street holding his leg screaming something in Spanish
Still breathing when I walked away

And somebody said "Hey man did you see that? His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud"
I wonder what the dude was sayin' or was he just lost in the flood?
Hey man, did you see that, those poor cats are sure fucked up
I wonder what they were gettin' into, or were they just lost in the flood?


Now, we explore the life of these kids in New York. The romantics, the ones lost in gangs, the cops, the hookers and everything else swirling around the guy walking through the streets. Not only is Bruce touching up the violence that has been glorified by some, but I think the line about the cops is a very early precursor to American Skin (41 Shots). Regardless, once again someone is trapped in their surroundings and the ending is never good. The violence of 1970s NYC clearly shapes this verse.

I remember reading somewhere what someone thought about the line His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud. Maybe it was just Bruce's great way of explaining the sound, but this person thought it was talking about violence being sort of glorified in media. Maybe so, but I think it speaks more to the hardening of people's emotions. The line takes us full circle and back to the beginning with the war. Many have no qualms about killing if they think it is right. That thud could be the death in so many wars, and anywhere, that we assume are justified.

This is my take on it, but it is clear the song is about the war and how Bruce's catholic upbringing affected him and jaded him at a young age concerning religion. He's come to grips with things since then, but nothing is as good as Bruce when he was still searching for himself, proving himself, fighting for it all.

There is nothing like the power of this song when performed to perfection. Check out the Live In New York City version.



Hammersmith 1975


I could probably write a paper about this song. I'll stop now.

I have been lucky enough to see this live twice. Both times were on this tour. The first time was in Cincinnati on 3/22/08. I was also very lucky because I got really close in the lottery. I ended up slightly to Bruce's right with arms on the stage! As soon as the first note of this song was played I looked at the stage in shock...then I cried.

Incredible song...stands separate from anything else on that record. I swear the first time I heard it, I felt something slip. Fantastic.

I haven't been interested in many SOTM's in a while, but fuck yeah. This is such an incredible song. The lyrics tear me to pieces, certainly one of Springsteen's finest moments in that sense. Thing is, I don't think I'd even call it my favorite on the record. It's damn close, to be sure, but I think "Blinded By The Light" takes the cake for that. Yeah, Bruce is the fucking man.

I enjoy The Boss. Especially the older material. His songs are usually full of very striking imagery for me, and this one's no exception. One of my favorite Bruce songs.

Great write up on it there too, I alway love reading people's well thought out takes on great songs. Nice job and a great read.

I agree that it does. Other songs are sort of romantic, a little defiant, or just fun. This song is absolutely incredible in its strength and imagery. And I'm not even a huge fan of the album version though I do like it. The LINYC version made it rise up and tie other songs as my favorite. And if I had to choose I just might choose it as my favorite Bruce song though I think it depends on what day you ask me.




Glad you are interested in this one. And the fact that you can say it's not your favorite on the record shows his strength.

Thanks. I also love reading people's take on songs especially songs that are so well-written and powerful.

great write up there, i'm glad i passed it on cause i could have never come up with all that


this is exactly what happened to me. i was just a casual Springsteen listener until i heard this song. This song struck me in a way very few songs have on first listen.

Ha. Thanks cono.

I saw Bruce on VH1 and became very interested in him. I got Greatest Hits first thinking it would be a good intro. Next was BITUSA and a week or so later Greetings. I was hooked already, but that song definitely took it to another level and reminded me why I was hooked.

The Hammersmith version of Lost In The Flood is everything that rock n roll should be. His vocals are beyond belief. This song alone makes buying the Born To Run boxset worthwhile, just to get it on grainy video.

Jesus Christ. I just watched both Lost in the Flood videos again for the billionth time. This song is just so powerful and beyond belief. I love both versions for what they have to offer. As intense as the LINYC version is it is more subtle in some way. The Hammersmith version is full of hunger.

Really great choice.
When I do top springsteen lists this is one of three that will ALWAYS be included.

Sorry it took me awhile to respond Kelly. The power of the song absolutely blows me away, especially the live version. Might be my favorite Boss song(although Johnny 99 gives it a run for its money). Great write-up Kelly, also, I should call you sometime before this gets taken down just in honor of it being the SOTM.

No problem, Nick. Glad to see a few more comments. I wish more would comment especially if they have just heard the song for the first time.

This song is just amazing - the lyrics, the imagery, the music. All combined to just an amazing profound effect. One of my very favourite songs of all time and my fave Bruce song, which is really saying something coming from that catalogue.

I first heard this years ago courtesy of my brother's Bruce collection and the song was just so strong. It's gotta be saying something when a 14 year old kid chooses to throw this onto a mix tape he's making for the school holidays (I'm pretty sure the song directly after it was Frank Zappa's "Bobby Brown" )

And somebody said "Hey man did you see that? His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud"

That line is shivers for me every time. Amazing stuff. It's songs like these that make you realise how good music can be and sets the bar for all other artists.

Great song, great write up. Thanks.

---thethreadkillerwashere---

Yes, yes, yes. That line does the same to me. So powerful, so perfect.

Who hasn't heard this? You all are missing out.

Just remember, it's their loss.

For real!

I don't think I have it in me to appreciate the Boss, sadly. Anyone want to throw a new SOTM up?