We're All Riders On This Train

Human Touch
Bruce Springsteen (1992)

The ninth studio album from Bruce Springsteen was released 30 years ago today.  It's not his strongest album by a long shot, but the title track is one of my favorites.  It features Randy Jackson playing bass a decade before he would become a household name on American Idol, as well as Jeff Porcaro from Toto on drums.  Mr. Porcaro was one of the most prolific drummers of all time, and he passed away less than five months after Human Touch was released.

Human Touch

Bruce Springsteen (1992)

You and me we were the pretenders

We let it all slip away

In the end what you don't surrender

Well, the world just strips away

Girl, ain't no kindness in the face of strangers

Ain't gonna find no miracles here

Well, you can wait on your blessin's, my darlin'

I got a deal for you right here

I ain't lookin' for praise or pity

I ain't comin' 'round searchin' for a crutch

I just want someone to talk to

And a little of that human touch

Just a little of that human touch

Ain't no mercy on the streets of this town

Ain't no bread from heavenly skies

Ain't nobody drawin' wine from this blood

It's just you and me tonight

Tell me, in a world without pity

Do you think what I'm askin's too much?

I just want something to hold on to

And a little of that human touch

Just a little of that human touch

Oh girl, that feeling of safety you prize

Well, it comes at a hard hard price

You can't shut off the risk and the pain

Without losin' the love that remains

We're all riders on this train

So you've been broken and you've been hurt

Show me somebody who ain't

Yeah, I know I ain't nobody's bargain

But, hell, a little touch up

And a little paint

You might need somethin' to hold on to

When all the answers, they don't amount to much

Somebody that you could just to talk to

And a little of that human touch

Baby, in a world without pity

Do you think what I'm askin's too much?

I just want to feel you in my arms

Share a little of that human touch