Blinded By The Light

"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen. It was originally released as the first track on his first album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) but attained its greatest success when it was remade by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, whose version reached Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1977. As of 2005, the Manfred Mann recording of "Blinded by the Light" is still Springsteen's only Number 1 single as a songwriter on the Hot 100.

Related Topics:
Bruce Springsteen - First track - Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. - 1973 - Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Billboard's - Hot 100 - 1977 - 2005

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The lyrics of the song feature extensive use of internal rhyme in lines such as the following:

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Lyrics - Internal rhyme

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:Some brimstone baritone anti-cyclone rolling stone preacher from the east

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:He says "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in its funnybone, that's where they expect it least."

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The chorus of the song features the commonly misunderstood lyric, "Blinded by the light, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night." ("Deuce" refers to a '32 Ford Deuce Coupe.) Manfred Mann changed this line slightly (as "revved up like a deuce") and repeated it much more frequently in their version than Springsteen did in the original; they also omitted parts of the verses and rearranged the order of the remaining lyrics.

Related Topics:
Commonly misunderstood lyric - '32 Ford Deuce Coupe

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Springsteen's version has been described as folky and acoustic compared to Manfred Mann's harder rock take on the song, which prominently features electric keyboards.

Related Topics:
Acoustic - Keyboard

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• However, Bruce Springsteen, in his 2005 VH1 Storytellers appearance, lightheartedly made the assertion that the sole reason Manfred Mann's version of the song, featuring the altered lyric "revved up like a douche" is the reason why their version went to number one. Bruce said, "The original lyric is 'cut loose like a deuce' referring to a two seat hot-rod, a little deuce coupe. Manfred Mann changed the lyric to 'revved up like a douche.' which is a feminine hygenic procedure."
 
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