Atlantic City is a song by Bruce Springsteen, reflecting on the decay and rebirth of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Drawing from real events including organized crime in the city, the song speaks to hope and despair.
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Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night
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and they blew up his house too
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Down on the boardwalk, they're ready for a fight
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gonna see what them racket boys can do
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Now there's trouble busing in, from outta state
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and the D.A. can't get no relief
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Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
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and the gambling commissioners hanging on, by the skin of his teeth
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Everything dies baby that's a fact
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But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
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Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty and
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Meet me tonight, in Atlantic City
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Well I got a job and tried to put my money away
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But I got the kind of debt no honest man could pay
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So I drew what I had from the Central Trust
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And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus
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Everything dies baby that's a fact
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But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
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Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty and
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Meet me tonight, in Atlantic City
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Now our luck may have died, and our love may be cold
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but with you, forever I'll stay
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Yeah we're going out where, the sand turns to gold
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so put your stockings on, cause it might get cold
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Everything dies baby that's a fact
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But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
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Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty and
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Meet me tonight, in Atlantic City
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Now I been looking for a job but it's hard to find
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There's winners and there's losers and I'm south of that line
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Well I'm tired of coming out on the losing end
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But I talked to a man last night gonna do a little favor for him