[Geewiz]

This is not a sad song - it's a song of redemption from sadness...but, a story first. Bruce played Chicago the year I was getting married to Kay. For a lark, I took a wedding invitation...I and wrote a note...offering to pay the E Street Band $50 per (plus an extra $50 for Clarence if he he'd sing Fire) ... as a warning to Bruce I wrote that playing the wedding circuit was the insurance few musicians
could do without. Bruce got the note and read it to the audience..laughing though most of it and then offered up Little Girl I Wanna Marry you to Kay and me.

I have a bootleg of the show who put it online to get it to me. I played it for my son Sam a few weeks ago. He was amazed.

I thought that was the end of story...kinda cute...a good memory. But a couple of years later Kay and I met Max - Bruce's drummer. I wasn't gonna say anything...but, Kay told the story. Max came and hugged me and said it was a fav memory of the tour. He asked if I was seeing the show that night...and I said we were...right in the 5th row. Max said write another note so I did. The main set gets completed and no mention - which was OK. Come the encore...Bruce points at us directly ((I still wonder how he knew) and said this is for Kay and Gary Brown...my best fans. Then launched into Jungleland. By the end I was crying like a baby.

I've been lucky to hang with lots of musicians..many you don't know..but some you do. The Eagles took me out for my first official drink on my 21st. Made out with Joni. Hung with Chris Hynde in London. Hung with the Mac.

But that encore...it was magic. It made life special.

Though I can't be in a room with my ex-wife without a fight breaking out...we had a bunch of bloody great adventures and she was essential. I miss what was.

This a song of redemption. It's Land of Hopes and Dreams.

Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder's rolling down the tracks
You don't know where you're goin'
But you know you won't be back
Darlin' if you're weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We'll take what we can carry
And we'll leave the rest

Big Wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

I will provide for you
And I'll stand by your side
You'll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow there'll be sunshine
And all this darkness past

Big wheels roll through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This Train
Carries whores and gamblers
This Train
Carries lost souls
This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin'
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin'
This Train
Carries broken-hearted
This Train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This Train
Carries fools and kings
This Train
All aboard

This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin'
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin'