I Wanna Marry You

Album: The River (1980)
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  • I see you walking, baby, down the street
    Pushing that baby carriage at your feet
    I see the lonely ribbon in your hair
    Tell me I am the man for whom you put it there

    You never smile girl, you never speak
    You just walk on by, darlin' week after week
    Raising two kids alone in this mixed up world
    Must be a lonely life for a working girl

    Little girl, I want to marry you
    Oh yeah, little girl, I want to marry you
    Yes I do
    Little girl, I want to marry you

    Now honey, I don't want to clip your wings
    But a time comes when two people should think of these things
    Having a home and a family
    Facing up to their responsibilities
    They say in the end true love prevails
    But in the end true love can't be no fairytale
    To say I'll make your dreams come true would be wrong
    But maybe, darlin', I could help them along

    Little girl, I want to marry you
    Oh yeah, little girl, I want to marry you
    Yes I do
    Little girl, I want to marry you

    Oh, my daddy said right before he died
    That true, true love was just a lie
    He went to his grave a broken heart
    An unfulfilled life, makes a man hard

    Oh, darlin'
    There's something happy and there's something sad
    'Bout wanting somebody, oh so bad
    I wear my love darlin', without shame
    I'd be proud if you would wear my name

    Oh
    My darlin'
    Ooh my darlin'
    My darlin'
    Oh oh Writer/s: Bruce Springsteen
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Declan from Dublin, IrelandI think that this song is very touching and always brings a lump to my throat.
  • Will from Schoolcraft, MiI am a Boss fan for the most part; I have most of his albums, but I've got to say that even though a number of songs on The River are great, this one proves that double studio (not live, studio) albums are usually mixed with filler. Its like stepping in front of a dart board with two handfuls of darts, lobbing them all at it and daring to feel good about having three of them hit it.

    I'm sorry, but the lyrics to this song are more dry than the Mohaine Desert and, more importantly, below Bruce's talent. I'll bet most of the outtakes for this album were better than this one.
  • Kurt from Chicago, IlI saw Bruce in Champaign, IL in '80 during his "River" tour. During the break, someone must have passed him a note because when he came out he congratulated a couple in the second tier who had come from their wedding reception [still in their tux and gown] to the show. Then, as the applause for them died, Bruce ran offstage. The band was kind of looking at each other like WTF! The Bruce returned with the lyrics to this song... apparently they weren't part of the normal sets and he wanted to be sure he remembered the words when they played it in honor the couple. "The River" was laced with a marriage theme and, if memory serves, even featured a wedding cake bride & groom somewhere in the album art. For me, it was a poetic touch to an amazing concert. I sure hope it wasn't staged...
  • J.b. from San Jose, CaMy wife and I (married 21 years this year) used this song as our first dance for our wedding.
  • Scott from Detroit, MiI've always had a special place for this song...I met my wife when she had 2 kids and was all on her own...we now have 5 kids and I'm not going anywhere.
  • Cuda from Astoria, NyYou think this is a strange song, listen to Lift Me Up, i swear The boss sounds like an old french maid on this piece with a terrifying falsetto that can haunt a person in their dreams...
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaInteresting Strange Unique Springsteen Song. (ISUSS)
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