Light of Day (song)
Encyclopedia
"Light of Day", sometimes written as "(Just Around the Corner to the) Light of Day", is a song written by Bruce Springsteen
and performed initially by Joan Jett
and Michael J. Fox
with their fictitious band The Barbusters in the 1987 film Light of Day
. The song has since become a staple in Jett's concerts, often representing the show's high point.
The song appeared on the Light of Day soundtrack album. As a single, it reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100
in April 1987, and it was credited to The Barbusters (Joan Jett and The Blackhearts) on the record label. It received additional album-oriented rock
airplay due to its Jett and Springsteen connection. A music video
featuring The Barbusters performing the song, interspersed with numerous scenes from the rest of the film, was popular on MTV
. The song has also appeared on several Jett compilation albums.
-flavored stomper that features Springsteen's usual automotive imagery and includes some of his heartland rock
sentiments as well as some of the film's sensibility:
The song's lyrics focus on the quest for happiness amidst life's difficult circumstances, told through the eyes of a person driving and traveling the nation and world in search of something better, only to find that it really existed at home all along.
While the song's lyrics do not directly mention either Springsteen's native New Jersey
or Jett's native Pennsylvania
by name, the song has been interpreted to reference the authenticity of people and places associated with these two states, inspired at least partly by Springsteen's failed marriage to actress Julianne Phillips
and Springsteen's brief residence in California
with Phillips, which Springsteen has since described disparagingly.
as loose payment for his having appropriated Schrader's working title for this film for the song "Born in the U.S.A.
." Because the song was written around Springsteen's divorce from Phillips, it also includes subtle references to the rejection of inauthentic relationships between people with different value structures, described lyrically by Springsteen as "I got a little lost down along the way."
Springsteen subsequently featured "Light of Day" heavily in his own concerts; it showed up during his 1987 Jersey Shore
club appearances, then served as the main set closer throughout his 1988 Tunnel of Love Express, 1992-1993 "Other Band", 1995 (six shows with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers in a band featuring Bruce on lead guitar and occasional lead vocal) and 1999-2000 Reunion Tour
s. Two such performances were captured in the 1993 In Concert/MTV Plugged
and 2000 Live in New York City
videos and albums, but any particular rendering could be extended to arbitrary length via Springsteen raps, vamps, stage hijinks, and false endings.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and performed initially by Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
and Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
with their fictitious band The Barbusters in the 1987 film Light of Day
Light of Day
The soundtrack to the film was released in 1987. As a single, "Light of Day" reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received additional album-oriented rock airplay due to the connection of Joan Jett and Bruce Springsteen....
. The song has since become a staple in Jett's concerts, often representing the show's high point.
The song appeared on the Light of Day soundtrack album. As a single, it reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in April 1987, and it was credited to The Barbusters (Joan Jett and The Blackhearts) on the record label. It received additional album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
airplay due to its Jett and Springsteen connection. A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
featuring The Barbusters performing the song, interspersed with numerous scenes from the rest of the film, was popular on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The song has also appeared on several Jett compilation albums.
Lyrics
"Light of Day" is a powerful guitar-driven, roadhouseRoadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
-flavored stomper that features Springsteen's usual automotive imagery and includes some of his heartland rock
Heartland rock
Heartland rock is a genre of rock music that developed in the 1970s and reached its commercial peak in the 1980s, when it became one of the best-selling genres in the United States. It was characterized by a straightforward musical style, a concern with the average, blue collar American life, and a...
sentiments as well as some of the film's sensibility:
- Well, I've been out of the woods for six days and nights now
- And I'm a little hot wired but I'm feeling all right now
- I got some money in my pocket and I won't need a ride, yeah!
- I got a big Jag car and a baby by my side, yeah
- Well, I'm a little hot wired but I'm feeling okay
- And I got a little lost down along the way
- Well, I'm just around the corner till the light of day, ye-ah
The song's lyrics focus on the quest for happiness amidst life's difficult circumstances, told through the eyes of a person driving and traveling the nation and world in search of something better, only to find that it really existed at home all along.
While the song's lyrics do not directly mention either Springsteen's native New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
or Jett's native Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
by name, the song has been interpreted to reference the authenticity of people and places associated with these two states, inspired at least partly by Springsteen's failed marriage to actress Julianne Phillips
Julianne Phillips
Julianne Phillips is an American model and actress. She is the ex-wife of Bruce Springsteen.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Phillips was raised in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Oregon, the daughter of insurance broker, William Phillips, and wife, Ann Phillips. She was the youngest of...
and Springsteen's brief residence in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with Phillips, which Springsteen has since described disparagingly.
Song's inspiration and use by Springsteen
The tale is told that Springsteen donated the song to film director Paul SchraderPaul Schrader
Paul Joseph Schrader is an American screenwriter, film director, and former film critic. Apart from his credentials as a director, Schrader is most notably known for his screenplays for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Raging Bull....
as loose payment for his having appropriated Schrader's working title for this film for the song "Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A. (song)
"Born in the U.S.A." is a 1984 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. Taken from the album of the same name, it is one of his best-known singles. Rolling Stone ranked the song 275th on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". In 2001, the RIAA's Songs of the Century placed...
." Because the song was written around Springsteen's divorce from Phillips, it also includes subtle references to the rejection of inauthentic relationships between people with different value structures, described lyrically by Springsteen as "I got a little lost down along the way."
Springsteen subsequently featured "Light of Day" heavily in his own concerts; it showed up during his 1987 Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
club appearances, then served as the main set closer throughout his 1988 Tunnel of Love Express, 1992-1993 "Other Band", 1995 (six shows with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers in a band featuring Bruce on lead guitar and occasional lead vocal) and 1999-2000 Reunion Tour
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour
The Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour was a lengthy, top-grossing concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place over 1999 and 2000....
s. Two such performances were captured in the 1993 In Concert/MTV Plugged
In Concert/MTV Plugged
In Concert/MTV Plugged is a 1992 concert video and 1993 live album by Bruce Springsteen.It is part of MTV's Unplugged series, recorded on September 22, 1992 at the Warner Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles during the midst of Springsteen's "Other Band" Tour.Bruce Springsteen famously played one song,...
and 2000 Live in New York City
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City is the name of a concert film done by HBO, featuring the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert...
videos and albums, but any particular rendering could be extended to arbitrary length via Springsteen raps, vamps, stage hijinks, and false endings.