Lyrics Roulette (Studio Outtake - 1979) - Bruce Springsteen

We left the toys out in the yard
I took my wife and kids and I left my home unguarded
We packed what we could into the car
No one here knows how it started

Well, suddenly everything was just so out of control
Now I want some answers, mister, I need to know
I hear all the talk but I don't know what you're sayin'
But I think I got a good idea of the game that you're playin'

Roulette, that's the name
Roulette, that's the game now
Roulette, I don't believe what they're sayin'
Roulette, everybody's playin'

I grew up here on this street
Where nothin' moves, just a strange breeze
A town full of worthless memories

Shadow in my backyard
I've got a house full of things that I can't touch
Well all those things I won't do me much good now

I was a fireman out at Riker's, I did my job
Mister, I've been cheated, I feel like I've been robbed
I'm the big expendable, my life's just canceled null and void
What you gonna do about your new boy

Roulette, you're playin' with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, every day the stakes get bigger
Roulette, a different finger on the trigger

Down by the river that talks
The night speaks in searchlights
And shortwave radios squawk

The police patrol the streets
But I've left behind the man I used to be
Everything he believed and all that belonged to me

I tried to find my way out to somewhere where I thought it'd be safe
They stopped me at the roadblock they put up on the interstate
They put me in detention but I broke loose and ran away
They said they want to ask me a few questions but I think they had other plans

Now I don't know who to trust and I don't know what I can believe
They say they want to help me but with the stuff they keep on sayin'
I think those guys just want to keep on playin'

Roulette, with my life
Roulette, with my kids and my wife
Roulette, the bullet's in the chamber
Roulette, who's the unlucky stranger

Roulette, surprise, you're dead
Roulette, the gun's to your head
Roulette, bullet's spinning in the chamber
Roulette, pull the trigger, feel the click
No further danger