Progressive Rock Music

The song was written by Bruce Springsteen and recorded on his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.  It was released as a single but did not chart successfully. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band released their cover on their 1976 album The Roaring Silence. They changed the lyrics a bit and added the “Chopsticks” melody to the bridge.  (The deuce referred to in the song is a two-seater hot rod — and  that part of the lyric has often been misheard.)  It was the first track on the album, and a shortened version was released as a single, backed with “Starbird No. 2.” In 1976 and 1977, their version went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. Cashbox chart, and in Canada. It was #6 in the U.S, #8 in New Zealand, and #11 in Australia. The song continues to get radio airplay to this day.

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band was formed by South African musician Manfred Mann. In the 1960s,Manfred Mann  had hits with “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” and “The Mighty Quinn,” among others. They disbanded in 1969.Mann formed Manfred Mann Chapter Three. They disbanded and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band formed in 1971. On the track for “Blinded by The Light” were Manfred Mann (organ, piano, keyboards, backing vocals), Colin Pattenden (bass), Dave Flett (guitar), Chris Hamlet Thompson (vocals, guitar), and Christ Slade (drums, backing vocals). Also on backing vocals were Doreen Chanter, Irene Chanter, and Susanne Lynch.  The lineup has changed over time, and the group continues to tour and perform internationally today.

Here are the lyrics to the album version of “Blinded by the Light” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band:

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce

Another runner in the night
Madman drummers bummers
Indians in the summer
With a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps
His way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder
Feeling kinda older
I tripped a merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin’
Sneezin’ and wheezin’
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground
‘Cause she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce

Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce

Another runner in the night

Some silicone sister
With her manager mister
Told me I’ve got what it takes
She said I’ll turn you on sonny to
Something strong
Play the song with the funky break

And go-kart mozart
Was checking out the weather chart
To see if it was safe outside
And little early pearly
Came by in his curly wurly
And asked me if I needed a ride

And asked me if I needed a ride
‘Cause she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tired
She’s gonna make it through the night
She’s gonna make it through the night

But mama, that’s where the fun is
But mama, that’s where the fun is

Mama always told me not to look into
The eyes of the sun
But mama that’s where the fun is

Some brimstone baritone
Anticyclone rolling stone
Preacher from the east
Says dethrone the dictaphone
Hit it in its funnybone
That’s where they expect it least
And some new mown chaperone
Was standing in the corner
Watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sewn moonstone
Was messin’ with his frozen zone
Reminding him of romance

The calliope crashed to the ground

But she was…
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

[The following two sections are sung simultaneously]

(Madman drummers bummers,
Indians in the summer
with a teenage diplomat)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(In the dumps with the mumps
as the adolescent pumps
his way into his hat)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(With a boulder on my shoulder,
feelin’ kinda older,
I tripped the merry-go-round)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(With this very unpleasin’,
sneezin’ and wheezin,
the calliope crashed to the ground)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(Now Scott with a slingshot
Finally found a tender spot
And throws her lover in the sand)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(And some blood shot forget-me-not
Said Daddy’s within earshot
Save the buckshot,

Turn up the band)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(Some silicone sister with a manager mister
told me I got what it takes)
Blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce
Another runner in the night

(She said “I’ll turn you on sonny to”)
Blinded by the light
(“something strong”)

She got down but she never got tired
She’s gonna make it through the night

For a song by Manfred Mann: “Doo Wah Diddy Diddy.”

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Blinded by the Light” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.