Tramps Like Us

“Love me tonight for I may never see you again.”

In my teens, when I heard Springsteen sing this line, it sounded to me like he was pleading with a girl to let go of all future expectations so they can intertwine in the moment as young lovers do.

But while shaving this morning, and listening to this old tune for the first time in many years, I processed it differently.

Not necessarily in a more mature way, but maybe through evolved senses.

I put The Boss on because I was on the phone with a good friend whose son is a cancer survivor and she said a few final words, rather intentionally, right out his lyrics.

She wants to shave her head to raise awareness, which is a noble gesture, but unfortunately, we’re already aware.

All you have to do is listen to live ‘E Street Band’ introductions from back in the day.

“On the organ, ‘Phantom’ Dan Federici.”

Dan’s dead.

Melanoma.

“Do I have to say his name? Do I have to speak his name? The Big Man, Clarence Clemons.”

Clarence is dead.

Stroke.

And someone, in just about every family everywhere, is suffering from something as you read these words.

So, if we still have our hair, lets allow it to blow in the wind as long as we can.

Instead, lets be more loving to our loved ones in the moments we have with them.

Obviously, that’s obvious.

But what’s not so obvious, is that moment with them, which sometimes turns out to be the last moment.

With that said, I don’t think Bruce was just trying to get laid.

I think he was letting the listener in on a secret that we already know but refuse to process.

“Love me tonight for I may never see you again.”

And he ends the song with the heartfelt,
“Oh, love me tonight and I promise I’ll love you forever.”

I’ve heard that lyric thousands of times since my first experience with it in 1985.

But today it permeated my soul and caused my tear ducts to open up and overflow because it resonated automatically as the highest truth.

thank you for being with me in this moment,
gb