‘Born in the U.S.A.’ made Springsteen a star in 1984, and for the next few years he lived like one, releasing an extravagant box set of live material and marrying a Hollywood actress. But it didn’t suit him, so for his big LP’s follow-up he wrote a bunch of somber songs about how his marriage was sinking and recorded them with a stripped-down version of the E Street Band. ‘Tunnel of Love’ is his most personal and revealing album … and one of his best. “Brilliant Disguise” was the lead single and a fitting summation of the doubt and turmoil that marked this rocky period.
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Brilliant Disguise
I hold you in my arms
as the band plays
What are those words whispered baby
just as you turn away
I saw you last night
out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind
To know just what I’ve got in this new thing I’ve found
So tell me what I see
when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby
or just a brilliant disguise
I heard somebody call your name
from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame
underneath your pillow
Well I’ve tried so hard baby
but I just can’t see
What a woman like you
is doing with me
So tell me who I see
when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby
or just a brilliant disguise
Now look at me baby
struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart
when out go the lights
I’m just a lonely pilgrim
I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if it’s you I don’t trust
’cause I damn sure don’t trust myself
Now you play the loving woman
I’ll play the faithful man
But just don’t look too close
into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter
the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours
Well maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me
you better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby
or just a brilliant disguise
Tonight our bed is cold
I’m lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what he’s sure of