Bo Diddley - You can't judge a book by the cover

First performance: 16/09/1967

Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song with his early band 'the Castiles'  
 
1967-09-16 Left Foot (The), Freehold, NJ
 
Opening the show with this cover in the first set. This was grand opening night at The Left Foot, an "over 13, under 18" club located in the recreation centre of St Peter's Episcopal Church at 37 Throckmorton Street. The club was opened by Reverend George Errickson and Reverend Fred Coleman, along with two High School students, Harold Breiner and William Cottrell. Patrons sat on cushions. Sadly The Left Foot had a short existence (seven months). This was the first of only two live appearances by The Castiles at the club - fortunately both appearances were audience recorded by Left Foot Manager (and St Peter’s priest) Fred Coleman on a good quality reel-to reel device. The-mentioned thirteen-song setlist represents The Castiles’ complete song performance in the correct sequence and they are all covers of other artists’ material. Although Springsteen may have started out in mid-1965 singing mostly background vocals, it is clear that by this point Bruce is the band’s focal point. Bruce handles the lead vocals on all songs except 'Eleanor Rigby', 'See My Friends' and The Blues Project’s haunting 'Steve’s Song' (all handled by George Theiss). Tex Vinyard, The Castiles’ manager, is heard introducing the band at the start of the second set. Interestingly the group uses The Yardbirds' instrumental 'Jeff’s Boogie' twice, as both the first set closer and show closer. A recording of Wille Dixon's "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" will be officially released on September 23, 2016 on Chapter & Verse, the companion album to Springsteen's autobiography Born To Run. 
 
First set:
 
Second set:
 
  
  

Songinfo

"You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" is a 1962 song by rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley. Written by Willie Dixon. The song was one of Diddley's last record chart hits. Unlike many of his well-known songs, "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" does not rely on the Bo Diddley beat.
 
 
  

Bruce on the artist

2023-10-09 SiriusXM Studio, New York City, NY
Bruce played the song during The 'From My Home to Yours' series, returning for the first time since 2021, with Episode 30, featuring Bruce and high school friends and surviving members of the early Freehold rock and roll scene Craig Caprioni, Mike Domanski, Donnie Powell, and Mike Wilson discussing the music they listened to in those mid-'60s days. 
 
 
'You can't judge a book by the cover' was released on 'Chapter And Verse'. According to the album's credits, the band line-up on the song is Bruce Springsteen on vocal and guitar, Bob Alfano on organ, Curt Fluhr on bass, Vinnie Manniello on drums, Paul Popkin on tambourine, maracas, and vocals, and George Theiss on guitar and vocal.
 
 
 
 
1987-01-21 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY
Bo Diddley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and a Grammy Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.Bruce had one performance with Bo Diddley during the second annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony. Bruce gives a stirring induction speech for Roy Orbison and then duets with him on "Oh, Pretty Woman" during the jam. Other inductees include Bo Diddley, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Bill Haley, and Smokey Robinson. Performers during the jam, along with Bruce and Orbison, include Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, and more.
 
 
 

Lyrics

You can't judge an apple by looking at the tree
You can't judge honey by looking at the bee
You can't judge a daughter by looking at the mother
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover, oh

Can't you see, whoa, you've misjudged me
I look like a farmer but I'm a lover
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover, oh

Ah, whoa-whoaaa, aw!
Aw, come on in here closer baby, hear what else I got to say
You got your radio turned down too low, turn it up! Aw

You can't judge sugar by looking at the cane
You can't judge a woman by looking at her man
You can't judge a sister by looking at her brother
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover, oh

Can't you see, whoa, you've misjudged me
I look like a farmer but I'm a lover
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover, come on

Aw, how am I doing, baby?
Aw
Yeah

You can't judge a fish by looking in the pond
You can't judge right from looking at the wrong
You can't judge one by looking at the other
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover, oh

Can't you see, whoa, you can't judge me
I look like a farmer but I'm a lover
You can't judge a book by looking at the cover, oh