Coverinfo
Bruce covered the song only once:
Bruce covered the song one time in 1974 during the early show opening for headliner Bonnie Raitt. An excellent show that includes a unique cover of "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" (performed by Bruce in the 'comedy mode' as recorded by The Starlets in 1961, the likely inspiration). Critic Jon Landau's much-quoted "I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen" line emanates from this night.
Bruce on the artist
Bruce on " I sold my heart to the junkman " :
"This is a song, this is a very sad song this next song we’re gonna do....this song is so sad that sometimes I have to leave the stage and.....go cry in the backstage a little bit while I’m singing this song....the reason this song is so sad is because this story happened to me just a little while ago....ain’t it true ? (Clarence: ‘True’) ... now it was, it was a thing where I met this, this beautiful girl, was she a beautiful. girl ?....she was, she was nice....and, and....I gave up my whole heart....every , every bit...and she gave it back to me a month later....all beat up so bad and so terrible looking.....that I sold my heart ..... the junkman.....now I can never fall in love again ...."
Lyrics
All over town they're talking about me
The whole world knows you're happy without me
You've broken my heart, So what do I care?
I'm thru with love, no more will I need it
The word itself, I'll never repeat it
A sign on my back I will wear, "This is my last love affair"
I gave my heart to you, the one that I trusted
You brought it back to me all broken and busted
So I sold my heart to the junkman
And I'll never fall in love again
You took my heart because you thought you could use it
Just like a little toy you battered and bruised it
So I sold my heart to the junkman
And I'll never fall in love again
Like a melodrama, in a simple manner
Love played the leading part
We had planned a happy ending
But I'm left with a broken heart
I'll throw away my pride and say we'll be friends, dear
Tear drops I cannot hide for this is the end, dear
I've sold my heart to the junkman
And I'll never fall in love again
I gave my heart to you, the one that I trusted
You brought it back to me all broken and busted
So I sold my heart to the junkman
And I'll never fall in love again
You took my heart because you thought you could use it
Just like a little toy you battered and bruised it,
So I sold my heart to the junkman
And I'll never fall in love again
Like a melodrama, in a simple manner
Love played the leading part
We had planned a happy ending
But I'm left with a broken heart
I'll throw away my pride and say we'll be friends, dear
Tear drops I cannot hide for this is the end, dear
I've sold my heart to the junkman