Bruce llevaba trabajando en esta canción desde 1972, cuando ya formó parte de sus primeras demos al piano. En 1973 la descartó hasta que la grabó en 1978, en una versión diferente a la primera y más parecida a la segunda, para el Darkness, para volver a dejarla en el fondo del baúl, hasta que Warren Zevon la rescató en 1979, para publicarla en su disco Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School, de 1980, aunque reescribiéndola casi entera.
Según el propio Zevon conocÍa la canción gracias a John Landau, sintiéndose muy atraído por el título, ya que no llegó a escucharla y empezó a presionar a Bruce sobre el tema. Este al final de dijo que si tan interesado estaba que la escribiera él. Así lo hizo, compuso una nueva melodía, reescribió los primeros versos y aprovechó alguno de los originales de Bruce, junto al estribillo. Curiosamente, cambió el nombre de la chica, Janey por Jeannie
Finalmente la grabó, aunque Bruce no participó en ella.
JEANNIE NEEDS A SHOOTER – Warren Zevon version
I was born down by the river
Where the dirty river flows
And the cool wind cut through me
It cut right through my clothes
And the anger and the yearning
Like fever in my veins
Set the fire burning
She came down from Knightstown
With her hands hard from the line
From the first time I laid eyes on her
I knew that she’s be mine
Her father was a lawman
He swore he’d shoot me dead
‘Cause he knew I wanted Jeannie
And I’d have her like I’d said
Jeannie needs a shooter, shooter like me
Jeannie needs a shooter
Jeannie needs a shooter, shooter on her side
Jeannie needs a shooter
Jeannie needs a shooter
Jeannie needs a shooter
We met down by the river
On the final day in May
And when I leaned down to kiss her
She did not turn away
I drew out all my money
And together we did vow
To meet that very evening
And to get away somehow
Jeannie needs a shooter, shooter like me
Jeannie needs a shooter
Jeannie needs a shooter, shooter on her side
Jeannie needs a shooter
Jeannie needs a shooter
Jeannie needs a shooter
The night was cold and rainy
Down by the borderline
I was riding hard to meet her
When a shot rang out behind
As I lay there in the darkness
With a pistol by my side
Jeannie and her father
Rode off into the night
Jeannie needs a shooter
JEANNIE NECESITA UN TIRADOR
Nací junto al río
Donde fluye el agua sucia
Y el viento helado me desgarraba
Desgarraba hasta mis ropas
Y la rabia y el anhelo
Como fiebre en mis venas
Prendieron la llama
Ella vino de Knightstown
Huyendo desde la frontera
La primera vez que me fijé en ella
Supe que sería mía
Su padre era abogado
Juró matarme de un disparo
Porque sabía que yo quería a Jeannie
Y que deseaba tenerla como decía
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Un tirador como yo
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Un tirador a su lado
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Nos encontramos junto al río
Un día a finales de mayo
Y cuando me incliné para besarla
Ella no se apartó
Saqué todo mi dinero
Y juntos nos juramos
Encontrarnos esa tarde
Y escapar de alguna forma
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Un tirador como yo
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Un tirador a su lado
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Jeannie necesita un tirador
Jeannie necesita un tirador
La noche era fría y lluviosa
Cerca de la frontera
Conducía veloz para encontrarla
Cuando un disparó sonó desde atrás
Mientras yacía allí en la oscuridad
Con una pistola junto a mí
Jeannie y su padre
Desaparecieron en la noche
Jeannie necesita un tirador
JANEY NEEDS A SHOOTER – 1978 outtake
Well Janey’s got a doctor who tears apart her insides.
He investigates her and he silently bates her sighs
He probes with his fingers but he knows her heart only through his stethoscope.
Hands are cold and his body’s so old
Janey turns him down like dope.
Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter like me on her side
Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter man who knows her style
The way that I know her style
Well Janey’s got a priest from his marble pulpit he smiles
He provides conciliation and confessions at anytime
Through the pages of his bible he holds from what Janey hides
With her doors open wide she begs come inside
But he’s frozen in the clear on the outside
Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter like me on her side
Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter man who knows her style,
The way that I know her style
Well Janey’s got a cop who lives round the block
and checks on her every night
From at through the jail outside her house his siren roars
when he knows that I’m inside
Well Janey’s small and sometimes he scares her
So I held her real close she flowed like a ghost
And I told her bye, so long, I can’t play that dope.
Well Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter like me on her side
Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter man who knows her style,
Janey needs a shooter Jack
A shooter man on her side
Janey needs a shooter man
A shooter man who knows her style
The way that I know her style
A man who knows her style
The way that I know her style
A man who knows her style
The way that I know her style
A man who knows her style
The way that I know her style
A man who knows her style
The way that I know her style
A man who knows her style
The way I know your style
You need a man who knows your style
The way that I know your style
A man who knows her style
The way I know your style
JANEY NEEDS A SHOOTER – 1972 piano demo
Well Janey’s got a doctor who tears apart her insides
He investigates her and silently bates her every little sigh
Oh, he probes with his fingers but he knows her heart only through a stethoscope
Oh, his hands are so old and his instruments so cold
Janey turns him down like dope
And Janey’s got a proctor from his marble pulpit he smiles
He provides consolation and an open invitation to confession at any time
Between the pages of his bible he holds from what Janey he hides
With her doors open wide she begs «Come inside»
He’s too long been content to mess around with the handles on the outside
And Janey needs a shooter
A shooter like this boy on her side
Janey needs a shooter
Someone who knows her style
And I know her style
Well Janey loved a mechanic who owned a gas station down on Route 9
Well she took him to bed and I beat my head on his gas tanks and bled all over his tires
And then he smashed my car with big tow bar. I got out and asked him why
He said, » ‘Cuz with her it’s either you or me, and it’s gonna be me»
And I watched Janey silently stand by
Then she flopped with a cop who lived ‘round the block
He’d come peak in my window every night
Janey’s skin would turn pale as the siren he’d wail outside my house all night long
When he knew she was inside
She said his big gun was fun but Janey’s small, and sometimes he scared her
So I held her real close, she was more a saint than a ghost
And told her I so long had been prepared for her
And Janey needs a shooter
A shooter just like me on her side
Janey needs a shooter
Somebody who won’t let her slide
And I can’t let her slide
Woah, stay in here tonight, baby, and I won’t let you slide.
I’m stayin’ here tonight, woah, Janey, and I won’t let you slide.
I’m stayin’ here tonight. Baby I’m a-can'(t) let you slide.
JANEY NECESITA UN TIRADOR
Janey ama a un doctor que le desgarra sus tripas
La investiga y sacude en silencio cada pequeño suspiro
Lo prueba con sus dedos pero sólo conoce su corazón
A través de un estetoscopio
Sus manos son tan viejas y sus instrumentos tan fríos
Janey le rechaza como a una droga
Y Janey ama a un procurador
Que sonríe desde su púlpito de mármol
Le proporciona consuelo y una sincera invitación
A la confesión en cualquier momento
Entre las páginas de su biblia guarda
Aquello que le oculta a Janey
Con sus puertas bien abiertas le suplica: “Ven adentro”
Ya se ha contenido demasiado para complicarse
Con ceremonias formales
Y Janey necesita un tirador
Un tirador como este a su lado
Janey necesita un tirador
Alguien que conozca su estilo
Y yo conozco su estilo
Janey amaba a un mecánico
Dueño de una gasolinera en la Route 9
Se lo llevó a la cama
Y me estrellé contra sus depósitos de gasolina
Y sangré sobre sus neumáticos
Y después golpeó mi coche con una gran barra de hierro
Salí y le pregunté porqué
Dijo: “Porque ella será de uno de los dos
Y va a ser para mí”
Y vi a Janey esperando en silencio
Después se enrolló con un policía que vivía por el bloque
Llegaba hasta lo alto de mi ventana cada noche
La piel de Janey se volvía pálida como la sirena
Que hacía sonar delante de mi casa toda la noche
Cuando sabía que ella estaba dentro
Ella decía que le divertía su revólver
Pero Janey era una criatura
Y muchas veces se asustaba
Y la abrazaba con fuerza
Era más una santa que un fantasma
Y le decía que hacía tiempo que estaba listo para ella
Y Janey necesita un tirador
Un tirador como yo a su lado
Janey necesita un tirador
Alguien que no la deje escapar
Y no puedo dejarla escapar
Quédate aquí esta noche, pequeña
Y no te dejaré escapar
Estoy aquí esta noche, Janey
Y no te dejaré escapar
Estoy aquí esta noche
Y no puedo dejarte escapar
JANEY NEEDS A SHOOTER – 1973 outtake
Well Janey’s got a doctor who tears apart her insides
He investigates her and silently bates her every little sigh
Oh he probes with his fingers but he knows her heart only through his stethoscope
Oh his hands are so old and his instruments so cold
Janey turns him down like dope
And Janey’s got a proctor from his marble pulpit he smiles
He provides consolation and an open invitation to confession at any time
Between the pages of his bible he holds from what Janey he hides
With her doors open wide she begs come inside
He’s too long been content to mess around with the handles on the outside
And Janey needs a shooter
A shooter like this boy on her side
Janey needs a shooter
Someone who knows her style
And I know her style
Janey loved a mechanic who owned a gas station down on Route 9
Well she took him to bed and I beat my head on his gas tanks and bled all over his tyres
And then he smashed my car with his big tow bar. I got out and asked him why
He said «Cause with her it’s either you or me, and it’s gonna be me»
And I watched Janey silently stand by
Then she flopped with a cop who lived round the block
He’d come peek in my window every night
Janey’s skin would turn pale as the siren he’d wail
Outside my house all night long when he knew she was inside
She said his big gun was fun but Janey’s small, and sometimes he scared her
So I held her real close, she was more a saint than a ghost
And told her I so long had been prepared for her
And Janey needs a shooter
A shooter just like me on her side
Janey needs a shooter
Someone who won’t let her slide
And I can’t let her slide
Woah, I’m stayin’ here tonight, baby, and I won’t let you slide
I’m stayin’ here tonight, woah, Janey and I won’t let you slide
I’m stayin’ here tonight, baby I’m a-can’t let you slide
