"Sherry Darling" is a boisterous, party-ready rocker from The River that showcases the E Street Band at their most joyfully raucous. Set at approximately 140 BPM in F, the track features three distinct solo spots, with Clarence Clemons contributing two tenor saxophone solos that bookend a brief but spirited electric guitar solo from Springsteen himself. The first sax solo is a short, punchy statement, while the closing solo stretches out with a full-bodied, honking intensity that recalls the great rhythm and blues saxophonists. The song was originally recorded during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions in 1979 and captures the loose, good-time energy that Springsteen deliberately excluded from that more austere album. The lyrics tell a humorous story about a man frustrated by his girlfriend's overbearing mother, delivered with a lighthearted charm that provides welcome comic relief amid The River's heavier thematic material. The arrangement features a prominent role for the piano and organ, creating a Phil Spector-influenced wall of sound that Springsteen and co-producer Steve Van Zandt crafted in the studio. Sherry Darling represents the fun-loving, bar-band side of Springsteen's musical personality that coexists with his more serious artistic ambitions.
