For close to a half-century, anyone who trusts lyric sheets and official artist websites has been certain of one thing: In Bruce Springsteen’s "Thunder Road," Mary’s dress waves, and it does not sway.

The screen door slams. Mary's dress sways. Like a vision, she dances across the porch as the radio plays. Those are the first words on the first track of Bruce Springsteen's album "Born To Run." ...