Clarence Clemons - RIP

The punctuation inside the quotations mark rule is shifting. Grammarians are in protest, but popular usage is clearly moving to outside the marks. Further proof that it's still a living language.

According to Mr. Springsteen he was playing at a club on the Jersey during a strong thunderstorm. At some point the lights went off and the wind blew the doors to the club wide open. Another flash of lightning, the lights come back on and standing in the doorway was the Big Man. He later was invited on to the stage and both agreed, it was like magic.

Mr. Bowman-I cannot seem to find "dewsh" in my dictionary. Can you help me?

Onhwy61, not to derail the thread--which Lindisfarne has already accomplished to a degree with his impromptu grammar lesson--but what evidence is there that the "rule is shifting" with regard to placing punctuation (commas and periods specifically)outside the quotation mark? I'm not trying to be contrary or challenge your assertion, but since I teach this stuff for a living, I am curious about your claim.

More on point, I am very happy to have caught Springsteen on his most recent tour. It was an amazing show, of course, and captured vividly the way I will always remember Clemons, larger than life, rocking out all the way to the end.

My info is from this recent article in Slate.

More importantly:

When the change was made uptown
And the Big Man joined the band
From the coastline to the city
All the little pretties raise their hands
I'm gonna sit back right easy and laugh
When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half
With the Tenth Avenue freeze-out
Tenth Avenue freeze-out

Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. RIP.