Track 6 of Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978. Most of it was written on August 20, 1977.
- Credits
- Performances
- Snippets
- Multiples
- Released on Album
- Released as Live Download
- On The Tracks
- Lyrics
- Links
- Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Roy Bittan: piano, backing vocals
- Clarence Clemons: saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
- Danny Federici: organ, glockenspiel
- Garry Tallent: bass
- Steven Van Zandt: guitar, backing vocals
- Max Weinberg: drums
Performed live 2 times as a snippet.
Performed multiple times during the following shows:
Released on Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978), The Promised Land (Single, 1978), The Essential (2003), and Collection:1973–2012 (2013).
Live versions are released on Live/1975–85 (1986) (recorded September 30, 1985), Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Volume 5: 1998–1999 (Compilation, 2011)/The Best Of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame + Museum: Live (Compilation, 2011) (recorded March 15, 1999), Springsteen On Broadway (2018) (recorded July 17/18, 2018), Blinded By The Light (Soundtrack, 2019) (recorded November 11, 2014), and The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts (2021) (recorded September 22, 1979).
A live snippet is released on Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts (Compilation, 2010, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For") (recorded October 30, 2009).
Live versions are available on the following 180 official live downloads:
- 2023-09-03 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-09-01 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-08-26 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2023-08-24 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2023-08-11 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- 2023-08-09 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- 2023-07-25 Prato Della Gerascia, Autodromo Di Monza, Monza, Italy
- 2023-07-23 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
- 2023-07-21 Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany
- 2023-07-18 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
- 2023-07-15 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany
- 2023-07-13 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2023-07-11 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2023-07-08 Hyde Park, London, England
- 2023-07-06 Hyde Park, London, England
- 2023-07-02 Voldsløkka Stadion, Oslo, Norway
- 2023-06-30 Voldsløkka Stadion, Oslo, Norway
- 2023-06-28 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-26 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-24 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-21 Merkur Spielarena, Düsseldorf, Germany
- 2023-06-18 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
- 2023-06-16 Villa Park, Birmingham, England
- 2023-06-13 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland
- 2023-06-11 Megaland, Landgraaf, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-30 BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2023-05-27 Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-25 Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-21 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
- 2023-05-18 Parco Urbano Giorgio Bassani, Ferrara, Italy
- 2023-05-15 Paris La Défense Arena, Nanterre, France
- 2023-05-13 Paris La Défense Arena, Nanterre, France
- 2023-05-09 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-05-07 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-05-05 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-04-30 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2023-04-28 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2023-04-14 Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- 2023-04-11 UBS Arena, Belmont Park, Elmont, NY
- 2023-04-09 UBS Arena, Belmont Park, Elmont, NY
- 2023-04-07 CFG Bank Arena, Baltimore, MD
- 2023-04-05 Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH
- 2023-04-03 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2023-04-01 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2023-03-29 Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- 2023-03-27 Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
- 2023-03-25 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
- 2023-03-23 KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
- 2023-03-20 TD Garden, Boston, MA
- 2023-03-18 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
- 2023-03-16 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
- 2023-03-07 fiserv.forum, Milwaukee, WI
- 2023-03-05 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
- 2023-03-02 Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- 2023-02-27 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
- 2023-02-25 Moda Center, Portland, OR
- 2023-02-21 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
- 2023-02-18 T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
- 2023-02-16 Moody Center, Austin, TX
- 2023-02-14 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- 2023-02-10 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- 2023-02-07 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FL
- 2023-02-05 Amway Center, Orlando, FL
- 2023-02-03 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- 2023-02-01 Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
- 2017-02-25 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
- 2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
- 2017-02-18 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, Australia
- 2017-02-16 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
- 2017-02-11 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Australia
- 2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- 2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- 2017-02-02 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
- 2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
- 2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2016-09-11 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2016-09-09 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 2016-09-07 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 2016-09-05 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, Virginia Beach, VA
- 2016-09-01 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
- 2016-08-28 United Center, Chicago, IL
- 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2016-07-31 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland
- 2016-07-28 Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
- 2016-07-26 Granåsen Arena, Trondheim, Norway
- 2016-07-23 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-07-20 CASA Arena, Horsens, Denmark
- 2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
- 2016-07-13 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
- 2016-07-09 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
- 2016-07-05 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
- 2016-07-03 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
- 2016-06-29 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
- 2016-06-27 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-06-22 Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2016-06-19 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
- 2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
- 2016-06-14 Malieveld, The Hague, The Netherlands
- 2016-06-05 Wembley Stadium, London, England
- 2016-06-03 Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England
- 2016-06-01 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
- 2016-05-29 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
- 2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
- 2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
- 2016-05-21 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
- 2016-05-19 Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal
- 2016-05-17 Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- 2016-05-14 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
- 2016-04-23 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2016-04-18 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
- 2016-04-14 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
- 2016-04-05 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- 2016-04-03 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
- 2016-03-22 Moda Center, Portland, OR
- 2016-03-17 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016-02-25 First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY
- 2016-02-02 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
- 2016-01-29 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
- 2014-05-17 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
- 2014-05-14 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
- 2014-04-24 PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
- 2014-04-22 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2014-04-17 Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
- 2014-04-08 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
- 2014-03-02 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
- 2014-02-19 AllPhones Arena, Sydney, Australia
- 2014-02-12 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
- 2014-01-28 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2013-07-24 First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
- 2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
- 2012-03-09 Apollo Theater, New York City, NY
- 2009-11-22 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
- 2009-10-20 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
- 2009-05-04 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
- 2008-08-21 Sommet Center, Nashville, TN
- 2008-04-28 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
- 2008-04-22 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
- 2008-03-20 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- 2005-11-22 Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ
- 2005-08-03 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
- 2005-07-31 Value City Theatre, Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
- 2005-06-25 Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden
- 2005-05-17 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA
- 2003-06-16 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
- 2000-07-01 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2000-06-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2000-05-22 Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
- 1999-10-23 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
- 1999-09-30 United Center, Chicago, IL
- 1997-05-18 Palais Des Congrès Acropolis, Nice, France
- 1996-11-24 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
- 1996-11-08 Gymnasium, St. Rose Of Lima School, Freehold, NJ
- 1996-03-19 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- 1985-09-27 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
- 1985-08-22 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1984-08-20 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1984-08-19 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1984-08-06 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1984-08-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1981-07-09 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1981-06-05 Wembley Arena, London, England
- 1981-06-04 Wembley Arena, London, England
- 1980-12-31 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
- 1980-12-29 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
- 1980-12-28 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
- 1979-09-22 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 1979-09-21 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 1978-12-16 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
- 1978-12-15 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
- 1978-12-08 Summit (The), Houston, TX
- 1978-10-01 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
- 1978-09-30 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
- 1978-09-20 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
- 1978-09-19 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
- 1978-08-09 Agora (The), Cleveland, OH
- 1978-07-07 Roxy Theatre (The), West Hollywood, CA
- 1978-07-01 Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
| THE PROMISED LAND - V1 | uncirculating | |
| THE PROMISED LAND - V2 | uncirculating | |
| THE PROMISED LAND - V3a | 4:14 | ODM / HOD / UP |
| THE PROMISED LAND - V3b | 4:25 | DARKNESS / ESSENTIAL / PROMISE: DELUXE |
Note: One of the last songs written and recorded for the album, "The Promised Land" had its genesis in a short trip taken by Bruce, Steve Van Zandt, and photographer Eric Meola on August 17, 1977, two days after breaking from recording for a week. Their plan was to fly into Salt Lake City, Utah, rent a vintage American car, and drive to Reno, Nevada, by way of the Utah and Nevada wilderness. The fruits of their journey were "Rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert," "the dogs on Main Street howl because they understand" (based on real dogs howling on a Main Street), and Eric's photographs, which appeared throughout The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set. Upon returning, Bruce composed "The Promised Land", and introduced it to the band on September 30, 1977, with three takes attempted (including V1). Recording resumed on October 27 at the Record Plant with twenty takes (including V2, take 19, marked "long ending"). V3 (take 5) was completed on December 1 or 27, 1977, and pressed to metal acetate on April 12, 1978. V3a was the final version without the guitar solo. On or about May 10, Bruce decided a guitar intro was needed before Clarence Clemons's powerful sax solo. After Steve Van Zandt recorded it in New York, Side 2 was mastered for a second time, at The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, which briefly delayed the album release to June 2.
Studio Sessions: Darkness On the Edge of Town
The Promised Land |
On a rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert
I pick up my money and head back into town
Driving cross the Waynesboro county line
I got the radio on and I'm just killing time
Working all day in my daddy's garage
Driving all night chasing some mirage
Pretty soon little girl I'm gonna take charge
The dogs on Main Street howl
'cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land
I've done my best to live the right way
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak I just want to explode
Explode and tear this whole town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
Find somebody itching for something to start
The dogs on Main Street howl
'cause they understand
If I could reach one moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land
Hmm
Hmmm
Hmmmm
Well there's a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I'm heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain't got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted
Well the dogs on Main Street howl
'cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land
| Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song. |
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