The Ties That Bind

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Disc 1 track 1 of The River, 1980.

The River (1980)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
- 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, percussion

THE TIES THAT BIND - V1	3:30	US6 / URT-1M / RRR
THE TIES THAT BIND - V2	3:38	URT-1M / US6 / DROC1
THE TIES THAT BIND - V3	0:45	URT-1M
THE TIES THAT BIND - V4	4:02	LM-14
THE TIES THAT BIND - V5	3:40	private
THE TIES THAT BIND - V6a take 8	3:25	LM-6
THE TIES THAT BIND - V6b take 8	3:29	RIVER: SINGLE / TTTBJ / DROC2 / PYP
THE TIES THAT BIND - V6c take 8	3:29	RIVER / ESSENTIAL: 2015

Note: First known from a soundcheck performance on September 20, 1978 at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic. While it shares some lyrics with the finished article, the soundcheck version otherwise bears little resemblance. This first incarnation of "The Ties That Bind" is a minor-key blues driven hard rock song with some searing lead guitar work. Another soundcheck performance of this arrangement circulates, a partial recording said to have been taped from outside the Capitol Theatre the following day, although this is in some doubt. A faster, more confident performance. This original arrangement was extensively revised by October 26, 1978, when V1–V3 were recorded at Telegraph Hill in a rehearsal a few days before the final leg of the Darkness Tour. Although still a work-in-progress, it is much closer to the final arrangement, and now in the major key. It was premiered live six days later at Princeton University and played regularly for the remainder of the tour, eventually taking a prominent spot as the opening song of the second set.

The band picked it back up in the Spring of 1979 at Telegraph Hill with V4 and V5, still needing work on the second and third verses. V5 is more advanced, and both still retain the drum introduction from the Darkness Tour arrangement that was dropped for the final take. In April, sessions commenced at Power Station studios for album #5, with engineer Bob Clearmountain. After finishing "Roulette", work began on finishing "The Ties That Bind", with takes recorded on April 9, 10, and 11. V6 is take 8, chosen as the title track for an album to be released later in the year. V6a was an early mix with different vocals. V6b was mixed by Clearmountain in September 1979, but after the album came back from mastering in October, Bruce called a halt to the release, and resumed writing and recording. Jon Landau helped to sell him on the double album idea, and The River was released in 1980. The first track on side one was V6c with a freshly recorded vocal track over the 1979 base and possible overdubs and mixing on April 10, 1980. Final mixing by Toby Scott took place at Clover Studios in Los Angeles, during May–July.

^{Studio Sessions: The River}

The Ties That Bind ^{(The River)}

You been hurt and you're all cried out you say
You walk down the street pushing people outta your way
You packed your bags and all alone you wanna ride
You don't want nothing, don't need no one by your side
You're walking tough, baby, but you're walking blind

To the ties that bind
The ties that bind
Now you can't break the ties that bind

A cheap romance, you say it's all just just a crush
You don't want nothing that anybody can touch
You're so afraid of being somebody's fool
Not walking tough, baby, not walking cool
You walk cool, but darling can you walk the line

And face the ties that bind
The ties that bind
Now you can't break the ties that bind

Whoa whoa I
I'd rather feel the hurt inside, yes I would darling than know
Than know the emptiness your heart must hide
Yes I would darling, yes I would darling, yes I would baby

Hey!

Yeah!

You sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain
Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet your pain
It's a long dark highway and a thin white line
Connecting baby your heart to mine
We're running now but darling we will stand in time

To face the ties that bind
The ties that bind
Now you can't break the ties that bind
You can't forsake the ties that bind
Whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa

^{Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.}

The Ties That Bind ^{(The River Collection)}

To the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind

A cheap romance, you say it's just just just a crush
You don't want nothing that anybody can touch
You're so afraid of being somebody's fool
Not walking tough, baby, not walking cool
You walk cool, but darling can you walk the line

And face the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind

Whoa whoa I
I'd rather feel the hurt inside, yes I would darling than know
Than know the emptiness your heart must hide
Yes I would darling, yes I would darling, yes I would baby

Hey!

You sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain
Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet your pain
It's a long dark highway and a thin white line
Connecting baby your heart to mine
You're running now but darling we will stand in time

To face the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind
You can't forsake the ties that bind
Whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa

^{Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.}