TERRY'S SONG

Album's version

Well they built the Titanic to be one of a kind, but many ships have ruled the seas
They built the Eiffel Tower to stand alone, but they could build another if they please
Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt, are unique I suppose
But when they built you, brother, they broke the mold

Now the world is filled with many wonders under the passing sun
And sometimes something comes along and you know it's for sure the only one
The Mona Lisa, the David, the Sistine Chapel, Jesus, Mary, and Joe
And when they built you, brother, they broke the mold

When they built you, brother, they turned dust into gold
When they built you, brother, they broke the mold

They say you can't take it with you, but I think that they're wrong
'Cause all I know is I woke up this morning, and something big was gone
Gone into that dark ether where you're still young and hard and cold
Just like when they built you, brother, they broke the mold

[harmonica bridge]

Now your death is upon us and we'll return your ashes to the earth
And I know you'll take comfort in knowing you've been roundly blessed and cursed
But love is a power greater than death, just like the songs and stories told
And when she built you, brother, she broke the mold

That attitude's a power stronger than death, alive and burning her stone cold
When they built you, brother

[harmonica bridge]

Page last updated: 02 Oct 2007

Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, this song was released as a 12th hidden track on Bruce Springsteen's 2007 album, Magic. It is neither listed on the album's back cover nor on the disc itself or anywhere in the booklet. It follows the 11th track, DEVIL'S ARCADE, as the actual closer after a 10-second digital pause. The above lyrics are for the album's version.

Longtime Springsteen associate and close friend Terry Magovern passed away on 30 Jul 2007. Magovern began working for Bruce Springsteen in 1987 as personal assistant, but the two had already known each other since they met in January 1972 at the Captain's Garter bar in Neptune, NJ. Read the obituary Springsteen wrote about Terry Magovern at BruceSpringsteen.net.

Terry Magovern's memorial service was held on 02 Aug 2007 at the United Methodist Church Of Red Bank, Red Bank, NJ. During the memorial service, Bruce Springsteen performed a new song called TERRY'S SONG. Reportedly, Springsteen wrote song the day before. In his speech, he said that he "went through my songbook and was looking for an appropriate song to play for Terry. Out of all my songs, there was nothing I could find. So I wrote this song." The song was played on acoustic guitar and harmonica, and according to Brucebase, it contained the line "We can rebuild our mighty towers but we can't rebuild the soul" which is unique to that 02 Aug 2007 rendition.

The Magic recording sessions took place between March and May 2007 at Southern Tracks Studios, Atlanta, GA. However, TERRY'S SONG is a late addition to the album, and was recorded in Aug 2007.

Thanks Nick, Franz, Zach, Adam, and Ugo C for the lyrics corrections.