AMERICAN BEAUTY

Studio version



Everything in your shadow turns to vapor
You pierce my heart like it was paper
Radio's crackling with the headlines
Something on your shoulder, winds in the phone line
American beauty will you be mine
Out on this highway counting white lines

Hot and bloody summer, drifting blue eyes
We're in the high grass, I finger your hemline
Boot heels click clacking, honey, when you shine
Autumn blue skies, hair sweet as the southern pines
American beauty forever in time
Out on this highway counting white lines

Your hand cups your breast, pledging your time
Things we carried, shining skylines
Falling sparrow, sky torn apart
Dark shining arrow, your kiss pierces my heart
American beauty forever mine
Out on this highway counting white lines


Info

AMERICAN BEAUTY is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2014 EP American Beauty. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's studio version of AMERICAN BEAUTY as released in 2014.


The studio version of AMERICAN BEAUTY was included on the Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits- compilation album.

Studio Recording

In a December 2013 interview for Rolling Stone, Ron Aniello told Andy Greene that at least 20 tracks were recorded for the High Hopes album. Among the tracks that didn't make the album cut were COLD SPOT, HEY BLUE EYES, AMERICAN BEAUTY, and MARY MARY.

In a March 2014 interview for Rolling Stone, Bruce Springsteen told Sean Sennett that he believes AMERICAN BEAUTY was originally a demo that he made during the Brendan O'Brien period but he didn't end up cutting it with him.

The studio version of AMERICAN BEAUTY was released on American Beauty was produced by Ron Aniello with Bruce Springsteen. The performing musicians line-up on the track is:

  • Bruce Springsteen (lead and background vocals, 6 and 12 string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, keyboards, tambourine)
  • Charles Giordano (organ)
  • Ron Aniello (bass, additional piano)
  • Josh Freese (drums, timpani)

In the liner notes to American Beauty that were posted on his official website, Bruce Springsteen wrote: "In the song 'American Beauty,' I get to sing in a part of my range I don't often visit and that along with its 'guitar wall of sound' gives it a little 'exile on E Street' power."

Similarities to other Songs

The melody in AMERICAN BEAUTY is very similar to the one of MY LUCKY DAY. The song contains some lyrics that were used in DOWN IN THE HOLE, GYPSY BIKER, and LIVIN' IN THE FUTURE.

American Beauty

American Beauty is a Bruce Springsteen 4-track EP that was released on 19 Apr 2014. Limited to 7,500 copies, the EP was issued on 12-inch vinyl and was distributed exclusively to independent stores throughout North America and Europe that participated in the 7th annual "Record Store Day" campaign. The EP was also released digitally on 22 Apr 2014.

In a March 2014 interview for Rolling Stone, Bruce Springsteen told Sean Sennett: "It's got some nice things on it. This is material from the past decade. Some were demos that I never cut. [...] I thought it's a nice time to support the record stores, which are dwindling, and get some new music out at the same time."

In the liner notes to American Beauty that were posted on his official website, Bruce Springsteen wrote: "American Beauty is a collection of songs I cut at home. Upon revisiting them for High Hopes I recognized their potential and Ron Aniello and I worked on them until we'd turned them into the music before you."

Bruce Springsteen -- American Beauty
Bruce Springsteen -- American Beauty

Music Video

A music video for AMERICAN BEAUTY was released on 22 Apr 2014 on both Bruce Springsteen's official website and Bruce Springsteen's YouTube channel. The video was shot on 19 Apr 2014 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC, during the sound-check for that night's High Hopes Tour show at the arena. The video was directed by Thom Zimny and uses audio dubbed from the studio version of the song. On his website, Springsteen introduces the clip: "Shot in Charlotte before the show. A big thanks to Thom Zimny, Chris Hilson and our film crew."


Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits-

Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits- is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released by Sony Music Japan in 2023. The compilation, which was exclusively released in Japan, consists of previously released 35 audio tracks and 62 video tracks. The collection is part of a 26-title reissue campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's debut album. The series, issued in three waves (25 Oct 2023, 22 Nov 2023, and 20 Dec 2023), includes 25 albums originally released between 1973 and 2014 plus a new compilation album that includes all of Springsteen's singles released in Japan from 1975 to 1999. All audio CD's were manufactured using Sony Japan's Blu-spec CD2 format.

Bruce Springsteen -- Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits-
Bruce Springsteen -- Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits-

Disc 1: (audio CD)

  1. BORN TO RUN
  2. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT
  3. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
  4. BADLANDS
  5. HUNGRY HEART
  6. I WANNA MARRY YOU
  7. SANTA CLAUSE IS COMIN' TO TOWN [Live 12 Dec 1975 version]
  8. ATLANTIC CITY
  9. DANCING IN THE DARK
  10. COVER ME
  11. BORN IN THE U.S.A.
  12. I'M ON FIRE
  13. GLORY DAYS
  14. I'M GOIN' DOWN
  15. MY HOMETOWN
  16. WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]
  17. FIRE [Live 16 Dec 1978 version]

Disc 2: (audio CD)

  1. BRILLIANT DISGUISE
  2. TUNNEL OF LOVE
  3. ONE STEP UP
  4. TOUGHER THAN THE REST
  5. SPARE PARTS
  6. HUMAN TOUCH
  7. BETTER DAYS
  8. 57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN' ON)
  9. ROLL OF THE DICE
  10. STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA
  11. SECRET GARDEN
  12. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
  13. DEAD MAN WALKIN'
  14. BLOOD BROTHERS [Alternate studio version]
  15. I WANNA BE WITH YOU
  16. CHIMES OF FREEDOM [Live 03 Jul 1988 version]
  17. AMERICAN BEAUTY
  18. I'LL STAND BY YOU

Disc 3: (DVD)

  1. ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Live 08 Jul 1978 version]
  2. BORN TO RUN [Live 19 Aug 1985 version]
  3. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT [Live 05 Nov 1980 version]
  4. THUNDER ROAD [Live 05 Nov 1980 version]
  5. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT [Live 08 Jul 1978 version]
  6. BADLANDS [Live 05 Nov 1980 version]
  7. HUNGRY HEART [Live 09 Jul 1995 version]
  8. I WANNY MARRY YOU [Live 05 Nov 1980 version]
  9. THE RIVER [Live 21 Sep 1979 version]
  10. ATLANTIC CITY
  11. HIGHWAY PATROLMAN
  12. DANCING IN THE DARK
  13. COVER ME [Live 30 Jun 2013 version]
  14. BORN IN THE U.S.A.
  15. I'M ON FIRE
  16. GLORY DAYS
  17. I'M GOIN' DOWN [Live 30 Jun 2013 version]
  18. MY HOMETOWN [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]
  19. WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]
  20. FIRE [Live 13 Oct 1986 version]
  21. BRILLIANT DISGUISE
  22. TUNNEL OF LOVE
  23. ONE STEP UP
  24. TOUGHER THAN THE REST [Live 27 Apr 1988 version]
  25. SPARE PARTS [Live 10 Jul 1988 version]
  26. VIGILANTE MAN [Live Feb 1988 version]
  27. HUMAN TOUCH
  28. BETTER DAYS
  29. 57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN' ON)
  30. ROLL OF THE DICE [Live 22 Sep 1992 version]
  31. LEAP OF FAITH [Live 06 Aug 1992 version]
  32. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [25 Sep 1999 sound-check version]

Disc 4: (DVD)

  1. STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA [1993 music video version]
  2. MURDER INCORPORATED
  3. SECRET GARDEN
  4. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD [Live 27 Nov 1995 (NBC Studios) version]
  5. DEAD MAN WALKIN'
  6. LONESOME DAY
  7. WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY [Live 16 Oct 2002 version]
  8. DEVILS & DUST
  9. RADIO NOWHERE
  10. LONG WALK HOME
  11. WORKING ON A DREAM
  12. THE LAST CARNIVAL
  13. A NIGHT WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL
  14. SAVE MY LOVE
  15. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN
  16. ROCKY GROUND
  17. HIGH HOPES
  18. JUST LIKE FIRE WOULD
  19. HELLO SUNSHINE
  20. TUCSON TRAIN
  21. WESTERN STARS
  22. I'LL STAND BY YOU
  23. LETTER TO YOU
  24. GHOSTS
  25. THE POWER OF PRAYER
  26. I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS
  27. DO I LOVE YOU (INDEED I DO)
  28. NIGHTSHIFT
  29. DON'T PLAY THAT SONG
  30. TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

Live History

AMERICAN BEAUTY was sound-checked prior to the 19 Apr 2014 show in Charlotte, NC, (as far as it's known) but it was not performed on any of the High Hopes Tour's regular shows.

Covers

As far as it's known, no artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's AMERICAN BEAUTY.

Credits

Thanks Andy Holding, estreeter4life, and Max I for the lyrics corrections.

Request

If you have any additions, corrections, or comments, please contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of AMERICAN BEAUTY on this website:

AMERICAN BEAUTY [Studio version]

Page last updated: 11 May 2014