LEAH

Album version



I wanna build me a house on higher ground
I wanna find me a world where love's the only sound
High above this road filled with shadow and doubt
I want to shoulder my load and figure it all out
With Leah

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I walk this road with a hammer and a fiery lantern
With this hand I've built and with this I've burned
I wanna live in the same house beneath the same roof
Sleep in the same bed, search for the same proof
As Leah

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I got something in my heart I been waiting to give
I got a life I wanna start, yeah one I been waiting to live
No more waiting, tonight I feel the light I say the prayer
I open the door and I climb the stairs

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[Fades out]


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Info

LEAH is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2005 album Devils & Dust. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of LEAH as released in 2005.


Not to be confused with the Roy Orbison song LEAH that Bruce Springsteen covered live.

Writing and Recording

SECTION NOT YET COMPLETED

On this track, Bruce Springsteen sings vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, and percussion, and is accompanied by Mark Pender on trumpet. Pender's part was overdubbed at a later stage. Patti Scialfa also provides backing vocals.

Devils & Dust

Devils & Dust is Bruce Springsteen's thirteenth studio album. It was released on 26 Apr 2005 on Columbia Records. The album was recorded between 1996 and 2004 at Thrill Hill East (Springsteen's home studio in Rumson, NJ) and Thrill Hill West (Springsteen's home studio in Los Angeles, CA). Horns and some instrument overdubbing were recorded in 2004 at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, GA. Strings were recorded in 2004 at Masterfonics in Nashville, TN.

In an April 2005 New York Time article, Jon Pareles wrote that "Springsteen recorded nearly all of the [album's] songs in a few days, nearly a decade ago, sitting with his guitar in the living room of his farmhouse in New Jersey, doing just a take or two." This probably took place sometime in 1996 or 1997. It's very possible that many of the songs on the album are none other than the solo recordings from 1996 or 1997, with some additional instruments overdubbed in 2004.

ALL THE WAY HOME and LONG TIME COMIN' were produced by Brendan O'Brien, Bruce Springsteen, and Chuck Plotkin. The rest of the album was produced by Brendan O'Brien. All horn and string arrangements were done by Eddie Horst. BLACK COWBOYS, JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON, LEAH, and MATAMOROS BANKS were mixed by Toby Scott. The rest of the album was mixed by Brendan O'Brien. Toby Scott was the recording engineer at Thrill Hill East, Thrill Hill West, and Southern Tracks, and Nick Didia was the recording engineer at Southern Tracks and Masterphonics.

The album includes a bonus DVD featuring filmed acoustic performances of DEVILS & DUST, LONG TIME COMIN', RENO, ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT, and MATAMOROS BANKS, with spoken commentary on their writing and creation. They were filmed live by director Danny Clinch in February 2005 in New Jersey. The DVD also includes the full album in 5.1 surround sound and in 2-channel stereo, with lyrics to the songs accompanying the audio in a karaoke style.

Bruce Springsteen -- Devils & Dust
Bruce Springsteen -- Devils & Dust

Devils & Dust debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, becoming Springsteen's seventh number one album in the U.S. It also peaked at number one in several European countries including the UK. The album was nominated for two 2006 Grammy Awards, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video, but failed to win.

The album features 12 tracks and clocks at 50:55. It was issued on DualDisc, CD + DVD, and LP.

Other Official Releases

Other version of LEAH were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen -- Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005
The live 22 Nov 2005 version of LEAH was released on the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005 official live download in 2019.

Live History

SECTION NOT YET COMPLETED

Covers

At least one artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's LEAH.

Various artists -- Springsteen Session 2011
Various artists -- Springsteen Session 2011

2xCD - B Street Productions / Suisa (no catalog number) - Switzerland, 2012

This is a live Bruce Springsteen tribute album recorded on 11 Nov 2011 at Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche in Bäretswil, Switzerland. LEAH is performed by Guido Marzorati & Gospelchor.

Available Versions

List of available versions of LEAH on this website:

LEAH [Album version]
LEAH [Live 21 Apr 2005 version]

Page last updated: 26 Jan 2019