LIFT ME UP

Official studio version



I don't need your answered prayers
Or the chains your lover wears
I don't need your rings of gold
Or the secrets that you hold

Lift me up, darling
Lift me up and I'll fall with you lift me up
Let your love lift me up

I don't need your sacred vow
Or the promise tomorrow brings
Veiled behind the morning clouds
I'll take the fate the daylight brings

Lift me up, darling
Lift me up and I'll fall with you lift me up
Let your love lift me up

When the morning bright
Lifts away this night
In the light above
We will find our love, we will find our love

Your skin, your hand upon my neck
This skin, your fingers on my skin
This kiss, this heartbeat, this breath
This heart, this heart, this wilderness

Lift me up, darling
Lift me up and I'll fall with you lift me up
Let your love lift me up
Lift me up, darling
Lift me up and I'll fall with you lift me up
Let your love lift me up

hooooo...
hooooo...
hooooo...

hooooo...
hooooo...
hooooo...

hooooo...
hooooo...
hooooo...

hooooo...
hooooo...
hooooo...


Info

LIFT ME UP is a song written by Bruce Springsteen for the 1999 movie Limbo and first released on the film's soundtrack album. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's official studio version of LIFT ME UP as released in 1993.


Various artists -- Music From The Motion Picture Limbo
Various artists -- Music From The Motion Picture Limbo

CD - Columbia / Sony Music Soundtrax (CK 69994) - USA, 1999

The album was also released internationally.

John Sayles' liner notes in the Limbo soundtrack album booklet:

Bruce Springsteen has written a haunting new song for the final credits. In the prayer-like LIFT ME UP, the singer is asking for nothing more and promising nothing less than to take the risk of unconditional love.

The official studio version of LIFT ME UP plays over the end credits of Springsteen's 2001 DVD The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000 and was also included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 3-disc edition) compilation album.

Writing and Recording

According to Limbo director John Sayles, the movie producer Maggie Renzi ran into Bruce Springsteen at an airport and he asked if there's anything he could do to help. Sayles and Renzi thought of Springsteen for the final song of the movie, and they wanted "something that was healing but also something that was about risk", as Sayles described it.

Sayles says that the lyrics of LIFT ME UP were something that Springsteen "had been working on three years but had never really finished". This means that he started working on it during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour, or possibly during the time he was writing or recording The Ghost Of Tom Joad album.

Some lyrics lines in the Limbo soundtrack album booklet are different from the ones in The Essential Bruce Springsteen booklet. The latter seems to have the correct lyrics.

Limbo bookletThe Essential Bruce Springsteen booklet
There behind the morning cloudsVeiled behind the morning clouds
I'll take the faith the daylight bringsI'll take the fate the daylight brings
Lifts away this night and the light aboveLifts away this night in the light above

Bruce Springsteen recorded LIFT ME UP sometime between October 1998 and January 1999 at Thrill Hill Recording (Springsteen's home studio) in Colts Neck, NJ. Springsteen, who is the sole producer on the track, handles vocals (in a falsetto voice) and all instruments. The track was recorded and mixed by Toby Scott.

Bruce Springsteen and John Sayles

Springsteen's relation with Sayles dates back to 1983, when ADAM RAISED A CAIN, IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY, SHE'S THE ONE, and THE E STREET SHUFFLE were used in the soundtrack of his movie Baby It's You. Sayles also directed Springsteen's videos for BORN IN THE U.S.A. in 1984 and I'M ON FIRE and GLORY DAYS in 1985.

Video Anthology Home Video

Video Anthology / 1978-88 is a collection of 18 Bruce Springsteen music videos and concert performances, released on VHS on 31 Jan 1989. The home video was also released on LaserDisc.

Bruce Springsteen -- Video Anthology / 1978-88 (USA VHS cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- Video Anthology / 1978-88 (USA VHS cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- Video Anthology / 1978-88 (USA LaserDisc cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- Video Anthology / 1978-88 (USA LaserDisc cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- Video Anthology / 1978-88 (Japan LaserDisc cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- Video Anthology / 1978-88 (Japan LaserDisc cover art)

  1. ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Live 08 Jul 1978 version] — originally released in 1978, directed by Arnold Levine
  2. THE RIVER [Live 21 Sep 1979 version] — originally released in 1980, directed by Danny Goldberg, Julian Schlossberg, Anthony Potenza
  3. THUNDER ROAD [Mix of live 21 Sep 1979 version and live 22 Sep 1979 version] — originally released in 1980, directed by Danny Goldberg, Julian Schlossberg, Anthony Potenza
  4. ATLANTIC CITY — originally released in 1982, directed by Arnold Levine
  5. DANCING IN THE DARK — originally released in 1984, directed by Brian De Palma
  6. BORN IN THE U.S.A. — originally released in 1984, directed by John Sayles
  7. I'M ON FIRE — originally released in 1985, directed by John Sayles
  8. GLORY DAYS — originally released in 1985, directed by John Sayles
  9. MY HOMETOWN [Live 30 Sep 1985 version] — originally released in 1985, directed by Arthur Rosato
  10. WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version] — originally released in 1986, directed by Arthur Rosato
  11. FIRE [Live 13 Oct 1986 version] — originally released in 1986
  12. BORN TO RUN [Live 19 Aug 1985 version] — originally released in 1987, directed by Arthur Rosato
  13. BRILLIANT DISGUISE — originally released in 1987, directed by Meiert Avis
  14. TUNNEL OF LOVE — originally released in 1987, directed by Meiert Avis
  15. ONE STEP UP — originally released in 1988, directed by Meiert Avis
  16. TOUGHER THAN THE REST [Live 27 Apr 1988 version] — originally released in1988, directed by Meiert Avis
  17. SPARE PARTS [Live 10 Jul 1988 version] — originally released in 1988, directed by Carol Dodds
  18. BORN TO RUN [Live 27 Apr 1988 version] — originally released in 1988, directed by Meiert Avis

Sonny reissued the video on DVD on 16 Jan 2001. Titled The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000, the new expanded release added a second disc with 15 additional music video, concert performances, and television appearances.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000 (DVD cover art)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000 (DVD cover art)

Disc 1:

  1. ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Live 08 Jul 1978 version] — originally released in 1978, directed by Arnold Levine
  2. THE RIVER [Live 21 Sep 1979 version] — originally released in 1980, directed by Danny Goldberg, Julian Schlossberg, Anthony Potenza
  3. THUNDER ROAD [Mix of live 21 Sep 1979 version and live 22 Sep 1979 version] — originally released in 1980, directed by Danny Goldberg, Julian Schlossberg, Anthony Potenza
  4. ATLANTIC CITY — originally released in 1982, directed by Arnold Levine
  5. DANCING IN THE DARK — originally released in 1984, directed by Brian De Palma
  6. BORN IN THE U.S.A. — originally released in 1984, directed by John Sayles
  7. I'M ON FIRE — originally released in 1985, directed by John Sayles
  8. GLORY DAYS — originally released in 1985, directed by John Sayles
  9. MY HOMETOWN [Live 30 Sep 1985 version] — originally released in 1985, directed by Arthur Rosato
  10. WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version] — originally released in 1986, directed by Arthur Rosato
  11. FIRE [Live 13 Oct 1986 version] — originally released in 1986
  12. BORN TO RUN [Live 19 Aug 1985 version] — originally released in 1987, directed by Arthur Rosato
  13. BRILLIANT DISGUISE — originally released in 1987, directed by Meiert Avis
  14. TUNNEL OF LOVE — originally released in 1987, directed by Meiert Avis
  15. ONE STEP UP — originally released in 1988, directed by Meiert Avis
  16. TOUGHER THAN THE REST [Live 27 Apr 1988 version] — originally released in1988, directed by Meiert Avis
  17. SPARE PARTS [Live 10 Jul 1988 version] — originally released in 1988, directed by Carol Dodds
  18. BORN TO RUN [Live 27 Apr 1988 version] — originally released in 1988, directed by Meiert Avis

Disc 2:

  1. HUMAN TOUCH — originally released in 1992, directed by Meiert Avis
  2. BETTER DAYS — originally released in 1992, directed by Meiert Avis
  3. 57 CHANNELS (AND NOTHIN' ON) — originally released in 1992, directed by Adam Bernstein
  4. LEAP OF FAITH [Live 06 Aug 1992 version] — originally released in 1992, directed by Meiert Avis
  5. STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA — originally released in 1993, directed by Jonathan Demme and Ted Demme
  6. MURDER INCORPORATED — originally released in 1995, directed by Jonathan Demme
  7. SECRET GARDEN — originally released in 1995, directed by Peter Care
  8. HUNGRY HEART [Live 09 Jul 1995 version] — originally released in 1995, directed by Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher
  9. DEAD MAN WALKIN' — originally released in 1196, directed by Tim Robbins
  10. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD — originally released in 1996, directed by Arnold Levine
  11. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD [Live 27 Nov 1995 version] — from The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
  12. HIGHWAY PATROLMAN — previously unreleased, directed by Sean Penn
  13. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [25 Sep 1999 sound-check version] — previously unreleased, directed by Jonathan Demme
  14. BORN IN THE U.S.A. [Live 20 Nov 1998 version] — from The Charlie Rose Show
  15. LIFT ME UP — audio only, plays over end credits
  16. SECRET GARDEN [with Strings] — previously unreleased, directed by Peter Care

The Essential Bruce Springsteen

The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released as part of Sony BMG'S (previously Sony Music Entertainment) series of "Essential" sets. According to Springsteen's liner notes comments, the collection was intended as an introduction to his music for new fans who attended shows on The Rising Tour.

The collection is fundamentally a 2-disc set (clocking at 153:37) compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Live In New York City release. A 3-disc limited edition (clocking at 201:04) was also released. It includes a bonus third disc comprising of a selection of rarities and previously unreleased recordings.

The Essential Bruce Springsteen was released on 11 Nov 2003 on Columbia Records. It debuted and peaked at #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart where it spent 13 weeks. It also reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was awarded certified gold and platinum records by the RIAA on 16 Dec 2003.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition)

The Essential Bruce Springsteen was reissued on 16 Oct 2015, this time as a 2-disc set (clocking at 156:25) with an updated track list, compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Greatest Hits (1995 edition) collection. This 2015 reissue features remastered tracks not found in that form on other Springsteen releases.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition)

Bruce Springsteen's liner notes in The Essential Bruce Springsteen album booklet:

Director John Sayles called and said he was looking for a song to end his film "Limbo." The picture ends with a small plane approaching an island his main characters were stranded on. I tried to pick up the hum of the plane's engine and write something ethereal using the falsetto voice I'd developed in the '90s.

Other Official Releases

Other versions of LIFT ME UP were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen -- Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005
The live 31 Jul 2005 version of LIFT ME UP was released on the Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 official live download in 2015.

Live History

LIFT ME UP was performed once during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005), on 31 Jul 2005 in Columbus, OH. This was the only time that Springsteen played this song live. The live 31 Jul 2005 version of LIFT ME UP was released on the Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 official live download in 2015.

Appearance in Movies

Bruce Springsteen's LIFT ME UP appears in one movie.

Promotional poster for the film "Limbo"
Limbo

It was used in the 1999 film Limbo, directed by John Sayles and starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, David Strathairn, and Vanessa Martinez. It was also included in the film's soundtrack album.

The song plays over the film's closing credits.

Covers

At least 3 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's LIFT ME UP.

Asher Quinn -- Songs Of Love And Chains
Asher Quinn -- Songs Of Love And Chains

2xCD - Singing Stone Music (SSM014) - UK, 2010
Moa Holmsten -- Bruised Arms & Broken Rhythm
Moa Holmsten -- Bruised Arms & Broken Rhythm

CD - Fill In The Blank Records (no catalog number) - USA, 2015

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Graziano Romani -- Soul Crusader Again: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen
Graziano Romani -- Soul Crusader Again: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen

CD - Route 66 Music (RT612017004) - Italy, 2017

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Available Versions

List of available versions of LIFT ME UP on this website:

LIFT ME UP [Official studio version]
LIFT ME UP [Live 31 Jul 2005 version]

Page last updated: 25 Sep 2015