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Album version
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!
Come on!
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
THE TIES THAT BIND is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1980 album The River. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of THE TIES THAT BIND as released in 1980.
The album version of THE TIES THAT BIND was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition) compilation album.
Another studio version of THE TIES THAT BIND (official studio version) was released on The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set in 2015.
According to Sony's logs of Bruce Springsteen's studio sessions, THE TIES THAT BIND was recorded on 10-11 Apr 1979 and 10 Apr 1980 at The Power Station in New York City, NY. The song however is known to have been first practiced with the band as early as September 1978 (see the 20 Sep 1978 sound-check version), and then in October 1978 (see band rehearsal #1 and band rehearsal #2) and March 1979 (band rehearsal #3). The song dramatically evolved from the first time it was played with the band to when it was recorded in studio. This indicates that it was written in September 1978 or not long before that.
Two studio takes of the song are in circulation. The official studio version must have been recorded during the 10-11 Apr 1979 sessions at The Power Station. The album version uses the same backing track as the official studio version but the mix different. The lyrics (mainly the chorus) slightly vary and are sung in a different key. It is very plausible that the song was revisited during the 10 Apr 1980 sessions at The Power Station; it was remixed and overdubbed with new vocals.
Bruce Springsteen wrapped up the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour on the first day of 1979. For the next few months, he altered between composing and practicing solo demos at his home in Holmdel, NJ (between January and June 1979), rehearsing with the band at his Telegraph Hill Road property in Holmdel, NJ (between March and May 1979), and recording in studio at The Power Station in New York City, NY (from late March to late August 1979).
By early August 1979, enough quality material had been recorded at The Power Station. According to The Ties That Bind documentary, a total of twenty-four songs had been recorded. According to Clinton Heylin's 2012 book It was looking like Springsteen's fifth album might be released in Christmas 1979. E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Springsteen's initial track sequence for the album was as follows:
Side 1:
Side 2:
By mid-September 1979, Springsteen replaced RICKY WANTS A MAN OF HER OWN, LOOSE ENDS, and THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY by CINDY and THE RIVER. Soon after, he removed RAMROD, restored LOOSE ENDS, and added YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH). A title, "The Ties That Bind", was selected for the album and wheels put in motion to produce artwork for the cover. Around September, at least ten tracks were mixed to completion. On 04 Oct 1979, the ten selected tracks were dubbed to two half-track reel-to-reel tapes at The Power Station, and labeled "side one" and "side two". As written on the reels, the producer was Jon Landau and the engineers were Neil Dorfsman and Bob Clearmountain, assisted by Jeff Hendrickson. The new track sequence for the album was as follows:
Reel #1:
Reel #2:
Mock covers with "The Ties That Bind" title were roughed out early in the planning. The cover shot was to be a picture of Bruce Springsteen in front of a barn, with the back cover being a shot of his face behind a screen door. In late September 1979, The Ties That Bind single album was scrapped as Springsteen's writing process continued.
A second phase of recording sessions was scheduled. Again, for the next few months, Springsteen altered between composing and practicing solo demos at his home in Holmdel, NJ (between September 1979 and February 1980), rehearsing with the band at his Telegraph Hill Road property in Holmdel, NJ (between September 1979 and February 1980), and recording in studio at The Power Station in New York City, NY (from October 1979 to June 1980).
The combined sessions from March 1979 to June 1980 produced the double album The River that was eventually released in October 1980. The studio sessions to some extent extended into August 1980 due to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's involvement in the recording of Gary U.S. Bonds' album Dedication, which was released April 1981).
The album features 20 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 83:47. It was produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Steven Van Zandt, engineered by Neil Dorfsman, and mixed by Bob Clearmountain, Chuck Plotkin, and Toby Scott.
Side 1 (vinyl LP format):
Side 2 (vinyl LP format):
Side 3 (vinyl LP format):
Side 4 (vinyl LP format):
According to recording engineer Neil Dorfsman, about 50 songs were recorded to a completed state during The River sessions. 20 were released on The River and 14 were released as B-sides and on official compilations. 14 songs are circulating via the unofficial route, but the majority of them are poor recordings of band rehearsals at the Telegraph Hill Road property, though it is likely that most of them exist as completed takes from The Power Station.
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.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Disc 3:
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.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
The album version of THE TIES THAT BIND appears on a few obscure singles.
Other versions of THE TIES THAT BIND were also officially released.
THE TIES THAT BIND is known to have been performed at least 27 times during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour (111 dates, May 1978 to January 1979), all during the tour's last two months. A few setlists from that period are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour. Note that the song was sound-checked earlier in the tour, prior to the 20 Sep 1978 show in Passaic, NJ. See the 20 Sep 1978 sound-check version for more details. The live 08 Dec 1978 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010. The live 15 Dec 1978 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the Winterland 12/15/78 official live download in 2019.
In preparation for The River Tour, THE TIES THAT BIND is known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place over the period of four nights in late September 1980 in Lititz, PA, prior to the tour's first leg.
THE TIES THAT BIND is known to have been performed at least 77 times during The River Tour (138 dates, October 1980 to September 1981). A few setlists from that period are incomplete, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates during The River Tour. The live 05 Nov 1980 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the Arizona State University, Tempe 1980 official live download in 2015. The live 09 Jul 1981 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena 1981 official live download in 2020.
In preparation for The Reunion Tour, THE TIES THAT BIND is known to have been practiced during the private rehearsal that took place in February 2000 in University Park, PA, the day before the tour's final leg kicked off.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 48 times during what is known as The Reunion Tour (132 dates, April 1999 to July 2000). The live 25 Sep 1999 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the First Union Center, Philadelphia September 25, 1999 official live download in 2020. The live 30 Sep 1999 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the Chicago September 30, 1999 official live download in 2018. The live 27 Jun 2000 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the Madison Square Garden, New York 06/27/2000 official live download in 2021. A snippet of the live 29 Jun 2000 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the Live In New York City home video in 2001.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 30 times during The Rising Tour (120 dates, August 2002 to October 2003).
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed once during the Vote For Change Tour, on 03 Oct 2004 in Detroit, MI.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 7 times during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005).
In preparation for the Magic Tour, THE TIES THAT BIND was performed during one of the tour's three public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in September 2007 in Asbury Park and East Rutherford.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 15 times during the Magic Tour (100 dates, October 2007 to August 2008).
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 7 times during the Working On A Dream Tour (83 dates, April to November 2009). The live 08 Nov 2009 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the MSG Nov 08, 2009 official live download in 2018. The live 22 Nov 2009 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY 11/22/2009 official live download in 2016.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 25 times during the Wrecking Ball Tour (133 dates, March 2012 to September 2013). The live 22 Sep 2012 version of THE TIES THAT BIND was released on the East Rutherford, NJ 09.22.12 official live download in 2019.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed 4 times during the High Hopes Tour (34 dates, January to May 2014). Audio recordings for most High Hopes Tour shows are officially available for purchase. See the live 17 May 2014 version for more details.
THE TIES THAT BIND was performed off-tour on 19 Dec 2015 at Rockefeller Center in New York City, NY, during a TV appearance on Saturday Night Live. The song was played in its full-band album arrangement. See the live 19 Dec 2015 version for more details.
At least 5 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's THE TIES THAT BIND.
List of available versions of THE TIES THAT BIND on this website:
THE TIES THAT BIND [Album version]
