THE TIES THAT BIND

20 Sep 1978 sound-check version

Well tonight I'll pack my bags
And babe tonight I'll ride
There won't be anything
No one at my side
There's just a cold dark highway (cold dark highway)
And a thin white line (thin white line)
Connecting me to the ties that bind

Whoah, the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind

But in that lonely hour
Right before the sun
Baby, gotta believe
You're the only one
Because this strength in your heart
Is all I got to remind me
No man can forsake the ties that bind

Whoah, the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind... Huh!

Bass, drums!
And tonight I'll pack my bags
Late tonight I'll ride
Then there will be no-one
No-one at my side
Well, just a cold dark highway (cold dark highway)
And a thin white line (a thin white line)
Connecting me to the ties that bind
Well the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind

Well the ties that bind
The ties that bind
No man can break the ties that bind

Whoah!

Info

The above lyrics are for the 20 Sep 1978 sound-check performance of THE TIES THAT BIND at Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour. This is a very early version of the song, featuring very different lyrics from later versions. It may be the band's first performance of this tune, as Springsteen carefully reviews chord changes before they try it out. The raw, edgy arrangement is very different from the one they would debut in concert in November.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band performed a series of three sold-out concerts at Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ, during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour, on 19, 20, and 21 Sep 1978. Audio for a sound-check recorded prior to one of these shows is circulating among collectors. The audio comprises of an audience tape recorded outside the venue and a soundboard tape from partial in-line video. It is unknown from which night or nights this audio emanates, but it believed to be from the second night, 20 Sep 1978.

Promotional ad for the 19 Sep 1978 show at Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Available Versions

List of available versions of THE TIES THAT BIND on this website:

Page last updated: 21 Nov 2015