COUNTIN' ON A MIRACLE^©

Album's version

It's a fairytale so tragic, there's no prince to break the spell
I don't believe in the magic, but for you I will, yeah for you I will
If I'm a fool, I'll be a fool, darlin' for you

Well I'm countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle to come through

There ain't no storybook story, there's no never-ending song
Our happily ever after darlin' is forever come and gone, yeah I'm movin' on
If I'm gonna believe, I'll put my faith, darlin' in you

Well I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle to come through

Sleeping beauty awakes from her dream with her lover's kiss on her lips
Your kiss was taken from me, now all I have is this

Your kiss, your kiss, your touch, your touch
Your heart, your heart, your strength, your strength
Your hope, your hope, your faith, your faith
Your face, your face, your love, your love
Your dream, your dream, your life, your life

I'm runnin' through the forest with the wolf at my heels
My king is lost at midnight when the tower bells peal
We've got no fairytale ending, in God's hands our fate is complete
Your heaven's here in my heart, our love's this dust beneath my feet, just this dust beneath my feet
If I'm gonna live, I'll lift my life, darlin' to you

Well I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle to come through

Well I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle to come through

Yeah I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle (countin' on a miracle)
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle to come through

Yeah I'm countin' on a miracle

Page last updated: 22 Apr 2006

Released on The Rising in 2002, recorded during the album's sessions in 2002 at Southern Tracks Recording, Atlanta, GA.

In this song, Bruce is obviously speaking directly from the perspective of the 9/11 victims families. They were counting on the miracle that their beloved one maybe went down to lower floors for some reason, or maybe went out for a lunch meeting. They could only believe in magic, but there were very few miracles on that dark day. Still, the melody and arrangements on the album's version give it a little more hope than the acoustic version released on The Essential Bruce Springsteen bonus disc.

The song appeared live for the first time during the rehearsal shows for The Rising tour:

• 26 Jul 2002 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
• 30 Jul 2002 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
• 02 Aug 2002 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
• 05 Aug 2002 at the Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

Played heavily during The Rising tour in 2002 and early 2003, but the performances of the song became scarcer and scarcer as the tour entered it's second year. In total, the song was played 60 times during the whole tour.

The first half of the 16 Oct 2002 show at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain, from THE RISING till DANCING IN THE DARK, was broadcasted on MTV Europe and VH1-UK to most of Europe. The complete show, including COUNTIN' ON A MIRACLE, was later released on Live In Barcelona DVD that year. Check out the live 16 Oct 2002 version for more details.

A completely arranged acoustic performance was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen bonus disc in 2003. Check out the acoustic version for more details.

The song also appeared during the Devils & Dust tour, played twice, on piano and electric piano:

• 15 Jun 2005 at Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
• 19 Jun 2005 at Ahoy, Rotterdam, Holland (check out the live 19 Jun 2005 version)

Note that it was reported to be sound-checked a few days before, on 13 Jun 2005 at Olympia Hall, Munich, Germany.

The above lyrics refer to the full band version on The Rising album. Check also the acoustic version, the live 16 Oct 2002 version, and the live 19 Jun 2005 version (no important lyrics variations between all versions).