DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN 
Album version
Well, they're still racing out at the Trestles
But that blood it never burned in her veins
Now I hear she's got a house up in Fairview
And a style she's trying to maintain
Well, if she wants to see me
You can tell her that I'm easily found
Tell her there's a spot out 'neath Abram's Bridge
And tell her there's a darkness on the edge of town
There's a darkness on the edge of town
Well, everybody's got a secret Sonny
Something that they just can't face
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
They carry it with them every step that they take
Till some day they just cut it loose
Cut it loose or let it drag 'em down
Where no one asks any questions
Or looks too long in your face
In the darkness on the edge of town
In the darkness on the edge of town
Well, now some folks are born into a good life
And other folks get it anyway anyhow
Well, I lost my money and I lost my wife
Them things don't seem to matter much to me now
Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop
I'll be on that hill with everything I've got
Well, lives on the line where dreams are found and lost
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost
For wanting things that can only be found
In the darkness on the edge of town
In the darkness on the edge of town
Page last updated: 02 Oct 2012
[PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION]
Intro
Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN is the
tenth (and closing) track on his 1978 album Darkness On The Edge Of Town.
The above lyrics are for Springsteen's studio version of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE
OF TOWN as released on Darkness On The Edge Of Town.
Composition and Recording
[COMING SOON]
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Despite the marvelous reception received by both Born To Run and the
tour which followed, the relationship between Bruce Springsteen and his now former manager and
producer Mike Appel was deteriorating. In July 1976 the storm broke; Mike Appel wrote to
Springsteen saying that he would not allow Jon Landau (Springsteen's friend and co-producer of
Born To Run) to produce the next album, citing a particular paragraph from their original
agreement. Bruce replied on 27 Jul 1976 by firing manager Mike Appel and suing him and his
management company Laurel Canyon Ltd. in Federal Court in Manhattan, claiming fraud, breach of
trust, and undue influence. Appel countersued on 29 Jul 1976 in New York State Supreme Court,
asking the court to prohibit Springsteen and Jon Landau from working together in studio. Bruce
Springsteen and The E Street Band were slated to enter the studio that year for the recording of a
new album, except that on 15 Sep 1976 the judge in the lawsuits case ruled that Springsteen was
enjoined from any further recording with Columbia Records until Appel's suit was resolved. This
would drag for about a year.
Meanwhile, Springsteen continued gigging, and in the process broke his
self-imposed rule of not playing the larger arenas. This was basically because he was not able to
put a record out, and it was the only way his fans would be able to hear him at all.
Springsteen reached a final settlement in his yearlong litigation with Mike
Appel on 28 May 1977. Effectively this meant that for the first time in a year Springsteen was
able to go into a studio and record. The Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions
kicked off in early June 1977 at Atlantic Record Studios, New York City, NY. Springsteen had a
considerable amount of new material, but the songs were in various stages of writing completion.
Consequently many of the songs were shaped over the course of numerous sessions spanning several
months.
The sessions at Atlantic Studios were only two or three weeks old when problems
surfaced. Springsteen didn't like the sound he was getting from the studio, particularly the
drums. On top of that Atlantic Studios did not offer a particularly comfortable or livable
environment for the musicians. A decision was taken to shift operations to the nearby Record Plant
where most of the Born To Run album had been recorded. However financial commitments to
Atlantic Studios were already made, and on such short notice it was hard to find un-booked studio
time at the popular Record Plant. Consequently the Jul-Aug 1977 period saw Springsteen and the
band recording at both studios, but mostly Atlantic Studios. From September to late December, all
the recording seems to have taken place at The Record Plant, where all the recordings issued on
the original album emanate from.
The actual recording sessions for Darkness On The Edge Of Town were
completed by early January 1978. The mixing sessions began in early January 1978 and dragged on
until late March. There was a tremendous amount of different mixes considered, with Springsteen
changing his mind on the mix of THE PROMISED LAND
as late as early April.
Darkness On The Edge Of Town was released on Columbia Records on 02 Jun
1978. It was produced by Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge/reduce artwork]
The album features 10 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 42:55.
Official Releases
[COMING SOON]
Live History
[COMING SOON]
Covers
[COMING SOON]
Available Versions
List of available versions of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN on this website:
Credits / References
[COMING SOON]
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