FURTHER ON (UP THE ROAD)^©

Studio version

Where the road is dark and the seed is sowed*
Where the gun is cocked and the bullet's cold
Where the miles are marked in blood and gold
I'll meet you further on up the road

Got on my dead man's suit and my smilin' skull ring**
My lucky graveyard boots and a song to sing**
I got a song to sing to keep me out of the cold
And I'll meet you further on up the road

Further on up the road
Further on up the road
Where the way is dark and the night is cold
One sunny mornin' we'll rise I know
And I'll meet you further on up the road

Now I been out in the desert just doin' my time
Searching through the dust lookin' for a sign
If there's a light up ahead, well brother I don't know
But I got this fever burnin' in my soul
So let's take the good times as they go
And I'll meet you further on up the road

Further on up the road
Further on up the road
Further on up the road
Further on up the road
One sunny mornin' we'll rise I know
And I'll meet you further on up the road
One sunny mornin' we'll rise I know
And I'll meet you further on up the road

Released on The Rising in 2002, the album that won a 2003 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, and that was also nominated for Album Of The Year.

This song appeared for the first time during the Reunion tour during a sound-check on 04 May 2000 at the Air Canada Center, Toronto, ON, Canada. Sound-checked a couple of times until it was played live during the show for the first time on 04 Jun 2000 at Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA. Note that AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) live debut was during that same show too. The song was then played during 7 of the 10 remaining Reunion tour shows which were at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.

Not a regular inclusion for The Rising tour shows, played only 8 times during the tour, starting 30 Sep 2002 at MN Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MI.  Performed during both the early and late shows of the holiday jam held on 19 Dec 2004 at Harry's Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ, backed by Bobby Bandiera and his band. Also performed on 10 Apr 2005 at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, during the 4th annual Rumson School Benefit Concert.

Reported to be rehearsed on 15 and 20 Apr 2005 at the Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ. Also played during the warm-up shows for the Devils & Dust tour on 21 and 22 Apr 2005 at the Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ. The song was then played 39 times during the shows of the tour. It was performed on each of the first 21 dates, then it started to be dropped from the setlist, becoming kind of a rarity at the end of the tour.

Reported to be rehearsed by Bruce Springsteen with his Seeger Sessions Band on 20 Mar 2006 at the Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, NJ. Also performed during The Seeger Sessions tour, starting on the 13 Jun 2006 show at First MidWest Bank Amphitheater, Chicago, IL.

These lyrics refer to the studio version released on The Rising. Check also the live 14 Oct 2002 version, though it is the same.

* Appears later in ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT.
** Appears later in MARIA'S BED.