GIVE MY LOVE TO ROSE

Bruce Springsteen's version

I found him by the railroad track this morning
I could see that he was nearly dead
I knelt down beside him and I listened
To the words dying fellow said

He said they let me out of prison down in Frisco
For ten long years I've paid for what I've done
I was trying to get back home in Louisiana
Just to see my Rose and get to know my son

Give my love to Rose, won't you mister
Hey give her this money and tell her to buy some pretty clothes
Tell my boy his daddy's proud of him
Don't forget to give my love to Rose

Just tell 'em I said thanks for waiting for me
Tell my boy to help his mom now he's got to be a man*
You tell my Rose to go and find another
You tell her I'll understand*

Mister see this bag's got all my money
I ain't much nor lasting long I know*
God bless you for finding me this morning
And don't forget to give my love to Rose

Give my love to Rose, won't you mister
You give her that money and tell her to buy some pretty clothes
Tell my son that his father loved him*
And don't forget to give my love to Rose

Written by Johnny Cash who recorded it in 1957, and released it for the first time on his 1960 LP Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams.

A pre-taped Bruce performance of this song was played on a screen over the stage during the All Star Tribute To Johnny Cash on 06 Apr 1999 at Hammerstein Ballroom, Manhattan, NY. Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, Bruce Springsteen's unadorned cover of GIVE MY LOVE TO ROSE was one of the most wrenching songs of the night, even if it was a pre-taped performance. The concert was aired on TNT television at 8 PM on 18 Apr 1999. Bruce and the E Street Band were in Italy that night for the Reunion tour. The rendition was recorded on a soundstage in Asbury Park, NJ, most prebably during the rehearsals for the Reunion tour in Mar 1999.

[Click on the below thumbnails to enlarge]

These lyrics refer to Bruce's soulful performance for the All Star Tribute To Johnny Cash. Check also Johnny Cash's original version.

Bruce's cover of the song was officially released on the tribute CD Kindred Spirits: A Tribute To The Songs Of Johnny Cash, released on 24 Sep 2002.

* Main modifications Bruce made to the song.

From Backstreets Magazine # 62, page 7:

While Springsteen had been announced as a performer at a star-studded concert honoring Johnny Cash at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on Apr 6, his travel schedule prevented him from attending. Still, Springsteen recorded GIVE MY LOVE TO ROSE in advance, and it was played at the show. TNT broadcast the proceedings as part of its Masters Series, which included Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, and the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash.

Spoken intro by Bruce just before he the song on 06 Apr 1999:

To Johnny I wanna send out a big thanks for the inspiration. He kinda took the social consciousness from folk music, and the gravity and humour from country music, and the rebellion out of Rock 'N' Roll, and uh, and taught all those young guys that not only was it all right to, to tear up all those lines and boundaries a bit was important. And uh, this is a song I love from the early recordings for long time, hope you like it.