MY FATHER'S HOUSE

Last night I dreamed that I was a child out where the pines grow wild and tall
I was trying to make it home through the forest before the darkness falls

I heard the wind rustling through the trees and ghostly voices rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding down that broken path
With the devil snappin' at my heels*

I broke through the trees and there in the night
My father's house stood shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran till I fell shaking in his arms

I awoke and I imagined the hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again, sir, tear us from each other's hearts
I got dressed, and to that house I did ride from out on the road, I could see its windows shining in light

I walked up the steps and stood on the porch
A woman I didn't recognize came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story, and who I'd come for
She said "I'm sorry son, but no one by that name lives here anymore"

My father's house shines hard and bright it stands like a beacon calling me in the night
Calling and calling, so cold and alone
Shining 'cross this dark highway where our sins lie unatoned

From the Nebraska album. Played 5 times during the Born In The USA tour, once during the The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour (18 Sep 1996), and twice during the Devils & Dust tour (04 and 19 Jun 2005).

Also played during the Christic Institute benefit shows in Nov 1990 and the Double Take Magazine benefit shows in Feb 2003.

Reported to be rehearsed by Bruce with his Seeger Sessions Band on 05 Apr at the Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, NJ, and 13 Apr 2006 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ. Some comments from the people who listened to the rehearsals:

• "It was a very haunting version. Again different from how we've heard it played in the past." [05 Apr]
• "I heard them working on this last week. It's again a different version from anything we've heard before. It's very haunting and as someone said 'kind of spooky'. He played this twice." [13 Apr]

* These and other verses can also be found in WAGES OF SIN.

Available on:

1. Nebraska (track 9)
2. Tribute 2000: Badlands: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska (track 9), performed by Ben Harper