THE FUSE

Down at the court house they're ringin' the flag down
Long black line of cars shakin' slow through town
Red sheets snappin' on the line
With this ring, will you be mine
The fuse is burning
(Shut out the lights)
The fuse is burning
(Come on let me do you right)

Trees on fire with the first fall's frost
Long black line in front of Holy Cross
Blood moon risin' in a sky of black dust
Tell me Baby who do you trust?
The fuse is burning
(Shut out the lights)
The fuse is burning
(Come on let me do you right)

Tires on the highway hissin' something's coming
You can feel the wires in the tree tops hummin'
Devil's on the horizon line
Your kiss and I'm alive

A quiet afternoon, an empty house
On the edge of the bed you slip off your blouse
The room is burning with the noon sun
Your bittersweet taste on my tongue
The fuse is burning
(Shut out the lights)
The fuse is burning
(Come on let me do you right)

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.

The Spike Lee's movie 25th Hour (starring Springsteen fan Edward Norton), ends with a new mix of THE FUSE over the closing credits. Terence Blanchard, who composed the score for the movie, added an orchestral arrangement to Springsteen's album track. Unfortunately, this version of the song was not included on the movie's soundtrack CD.