THE WAY

Official studio version

The way your heart beats when I hold you tight
The way you sigh when we kiss goodnight
The way the wind blows through the trees
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

The way you warm me baby when I'm cold
The way you make me want you body and soul
The way the rivers run to the sea
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

The way you soothe me when I'm in pain
The way you make the blood rush in my veins
The way the winds rush through the trees
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

When I lose faith you take my hand
The way you make me feel like I'm a man
The way the sun belongs to the sea
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me

[sax solo]

The way you make me feel like I belong
And if I could girl though I know it'd be wrong
I'd lock you deep inside 'till the last rains fall
And hide you from the emptiness of it all

Sometimes at night I lie awake
I pull you close and feel each breath you take
The way the rivers belong to the seas
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me
Well hey, that's the way you belong to me
Hmmmmm
Hmmmmm
Hmmmmm
Hmmmmm
Hmmmmm
Hmmmmm [fades out]

Page last updated: 09 Oct 2011

Intro

THE WAY is a Bruce Springsteen song that was released in November 2010 on The Promise, an album of previously-unreleased songs from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions. The above lyrics are for that officially released studio version of the song.

Late Addition

THE WAY was not listed on The Promise press release, and is not listed on the album artwork. It's a hidden/bonus track probably due to being a last minute addition to the album. It is not a separate track; it's an extension to CITY OF NIGHT.

On 15 Nov 2010, the eve of The Promise release, Sirius XM's E Street Radio channel broadcasted a two-hour special titled "E Street Radio on the Edge of Your Town" and hosted by Dave Marsh. The show featured Bruce Springsteen live in the studio with an intimate audience of 20 contest winners. In the first hour, each had the had the chance to ask him a question in-person about the upcoming release, and in the the second hour, the phone lines opened to E Street Radio callers. According to Backstreets.com, when asked about THE WAY, Springsteen answered that "the main reason it's hidden is because I never liked it." Conjuring visions of Dean Stockwell, he went on to say "I would like to see it placed in a David Lynch film over a sexually perverse scene. That, to me, is it's righteous home." He also noted that recording engineer Jimmy Iovine "lobbied for it in '78 like he was gonna keel over."

The Promise

The Promise is a Bruce Springsteen album that was released on 16 Nov 2010 as part of The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set, and separately as a 2-CD set. The album was also issued on a limited edition 3-LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl.

The Promise is a collection of 22 previously-unreleased songs from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town recording sessions. Depending on their level of completion back in 1977-1978, some were only remastered, some were overdubbed with 2010 vocals or music, and some were completely re-recorded in 2010. The album is mixed by Bob Clearmountain.

Notes:

• RACING IN THE STREET ('78) is an alternate take to the version found on the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album.
• THE PROMISE is a different version from the one found on 18 Tracks.
• CANDY'S BOY and COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) are early versions of CANDY'S ROOM and FACTORY.
• BECAUSE THE NIGHT, FIRE, and TALK TO ME are songs that Springsteen donated to other artists.
• BECAUSE THE NIGHT, RENDEZVOUS, and FIRE were previously released by Springsteen in live versions.
• THE WAY is a hidden/bonus track and has been circulating on bootlegs in a slightly different mix.
• GOTTA GET THAT FEELING, SOMEDAY (WE'LL BE TOGETHER), WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET, AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, and CITY OF NIGHT have been circulating on bootlegs in different versions and under different titles.
• OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, ONE WAY STREET, and SPANISH EYES have been circulating on bootlegs in different versions.
• THE BROKENHEARTED is known from the 1978 tour rehearsals.
• SAVE MY LOVE, IT'S A SHAME, THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES), and BREAKAWAY are songs that have never circulated or been documented.

Circulating Studio Versions

Prior to the release of The Promise in 2010, this same studio take of THE WAY had been circulating on bootlegs in slower and slightly different mixes. It was recoded in October or November 1977 at The Record Plant in New York City, NY.

Bootleg Releases

This only circulating studio take of THE WAY has been available on several bootlegs, including Darkness Outtakes 1978 Vol. 2: The Way (Scorpio), Deep Down In The Vaults (E Street Records), and Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 1 (Mosquito Records). Note that Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 1 contains two slightly different mixes (but same take) of the song.

Live History

In preparation for the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour, THE WAY was practiced on 19 May 1978 at Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, during the only known/confirmed private rehearsal prior to the tour's start.

[Click here to display/hide detailed Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour rehearsals performances list]

Covers

As far as it's known, only one artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's THE WAY:

Graziano Romani -- Soul Crusader: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen CD - Freedom Rain (FREED-001) - Italy - 2001 This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Request

If you have any corrections or additional info, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.

Subject:
Name and location:	This is how you will be credited, unless you specify differently in the message body.
E-mail address:	Please provide your email if you expect a response. It will not be disclosed to a third party.
Comments or message: (required) (plain text only, no tags)
Verification:	Please prove that you are not a robot spammer by typing the word that appears in the graphic on the left into the box beneath it.