Lyrics

DARKNESS, DARKNESS

Original The Youngbloods version


Darkness, darkness, be my pillow
Take my hand and let me sleep
In the coolness of your shadow
In the silence of your deep
Darkness, darkness, hide my yearning
For the things I cannot be
Keep my mind from constant turning
Toward the things I cannot see now
Oh yes, things I cannot be

Darkness, darkness, long and lonesome
Ease the day that brings me here
I have felt the edge of sadness
I have known the depth of fear
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket
Cover me with the endless endless night
I want you to take away the pain of knowing now
Fill the emptiness of right now
Oh yes, emptiness of ri-ight now

Yeah, yeah
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket
Cover me with the endless night
I want you to take away the pain of knowing now
Fill the emptiness of right now
Oh yes, oh yes, emptiness, emptiness
Oh yes, emptiness, emptiness
Oh yes, darkness, darkness

Info

DARKNESS, DARKNESS is a 1969 song by The Youngbloods. See the below section for more details.

Bruce Springsteen played an instrumental version of DARKNESS, DARKNESS during The Bruce Springsteen Band period. See the "Live History" section below for more details.

Original The Youngbloods version

DARKNESS, DARKNESS is a song written by The Youngbloods's lead singer Jesse Colin Young. It was released on The Youngbloods's 1969 album Elephant Mountain. The song was also released as a single in April 1969. The above lyrics are for the original The Youngbloods version of DARKNESS, DARKNESS as released in 1969.

The Youngbloods -- Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods -- Elephant Mountain

LP - RCA Victor (LSP-4150) - USA, 1969
The Youngbloods -- "Darkness, Darkness / On Sir Frances Drake"
The Youngbloods -- "Darkness, Darkness / On Sir Frances Drake"

7" single - RCA Victor (74-0129) - USA, 1969

Live History

DARKNESS, DARKNESS is known to have been performed at least 4 times in Bruce Springsteen's early years (pre-October 1972). All of these confirmed performances are from between July 1971 and February 1972. The song was played in a lengthy instrumental-only arrangement. Very little is known about shows from this early period, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates in 1971 and 1972.

List of known early years performances

  1. 10 Jul 1971 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ (with The Bruce Springsteen Band)
  2. 29 Jul 1971 at D'Scene, South Amboy, NJ (with The Bruce Springsteen Band)
  3. Nov 1971 at Student Prince, Asbury Park, NJ (with The Bruce Springsteen Band)
  4. Feb 1972 at The Back Door, Richmond, VA[/URL] (with The Bruce Springsteen Band)

Credits

Thanks Eric for the info about the song's origin.

Available Versions

List of available versions of DARKNESS, DARKNESS on this website:

DARKNESS, DARKNESS [Original The Youngbloods version]
Page last updated: 24 Jan 2017