FADE AWAY

Album version



Ohh
Well now you say you've found another man who does things to you that I can't
And that no matter what I do it's all over now between me and you girl
But I can't believe what you say
No I can't believe what you say
'Cause baby

I don't wanna fade away
Oh, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't wanna fade away

Well now you say that you've made up your mind
It's been such a long, long time since it's been good with us
And that somewhere back along the line you lost your love and I lost your trust
Now rooms that once were so bright are filled with the coming night
Oh darlin'

I don't wanna fade away
Oh, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't wanna fade away

You say it's not easy for you, and that you've been so lonely
While other girls go out doing what they want to do
You say that you miss the nights when we'd go out dancing
The days when you and I walked as two
Well girl I miss them too, oh I swear that I do
Oh girl

Now baby I don't wanna be just another useless memory holding you tight
Or just some other ghost out on the street to whom you stop
And politely speak when you pass on by, vanishing into the night
Left to vanish into the night
No baby

I don't wanna fade away
Oh girl, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't wanna fade away

No darlin',
I don't wanna fade away
No, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
Oh darlin' I don't wanna fade away

Don't make me darling
I don't wanna fade away
Don't make me darling
I don't wanna fade away
I don't wanna fade away
I don't wanna fade away
I don't wanna fade away


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Info

FADE AWAY is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1980 album The River. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of FADE AWAY as released in 1980.

Writing and Recording

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Circulating Takes

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The River

Bruce Springsteen wrapped up the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour on the first day of 1979. For the next few months, he altered between composing and practicing solo demos at his home in Holmdel, NJ (between January and June 1979), rehearsing with the band at his Telegraph Hill Road property in Holmdel, NJ (between March and May 1979), and recording in studio at The Power Station in New York City, NY (from late March to late August 1979).

By early August 1979, enough quality material had been recorded at The Power Station. According to The Ties That Bind documentary, a total of twenty-four songs had been recorded. According to Clinton Heylin's 2012 book It was looking like Springsteen's fifth album might be released in Christmas 1979. E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Springsteen's initial track sequence for the album was as follows:

Side 1:

  1. THE TIES THAT BIND
  2. THE PRICE YOU PAY
  3. BE TRUE
  4. RICKY WANTS A MAN OF HER OWN
  5. STOLEN CAR

Side 2:

  1. I WANNA MARRY YOU
  2. LOOSE ENDS
  3. HUNGRY HEART
  4. THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY
  5. RAMROD

By mid-September 1979, Springsteen replaced RICKY WANTS A MAN OF HER OWN, LOOSE ENDS, and THE MAN WHO GOT AWAY by CINDY and THE RIVER. Soon after, he removed RAMROD, restored LOOSE ENDS, and added YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH). A title, "The Ties That Bind", was selected for the album and wheels put in motion to produce artwork for the cover. Around September, at least ten tracks were mixed to completion. On 04 Oct 1979, the ten selected tracks were dubbed to two half-track reel-to-reel tapes at The Power Station, and labeled "side one" and "side two". As written on the reels, the producer was Jon Landau and the engineers were Neil Dorfsman and Bob Clearmountain, assisted by Jeff Hendrickson. The new track sequence for the album was as follows:

Reel #1:

  1. THE TIES THAT BIND [take #8]
  2. CINDY [take #3]
  3. HUNGRY HEART [take #2]
  4. STOLEN CAR [take #3]
  5. BE TRUE [take #2]

Reel #2:

  1. THE RIVER [take #5]
  2. YOU CAN LOOK (BUT YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH) [take #3]
  3. THE PRICE YOU PAY [take #1]
  4. I WANNA MARRY YOU [take #4]
  5. LOOSE ENDS [take #2]
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #1, front)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #1, front)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #2, front)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ties That Bind (reel #2, front)

Mock covers with "The Ties That Bind" title were roughed out early in the planning. The cover shot was to be a picture of Bruce Springsteen in front of a barn, with the back cover being a shot of his face behind a screen door. In late September 1979, The Ties That Bind single album was scrapped as Springsteen's writing process continued.

A second phase of recording sessions was scheduled. Again, for the next few months, Springsteen altered between composing and practicing solo demos at his home in Holmdel, NJ (between September 1979 and February 1980), rehearsing with the band at his Telegraph Hill Road property in Holmdel, NJ (between September 1979 and February 1980), and recording in studio at The Power Station in New York City, NY (from October 1979 to June 1980).

The combined sessions from March 1979 to June 1980 produced the double album The River that was eventually released in October 1980. The studio sessions to some extent extended into August 1980 due to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's involvement in the recording of Gary U.S. Bonds' album Dedication, which was released April 1981).

Bruce Springsteen -- The River
Bruce Springsteen -- The River

The album features 20 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 83:47. It was produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Steven Van Zandt, engineered by Neil Dorfsman, and mixed by Bob Clearmountain, Chuck Plotkin, and Toby Scott.

According to recording engineer Neil Dorfsman, about 50 songs were recorded to a completed state during The River sessions. 20 were released on The River and 14 were released as B-sides and on official compilations. 14 songs are circulating via the unofficial route, but the majority of them are poor recordings of band rehearsals at the Telegraph Hill Road property, though it is likely that most of them exist as completed takes from The Power Station.

Other Official Releases

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Bruce Springsteen -- "Fade Away / The Ties That Bind"
Bruce Springsteen -- "Fade Away / The Ties That Bind"

7" single - CBS (BA 222801) - New Zealand, 1981

Comes in a die-cut CBS company sleeve. This very rare single was withdrawn and quickly replaced by "Fade Away / Be True".

A1- FADE AWAY
B1- THE TIES THAT BIND
Bruce Springsteen -- Ballads Vol. 1 (1973 - 1982)
Bruce Springsteen -- Ballads Vol. 1 (1973 - 1982)

CD-R - Sony (no catalog number) - Japan, 2005

Japan-only promotional "Digest" CDR advance sampler tying in with the release of the first six Japanese 2005 "mini-LP"-style Springsteen CD album reissues. This disc comes in a plain slimline jewel case with no artwork.

Other versions of FADE AWAY were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980
The live 31 Dec 1980 version of FADE AWAY was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- MSG Nov 08, 2009
The live 08 Nov 2009 version of FADE AWAY was released on the MSG Nov 08, 2009 official live download in 2018.

Live History

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Covers

At least 4 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's FADE AWAY.

Southside Johnny -- Spittin' Fire
Southside Johnny -- Spittin' Fire

2xCD - Musidisc (120272 MU 793) - France, 1997

This is a live album.
Various artists -- Downbound Train
Various artists -- Downbound Train

CD EP - The Right Stuff (72438-58691-2-9) - USA, 1998

This is the second of two 5-track EPs released from the One Step Up / Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen various artists tribute album. FADE AWAY is one of the four non-album bonus tracks included on this EP. The song is performed by The Wooldridge Brothers. See The Wooldridge Brothers' cover version for more details.
Sergio Gisbert -- Loose Ends: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's 78-80 Era
Sergio Gisbert -- Loose Ends: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's 78-80 Era

CD - no label (no catalog number) - Spain, 2014

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Labruce -- Labruce
Labruce -- Labruce

Digital EP - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2016

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute EP.

References

Some of the above info about the studio recording and the live performances is taken from Brucebase.

Available Versions

List of available versions of FADE AWAY on this website:

FADE AWAY [Album version]
FADE AWAY [Home demo version]
FADE AWAY [Live 31 Dec 1980 version]
FADE AWAY [The Wooldridge Brothers' cover version]

Page last updated: 16 Dec 2012