LONG TIME COMIN'

Album version



Out where the creek turns shallow and sandy
And the moon comes skimming away the stars
The wind in the mesquite comes rushing over the hilltops
Straight into my arms
Straight into my arms

I'm riding hard carrying a cache of roses
And a fresh map that I made
Tonight I'm gonna get birth naked and bury my old soul
And dance on its grave
And dance on its grave

It's been a long time coming, my dear
It's been a long time coming, but now it's here
And now it's here

Well my daddy he was just a stranger
Lived in a hotel downtown
Well when I was a kid he was just somebody
Somebody I'd see around
Somebody I'd see around

Well now down below and pulling on my shirt
Yeah I got some kids of my own
Well if I had one wish in this god forsaken world, kids
It'd be that your mistakes would be your own
Yeah your sins would be your own

It's been a long time coming, my dear
It's been a long time coming, but now it's here
And now it's here

(Whoaaa)

Out 'neath the arms of Cassiopeia
Where the sword of Orion sweeps
It's me and you, Rosie, crackling like crossed wires
And you breathing in your sleep
You breathing in your sleep

Well there's just a spark of a campfire left burning
Two kids in a sleeping bag beside
I reach 'neath your shirt, lay my hands across your belly
And feel another one kicking inside
And I ain't gonna fuck it up this time

It's been a long time coming, my dear
It's been a long time coming, but now it's here
It's been a long time coming, my dear
It's been a long time coming, but now it's here

(Whoaaa)


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Info

LONG TIME COMIN' is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2005 album Devils & Dust. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of LONG TIME COMIN' as released in 2005.


The album version of LONG TIME COMIN' was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition) compilation album and the Chapter And Verse compilation album.

Writing and Recording

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Cassiopeia, which is referenced in the lyrics, is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology.

On this track, Bruce Springsteen sings vocals and plays guitar and keyboards, and is accompanied by Brendan O'Brien on bass, Steve Jordan on drums, Marty Rifkin on steel guitar, Danny Federici on keyboards, Soozie Tyrell on violin and background vocals, and Patti Scialfa on background vocals.

Devils & Dust

Devils & Dust is Bruce Springsteen's thirteenth studio album. It was released on 26 Apr 2005 on Columbia Records. The album was recorded between 1996 and 2004 at Thrill Hill East (Springsteen's home studio in Rumson, NJ) and Thrill Hill West (Springsteen's home studio in Los Angeles, CA). Horns and some instrument overdubbing were recorded in 2004 at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, GA. Strings were recorded in 2004 at Masterfonics in Nashville, TN.

In an April 2005 New York Time article, Jon Pareles wrote that "Springsteen recorded nearly all of the [album's] songs in a few days, nearly a decade ago, sitting with his guitar in the living room of his farmhouse in New Jersey, doing just a take or two." This probably took place sometime in 1996 or 1997. It's very possible that many of the songs on the album are none other than the solo recordings from 1996 or 1997, with some additional instruments overdubbed in 2004.

ALL THE WAY HOME and LONG TIME COMIN' were produced by Brendan O'Brien, Bruce Springsteen, and Chuck Plotkin. The rest of the album was produced by Brendan O'Brien. All horn and string arrangements were done by Eddie Horst. BLACK COWBOYS, JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON, LEAH, and MATAMOROS BANKS were mixed by Toby Scott. The rest of the album was mixed by Brendan O'Brien. Toby Scott was the recording engineer at Thrill Hill East, Thrill Hill West, and Southern Tracks, and Nick Didia was the recording engineer at Southern Tracks and Masterphonics.

The album includes a bonus DVD featuring filmed acoustic performances of DEVILS & DUST, LONG TIME COMIN', RENO, ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT, and MATAMOROS BANKS, with spoken commentary on their writing and creation. They were filmed live by director Danny Clinch in February 2005 in New Jersey. The DVD also includes the full album in 5.1 surround sound and in 2-channel stereo, with lyrics to the songs accompanying the audio in a karaoke style.

Bruce Springsteen -- Devils & Dust
Bruce Springsteen -- Devils & Dust

Devils & Dust debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, becoming Springsteen's seventh number one album in the U.S. It also peaked at number one in several European countries including the UK. The album was nominated for two 2006 Grammy Awards, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video, but failed to win.

The album features 12 tracks and clocks at 50:55. It was issued on DualDisc, CD + DVD, and LP.

The Essential Bruce Springsteen

The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released as part of Sony BMG'S (previously Sony Music Entertainment) series of "Essential" sets. According to Springsteen's liner notes comments, the collection was intended as an introduction to his music for new fans who attended shows on The Rising Tour.

The collection is fundamentally a 2-disc set (clocking at 153:37) compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Live In New York City release. A 3-disc limited edition (clocking at 201:04) was also released. It includes a bonus third disc comprising of a selection of rarities and previously unreleased recordings.

The Essential Bruce Springsteen was released on 11 Nov 2003 on Columbia Records. It debuted and peaked at #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart where it spent 13 weeks. It also reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was awarded certified gold and platinum records by the RIAA on 16 Dec 2003.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition)

The Essential Bruce Springsteen was reissued on 16 Oct 2015, this time as a 2-disc set (clocking at 156:25) with an updated track list, compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Greatest Hits (1995 edition) collection. This 2015 reissue features remastered tracks not found in that form on other Springsteen releases.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition)

Chapter And Verse

Chapter And Verse is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released on Columbia Records on 23 Sep 2016 in the U.S. It was officially announced on 28 Jul 2016. The album is an audio companion to Springsteen's autobiography Born To Run, which was published four days later, on 27 Sep 2016, by Simon & Schuster.

The album is a career retrospective consisting of 18 tracks. It spans almost half a century of Springsteen's career, from as early as 1966. According to the press release, Springsteen selected the songs to reflect the themes and sections of the autobiography. The first five tracks have not been previously released.

Tracks 1 and 2 are from The Castiles era, track 3 is from the Steel Mill era, and track 4 is from The Bruce Springsteen Band era. Tracks 5 and 6 are Springsteen solo, from around the time he signed his record deal with CBS. The remaining 12 tracks are compiled from 12 different Bruce Springsteen studio albums, from 1973 to 2012. All song were written by Bruce Springsteen, except tracks 1 (co-written by Bruce Springsteen and George Theiss) and track 2 (written by Willie Dixon). Track 2 is only song on the album recorded live.

Bruce Springsteen -- Chapter And Verse
Bruce Springsteen -- Chapter And Verse

Chapter And Verse is available as a single-disc CD and as a double-disc LP, as well as digital download and streaming.

Other Official Releases

Other version of LONG TIME COMIN' were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Nice, France 1997
The live 18 May 1997 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Nice, France 1997 official live download in 2021.
Bruce Springsteen -- Stockholm 2005
The live 25 Jun 2005 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Stockholm 2005 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen -- Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005
The live 31 Jul 2005 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 official live download in 2015.
Bruce Springsteen -- Van Andel Arena, Michigan 2005
The live 03 Aug 2005 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Van Andel Arena, Michigan 2005 official live download in 2018.
Bruce Springsteen -- Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005
The live 22 Nov 2005 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005 official live download in 2019.
Bruce Springsteen -- Wembley Arena, November 11, 2006
The live 11 Nov 2006 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Wembley Arena, November 11, 2006 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band -- Live In Dublin
The live 17 Nov 2006 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Live In Dublin album and home video in 2007.
Bruce Springsteen -- Springsteen On Broadway
The live July 2018 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Springsteen On Broadway album in 2018.

Live History: on-tour

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LONG TIME COMIN' was performed 28 times during Springsteen On Broadway (268 dates, October 2017 to December 2018 and June to September 2021). On this tour, the song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. The live July 2018 version of LONG TIME COMIN' was released on the Springsteen On Broadway album in 2018.

  1. 26 Dec 2017 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  2. 27 Dec 2017 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  3. 28 Dec 2017 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  4. 29 Dec 2017 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  5. 30 Dec 2017 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  6. 28 Feb 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  7. 09 Mar 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  8. 10 Mar 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  9. 04 Apr 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  10. 05 Apr 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  11. 06 Apr 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  12. 07 Apr 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  13. 10 Jul 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  14. 17 Jul 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  15. 18 Jul 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  16. 27 Jul 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  17. 25 Aug 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  18. 27 Sep 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  19. 28 Sep 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  20. 29 Sep 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  21. 04 Oct 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  22. 05 Oct 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  23. 06 Oct 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  24. 02 Nov 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  25. 03 Nov 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  26. 10 Nov 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  27. 28 Nov 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY
  28. 05 Dec 2018 at Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City, NY

Live History: on-tour

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Covers

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At least 5 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's LONG TIME COMIN'.

Paul Baribeau & Ginger Alford -- Darkness On The Edge Of Your Town Tour
Paul Baribeau & Ginger Alford -- Darkness On The Edge Of Your Town Tour

CD-R - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2006
CD-R - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2009

This is a live Bruce Springsteen tribute album. CD-R copies were sold on tour and online. The 2006 issue contains 10 tracks and the 2009 reissue includes 5 additional tracks. LONG TIME COMIN' can be found on both issues.
The Bruceband -- Greetings From Moskou
The Bruceband -- Greetings From Moskou

CD - no label (no catalog number) - Holland, 2006

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Luca Hawk -- Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Acoustic Solo Project
Luca Hawk -- Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Acoustic Solo Project

CD EP - no label (no catalog number) - Italy, 2007

This is a promotional Bruce Springsteen tribute EP.
Frans Pollux -- Pollux Duit Springsteen
Frans Pollux -- Pollux Duit Springsteen

CD - hippoproducties (no catalog number) - Holland, 2012
2xLP - unknown label (unknown catalog number) - Holland, 2022

This is a live Bruce Springsteen tribute album. All songs are in Dutch. The album was reissued on vinyl in 2022, with three additional tracks and completely different artwork. LONG TIME COMIN' is a Dutch version titled "Veur Zoƫlang 'T Deurt". It's one of three bonus tracks added to the 2022 reissue.
Various artists -- I Hear You're From Australia - My Name's Bruce Too
Various artists -- I Hear You're From Australia - My Name's Bruce Too

2xCD - Laughing Outlaw (LOR160CD) - Australia, 2013

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. LONG TIME COMIN' is performed by The Glorious.

Available Versions

List of available versions of LONG TIME COMIN' on this website:

LONG TIME COMIN' [Album version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 12 Nov 1996 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 12 Dec 1996 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 12 Feb 1997 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 25 May 1997 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 21 Apr 2005 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 16 Jul 2005 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live 17 Nov 2006 version]
LONG TIME COMIN' [Live July 2018 version]

Page last updated: 23 Aug 2016