DARKNESS, DARKNESS^©

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

Page last updated: 21 Jul 2007

DARKNESS DARKNESS is written by Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods in 1969 an was released on their Elephant Mountain album that same year (it was the record's opening track). The above lyrics refer to The Youngbloods' original version.

A long instrumental version of DARKNESS, DARKNESS has been performed by The Bruce Springsteen Band at least three times:

• 10 Jul 1971 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ -- Brucebase lists this one as an "undefined instrumental", while other sources list as  DARKNESS DARKNESS. This performance is circulating under the incorrect date/venue of 17 Dec 1971 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
   
• 13 Nov 1971 at The Student Prince, Asbury Park, NJ -- This one is sometimes incorrectly attributed to 13 Sep 1971.
   
• Feb 1972 at The Back Door, Richmond, VA -- The performance is attributed by some sources to 26 or 27 Feb 1972. Brucebase lists it under 04 Feb 1972.

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