DEAD MAN WALKIN'^©

Live 25 Mar 1996 version

There's a pale horse comin'
And I'm gonna ride it
I'll rise in the morning
My fate decided
I'm a dead man walkin'
I'm a dead man walkin'

In Saint James Parish
I was born and Christened
I've got my story
Mister, ain't no need for you to listen
It's just a dead man talkin'

Once I had a job, I had a girl
But between our dreams and actions lies this world

Well in the deep forest
Their blood and tears rushed over me
All I could feel was the drugs and the shotgun
And my fear up inside me
Like a dead man talkin'

'Neath the summer sky my eyes went black
Sister I won't ask for forgiveness, my sins are all I have

Now the clouds above my prison
They move slowly 'cross the sky
There's a new day comin'
And my dreams are full tonight

Page last updated: 02 Sep 2007

In the middle of his The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour in Europe, Bruce Springsteen returned to the US to perform DEAD MAN WALKIN' on 25 Mar 1996 during the 68th Annual Academy Awards ceremony that was held at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA. The song was nominated for an Academy Awardsthe in the Best Song category. This was Springsteen's second ever Academy Awards nomination. But as he predicted, he didn't win a follow-up Oscar to the 1994 hit STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA, losing to COLORS OF THE WIND, a song from Disney's animated blockbuster Pocahontas. Bruce told The Advocate during a pre-ceremony interview, "Oh, I don't know; when those Disney pictures are out there [referring to Pocahontas], you don't stand a chance." He added, "Dead Man Walkin' is another song that's pretty offbeat, so I'm not really expecting one."

The above lyrics refer to that 25 Mar 1996 performance at the Academy Awards ceremony. Springsteen was introduced by actress Winona Ryder [read spoken intro blow], and the Awards ceremony was broadcasted on TV.

Check out also the other available versions of this song (all have very similar lyrics):

• Studio version (more details)
• Live 27 Nov 1995 version
• Live 05 Dec 1995 version
• Live 25 Mar 1996 version
• Live 23 Jun 2000 version

Winona Ryder's intro to DEAD MAN WALKIN' [Live 25 Mar 1996 version]:

Well, it's certainly a tremendous honor for me to be here, to introduce our next performer, because he's a real hero of mine and a real inspiration. And he's here to sing the title song from the brilliant brilliant brilliant movie "Dead Man Walking". Mister Bruce Springsteen. [cheers]