LEAH^©

Album's version

I wanna build me a house, on higher ground
I wanna find me a world, where love's the only sound
High above this road, filled with shadow and doubt
I want to shoulder my load, and figure it all out
With Leah

(La la la la la...)

I walk this road, with a hammer and a fiery lantern
With this hand I've built, and with this I've burned
I wanna live in the same house, beneath the same roof
Sleep in the same bed, search for the same proof
As Leah

(La la la la la...)

(La la la la la...)

I got somethin' in my heart, I been waitin' to give
I got a life I wanna start, yeah one I been waitin' to live
No more waitin', tonight I feel the light I say the prayer
I open the door, and I climb the stairs

(La la la la la...)

From the Devils & Dust album. Reported to be rehearsed on 20 Apr 2005 at the Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ. Also played during the warm-up shows for the Devils & Dust tour on 21 and 22 Apr 2005 at the Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ. Played during 25 of the first 33 shows of the tour till now (the last update of this page).

The above lyrics refer to the album's version. Check also the live 21 Apr 2005 version.

Leah, is she a waitress at Harry's Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ? (read below)

Track credits:
vocals, guitar keyboards, percussion - Bruce Springsteen
trumpet - Mark Pender

The Devils & Dust album track listing is:
01- DEVILS AND DUST (known from previous rehearsals)
02- ALL THE WAY HOME (Bruce wrote if for Southside Johnny's album Better Days)
03- RENO (previously unknown track)
04- LONG TIME COMIN' (known from The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour)
05- BLACK COWBOYS (previously unknown track)
06- MARIA'S BED (previously unknown track)
07- SILVER PALOMINO (previously unknown track)
08- JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON (previously unknown track)
09- LEAH (previously unknown track)
10- THE HITTER (known from The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour)
11- ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT (previously unknown track)
12- MATAMOROS BANKS (previously unknown track)

moondance wrote at Live Daily:

Leah, does that name sound familiar to anyone? During my days in AP this past Dec filling out entry forms, I was told a story by a AP merchant. The story goes like this:
Bruce walks into Harry's [Harry's Roadhouse, Asbury Park, NJ] one day. He asks the waitress, "What's your name?" She replies, "Leah." She asks, "Who are you?" He replies, "Bruce Springsteen." Another day that Bruce goes to Harry's, he tells Leah that he wrote a song about her.
If you were at Harry's for the late show [19 Dec 2004, 8:30 pm], she was the partially clothed person dancing on the bar.

Studz on my Duds wrote at Live Daily:

Leah is (was) a waitress at Harry's. Leah befriended Bruce over his many visits to Harry's last year [2004]. She is about 24 and always dressed to "catch the eye" of the male crowd. She is admittedly not a Bruce fan but loves him as a patron. We have had many conversations with her during our visits. One day Bruce told her he had written a song using the name "Leah". He told her it was about a mermaid. We saw Leah at both Harry's shows [19 Dec 2004, 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm]. She was dancing on the bar and having a blast. She was working the temporary bar set up on the Bond Street side. She was really sweet and fun and we enjoyed her company during multiple visits during the contest. Bruce was sitting with her on Dec 8th when many LDers [members of Live Daily] spotted him in Harry's including a young lady named "Beautiful Dorene" who was introduced to Bruce by Leah. That is all I know. Hopefully this song, album and tour will surface soon!

stang wrote at Live Daily:

I was at Harry's on Dec 8 [2004] when Bruce was sitting at the bar while several of us were having lunch. Leah, who was waiting on our table, came over to us and told us that Bruce had just told her that he had a song on his new album named "Leah." Bruce stopped by our table on the way out and gave us a quick hello. There were no more than 10 people in the place.