LIFE ITSELF^©

Album's version

We met down in the valley, where the wine of love and destruction flowed
There in that curve of darkness where flowers of temptation grow
I left the rest for the others it was you and nothing else
You felt so good to me baby, good as life itself

You were life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
I can't make it without you

I knew you were in trouble, anyone could tell
You carried your little black book from which all your secrets fell
You squandered all your riches, your love, your beauty and your wealth
Like you had no further use for, for life itself

You were life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
I can't make it without you

Why do the things that we treasure most slip away in time
Till to the music we grow deaf and to God's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart
Till we fall away in our own darkness, stranger to our own hearts

And to life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in black elms
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
I can't make it without you

So here's one for the road
Here's one to your health
And to life itself, rushing over me
Life itself, the wind in the black elms
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
I can't make it without you

Life itself
Life itself
Life itself
Life itself

Page last updated: 06 Jan 2009

Intro

Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, LIFE ITSELF is from Bruce Springsteen's 2009 album Working On A Dream.

The track duration is 4:00. The first (partial) preview of the song was on 15 Dec 2008 when 30-second samples of the album tracks were published on Amazon.co.uk.

Composition and Recording

According to Springsteen, LIFE ITSELF was written during the last weeks (May-Jun 2007) of mixing Magic, which was taking place at Southern Tracks Studios, Atlanta, GA. Springsteen laid down a demo of the song with producer Brendan O'Brien before they left the studio when Magic was completed.

As it is the case with most of Working On A Dream, this track was recorded with the E Street Band at Southern Tracks Studios, Atlanta, GA, during breaks on the 2007-2008 Magic Tour, and most probably in January or May 2008.

Single release

LIFE ITSELF, the album's fourth single, was released in the USA on Amazon.com on 28 Dec 2008 as an exclusive free mp3 download, accompanied by a music video that shows studio footage interspersed with vague scene snippets.

Working On A Dream

Working On A Dream is Springsteen's 24th album (and 16th studio album). It was released on 27 Jan 2009 on Columbia Records. The album was officially announced, along with its track listing, on 17 Nov 2008. The album is produced by Brendan O'Brien and was recorded with the E Street Band during breaks on their 2007-2008 Magic Tour. It was recorded and mixed at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, GA with additional recording in New York City, Los Angeles, and New Jersey.

Springsteen said about the album, "Towards the end of recording 'Magic,' excited by the return to pop production sounds, I continued writing. When my friend producer Brendan O'Brien heard the new songs, he said, 'Let's keep going.' Over the course of the next year, that's just what we did, recording with the E Street Band during the breaks on last year's tour. I hope 'Working on a Dream' has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end."

The album features 12 new Springsteen compositions plus a bonus track and clocks at 51:08.

Track list:

1. OUTLAW PETE
2. MY LUCKY DAY
3. WORKING ON A DREAM
4. QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET
5. WHAT LOVE CAN DO
6. THIS LIFE
7. GOOD EYE
8. TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS
9. LIFE ITSELF
10. KINGDOM OF DAYS
11. SURPRISE SURPRISE
12. THE LAST CARNIVAL

Bonus track:

13. THE WRESTLER

A deluxe edition of Working On A Dream features a bonus DVD that contains a 38-minute behind-the-scenes footage of the recording of the album. Produced, directed, and edited by Thom Zimny, it includes studio footage edited to the tracks of MY LUCKY DAY, QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET, KINGDOM OF DAYS, WORKING ON A DREAM, LIFE ITSELF, and THE LAST CARNIVAL. It also contains demos and early band versions of the songs as they were worked up. The DVD also includes video for A NIGHT WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL.

The album was also available as a vinyl record.

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) and Danny for the help.