WHAT LOVE CAN DO

Album's version

There's a pillar in the temple where I carved your name
There's a soul sitting sad and blue
Now the remedies you've taken are all in vain
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Darling I can't stop the rain
Or turn your black sky blue
Well let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Well now our truth lay shattered, you stood at world's end
As the dead sun rose in view
Well if any of this matters, with a kiss my friend
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Darling we can't stop this train
When it comes crashing through
But let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

When the bed you lie on is nails and rust
And the love you've given's turned to ashes and dust
When the hope you've gathered's drifted to the wind
And it's you and I my friend (you and I my friend)
You and I now friend

Here our memory lay corrupted and our city lay dry
Let me make this vow to you
Here where it's blood for blood and an eye for an eye
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Here we bear the mark of Cain
We'll let the light shine through
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do
Let me show you what love can do

Page last updated: 05 Oct 2011

Intro

Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, WHAT LOVE CAN DO is the fifth track on his 2009 album Working On A Dream.

The above lyrics are for Springsteen's studio version of WHAT LOVE CAN DO as sung on Working On A Dream album.

Composition and recording

According to Springsteen, WHAT LOVE CAN DO was recorded during the last weeks (May-Jun 2007) of mixing Magic, which was taking place at Southern Tracks Studios, Atlanta, GA. The track might have been written not long before the recording date.

The Song

"It was sort of a 'love in the time of Bush' meditation", Springsteen described WHAT LOVE CAN DO in a note published on his official website on 23 Dec 2008. "It was a great track but felt more like a first song of new record rather than something that would fit on Magic", he added.

The track duration is 2:57. The first (partial) public preview of the song was on 15 Dec 2008 when 30-second samples of the album tracks were published on Amazon.co.uk.

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.

Other Official Releases

In addition to it's release on the Working On A Dream album, WHAT LOVE CAN DO was also issued in April 2009 on a limited edition 7-inch single sold in the U.S. exclusively at independent stores that participated in the 2nd annual "Record Store Day" campaign. The single features WHAT LOVE CAN DO on the A-side and A NIGHT WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL on the B-side. It was pressed the U.S. and has catalogue number COL 38-749532 [88697 49532 7].

Credits

Thanks Kyle Mayne, livin'inthepresent112 from (GL and BTX), John Eick, and Tom Randolph for the help.