WORKING ON A DREAM^©

Album's version

Out here the nights are long, the days are lonely
I think of you and I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

Now the cards I've drawn's a rough hand, darlin'
I straighten my back and I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

I'm working on a dream
Though sometimes it feels so far away
I'm working on a dream
And how it will be mine someday

Rain pourin' down, I swing my hammer
My hands are rough from working on a dream
From working on a dream

I'm working on a dream
Though trouble can feel like it's here to stay
I'm working on a dream
Our love will chase the trouble away

[whistling interlude]

I'm working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I'm working on a dream
And our love will make it real someday

Sunrise come, I climb the ladder
The new day breaks and I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream
I'm working on a dream

I'm working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I'm working on a dream
And our love will make it real someday
I'm working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I'm working on a dream
And our love will make it real someday

Li li li li li li
Li li li li li li li

Page last updated: 03 Feb 2009

Intro

Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, WORKING ON A DREAM is the titles track of Springsteen's 2009 album Working On A Dream. The track duration is 3:29.

Debut

WORKING ON A DREAM appeared for the first time on 02 Nov 2008 when Springsteen debuted it live during his performance at the Change We Need Rally for 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama in Cleveland, OH. Check out the live 02 Nov 2008 version for more details.

A 90-seconds snippet of the studio version was played on 16 Nov 2008 on NBC's Sunday Night Football over halftime highlights. The song debuted in its complete form on 21 Nov 2008, airing on radio stations and their websites.

Single release

WORKING ON A DREAM, the album's leading single, was officially released on 24 Nov 2008 at the iTunes Store and brucespringsteen.net as a free digital download single for one day only. Between  25 Nov and 09 Dec 2008, the track became a paid download exclusively available at the iTunes Store.

The single made its first national singles sales chart appearance on 02 Dec 2008 when it entered the UK Singles Chart at position #195. It also charted in several European countries.

A music video appeared on some foreign sites showing the recording of the song.

WORKING ON A DREAM was released as a US-only 1-track CD single sold exclusively at Circuit City consumer electronics stores. Customers buying the disc - which retailed at a mere $0.99 - also received a $2 discount coupon good for purchase of the full Working On A Dream album. However, Circuit City unfortunately went out of business less than two weeks before it was released. The CD comes in a stickered jewel case with song lyrics on the rera. Catalogue # COL 88697 44673 2.

The song was also released on 1-track promo CD-R's in several countries, the US, UK, Holland, and France.

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.

Live History

WORKING ON A DREAM appeared for the first time on 02 Nov 2008 when Springsteen debuted it live during his performance at the Change We Need Rally for 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama on Malls A, B and C in Cleveland, OH. Check out the live 02 Nov 2008 version for more details.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band performed at the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl XLIII halftime show which took place on 01 Feb 2009 at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL. WORKING ON A DREAM, in a stripped-down form, was among the 4 songs Springsteen and the band performed during their 12-minute set.

Available Versions

List of available versions of WORKING ON A DREAM on this website:

• Album's version
• Live 02 Nov 2008 version

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) for the help. Info and scans for the some of the above singles are taken from the Lost In The Flood website.