Album version
Well Jesus was an only son
As he walked up Calvary Hill
His mother Mary walking beside him
In the path where his blood spilled
Jesus was an only son
In the hills of Nazareth
As he lay reading the Psalms of David
At his mother's feet
A mother prays, "Sleep tight, my child, sleep well
For I'll be at your side
That no shadow, no darkness, no tolling bell
Shall pierce your dreams this night"
In the garden at Gethsemane
He prayed for the life he'd never live
He beseeched his Heavenly Father to remove
The cup of death from his lips
Now there's a loss that can never be replaced
A destination that can never be reached
A light you'll never find in another's face
A sea whose distance cannot be breached
Well Jesus kissed his mother's hands
Whispered, "Mother, still your tears
For remember the soul of the universe
Willed a world and it appeared"
JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2005 album Devils & Dust. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON as released in 2005.
On this track, Bruce Springsteen sings vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums, and is accompanied by Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, and Lisa Lowell on background vocals.
The song seems to have been recorded solo around 1997, with additional instruments and background vocals overdubbed in 2004.
Devils & Dust is Bruce Springsteen's thirteenth studio album. It was released on 26 Apr 2005 on Columbia Records. The album was recorded between 1996 and 2004 at Thrill Hill East (Springsteen's home studio in Rumson, NJ) and Thrill Hill West (Springsteen's home studio in Los Angeles, CA). Horns and some instrument overdubbing were recorded in 2004 at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, GA. Strings were recorded in 2004 at Masterfonics in Nashville, TN.
In an April 2005 New York Time article, Jon Pareles wrote that "Springsteen recorded nearly all of the [album's] songs in a few days, nearly a decade ago, sitting with his guitar in the living room of his farmhouse in New Jersey, doing just a take or two." This probably took place sometime in 1996 or 1997. It's very possible that many of the songs on the album are none other than the solo recordings from 1996 or 1997, with some additional instruments overdubbed in 2004.
ALL THE WAY HOME and LONG TIME COMIN' were produced by Brendan O'Brien, Bruce Springsteen, and Chuck Plotkin. The rest of the album was produced by Brendan O'Brien. All horn and string arrangements were done by Eddie Horst. BLACK COWBOYS, JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON, LEAH, and MATAMOROS BANKS were mixed by Toby Scott. The rest of the album was mixed by Brendan O'Brien. Toby Scott was the recording engineer at Thrill Hill East, Thrill Hill West, and Southern Tracks, and Nick Didia was the recording engineer at Southern Tracks and Masterphonics.
The album includes a bonus DVD featuring filmed acoustic performances of DEVILS & DUST, LONG TIME COMIN', RENO, ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT, and MATAMOROS BANKS, with spoken commentary on their writing and creation. They were filmed live by director Danny Clinch in February 2005 in New Jersey. The DVD also includes the full album in 5.1 surround sound and in 2-channel stereo, with lyrics to the songs accompanying the audio in a karaoke style.
Devils & Dust debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, becoming Springsteen's seventh number one album in the U.S. It also peaked at number one in several European countries including the UK. The album was nominated for two 2006 Grammy Awards, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video, but failed to win.
The album features 12 tracks and clocks at 50:55. It was issued on DualDisc, CD + DVD, and LP.
Side 1:
Side 2:
Side 3:
Side 4:
Other versions of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON were also officially released.
In preparation for the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour, JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was performed during both of the tour's two public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in April 2005 in Asbury Park. The song was played in a solo piano arrangement. The song is also known to have been practiced during at least 3 of the private rehearsals that took place in March and April 2005 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg.
JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was performed 72 times during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005) ? that is each and every one of the tour's dates. On this tour, the song was played in a solo piano arrangement. The live 25 Jun 2005 version of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was released on the Stockholm 2005 official live download in 2020. The live 31 Jul 2005 version of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was released on the Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 official live download in 2015. The live 03 Aug 2005 version of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was released on the Van Andel Arena, Michigan 2005 official live download in 2018. The live 22 Nov 2005 version of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was released on the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005 official live download in 2019.
In preparation for The Seeger Sessions Tour, JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON is also known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place in Mar-Apr 2006 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg. As a fan who listened to the 13 Mar 2006 private rehearsal reported, the song "starts off sort of the same as we've heard it [during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour] then the band kicks in."
JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was performed 5 times during The Seeger Sessions Tour (56 dates, April to November 2006), all in Europe towards the end of the tour. On this tour, the song was played in a full-band arrangement. The live 11 Nov 2006 version of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was released on the Wembley Arena, November 11, 2006 official live download in 2020.
JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON was performed off-tour on 04 Apr 2005 at Rechnitz Theater in Red Bank, NJ, during the taping of Bruce Springsteen's episode of VH1's Storytellers television series. The song was played solo on piano and harmonica. An edited version of the concert was released on the VH1 Storytellers home video in 2005. See the live 04 Apr 2005 version for more details.
At least 3 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON.
List of available versions of JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON on this website:
JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON [Album version]
