Album 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
LIFE ITSELF is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2009 album Working On A Dream. The above lyrics are for the album version of LIFE ITSELF as released in 2009.
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.
LIFE ITSELF, the album's fourth single, was released in the United States on Amazon.com on 28 Dec 2008 as an exclusive free mp3 download.
The single's release was accompanied by a music video that shows studio footage interspersed with vague scene snippets.
Working On A Dream is Bruce Springsteen's 24th album (and 16th studio album). It was officially announced, along with its track listing, on 17 Nov 2008, and released on 27 Jan 2009 on Columbia Records. The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien and 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.
Bruce 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.
Side 1:
Side 2:
Side 4:
Side 4:
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 version of LIFE ITSELF appears on one Bruce Springsteen promo-only sampler.
As far as it's known, Bruce Springsteen has never performed LIFE ITSELF live.
As far as it's known, no artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's LIFE ITSELF.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) and Danny for the help.
List of available versions of LIFE ITSELF on this website:
LIFE ITSELF [Album version]
