Studio version
I got a date with the preacher's daughter
She give me life, she bring me water
Every Sunday I watch her work
Pretty little self in a pretty little church
Daddy gives her a nod, she takes collection
Her daddy gives her a nod, she kneels by his side
Well I'd sell my soul for just one touch
The good Lord would too if he loved her half as much
Well I got a date with the preacher's daughter
Hmmm
Daddy say that them boys no good
Just wanna race some coons out through the back woods
Well baby better believe what your daddy say
I just wanna ramrod, baby, my life away
It's a long walk to heaven and a road filled with sin
And they better open up the freeway to let me in
'Cause I got a date with the preacher's daughter
Hmmm-hmmm-hmmm-hmmm
Well now I don't care what the preacher say
Heyyy-hey-yeah
I don't care what the preacher do
Heyyy-hey-yeah
I don't care what the preacher like
Heyyy-hey-yeah
I don't care what the preacher think
Heyyy-hey-yeah
He leads me to water but won't let me drink
He leads me to water but won't let me drink
Big Man!
[maracas start, music picks up]
Hey now on Sawmill Road on Saturday Night
Two boys fighting in a halo of light
Car door flung open, radio loud
And everybody shouting and running around
Two guys bloody, over what I don't know
And all the little girls shouting, "Go Billy go, go Billy go"
Well just as I got the preacher's daughter ready for a light
Yeah Mister, the V-8 is firing but something ain't right
And like a she-devil howling from the gates of hell
Goddamn here come the preacher in his Coupe De Ville
Burning up the back road, kicking in the dirt
Whoa-oh baby, preacher thinks he's in church
Well now your lips they shine in the willow mist
And I swear I'd take your daddy on, girl, for just one kiss
I got a date with the preacher's daughter
I got a date with the preacher's daughter, hey!
And it's heyyy-whoaaa-hmmm
I got a date with the preacher's daughter, hmmm
PREACHER'S DAUGHTER is an song written by Bruce Springsteen and recorded during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town sessions. The song remains unreleased officially. The above lyrics are transcribed from the only circulating studio version of PREACHER'S DAUGHTER.
According to Sony's logs of Bruce Springsteen's studio sessions, PREACHER'S DAUGHTER was cut on 27 Oct 1977 at The Record Plant in New York City, NY. The song is logged as "New Bodo Rocker" on the studio reel. In the handwritten lyrics notebook that was reproduced in The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set, there is a reproduction of a demo tape inlay titled "Bruce Springsteen - Ruffs" and listing the song under both titles, "New Bodo Rocker" and "Preachers Daughter". The track is also dated 27 Oct 1977 on the demo tape inlay (see scan below).
The circulating studio version of PREACHER'S DAUGHTER is a completed take and one of the few that has surfaced from the sessions with the vocals mixed correctly. It can be found on several bootlegs, including Darkness Outtakes 1978 Vol. 1: The Iceman (Scorpio) and Son You May Kiss The Bride (unknown label) [track 02] bootlegs.
Bruce Springsteen has never performed PREACHER'S DAUGHTER live in full, but he incorporated elements of the song into SHE'S THE ONE during the last month (December 1978) of the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour. See the live 08 Dec 1978 version and the live 16 Dec 1978 version of SHE'S THE ONE for some examples.
As far as it's known, no artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's PREACHER'S DAUGHTER.
Thank Bill Ahern, Randy Brokaw, and Bob Trapp for the corrections.
Some of the above lyrics might be guessed or not correct, and they are open for revisions and corrections. If you can assist, or if have any additions or comments, please contact me via the below form or by email: .
List of available versions of PREACHER'S DAUGHTER on this website:
PREACHER'S DAUGHTER [Studio version]
