Album 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, darling
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 pouring 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
WORKING ON A DREAM is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2009 album Working On A Dream. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of WORKING ON A DREAM as released in 2009.
The album version of WORKING ON A DREAM was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition) compilation album and the Collection: 1973-2012 compilation album.
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. See the live 02 Nov 2008 version for more details.
A 90-seconds snippet of the album 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.
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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.
| Country | Chart | Peak position | Weeks in chart | Charting period |
| UK | 195 | 1 | ||
| Holland | 65 | 1 | ||
| Norway | 9 | 1 | ||
| Sweden | 37 | 1 | ||
| Poland | 12 | 8 | ||
| Croatia | 1 | 7 |
The single was issued on CD-R for promotional use. In the U.S., it was also issued in on a 1-track CD that eventually was not released.
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 music video for WORKING ON A DREAM was released, consists of footage showing the recording of the song in studio. It was later included on the Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits- compilation album. It was posted on Bruce Springsteen's VEVO YouTube channel in October 2009.
The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released as part of Sony BMG'S (previously Sony Music Entertainment) series of "Essential" sets. According to Springsteen's liner notes comments, the collection was intended as an introduction to his music for new fans who attended shows on The Rising Tour.
The collection is fundamentally a 2-disc set (clocking at 153:37) compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Live In New York City release. A 3-disc limited edition (clocking at 201:04) was also released. It includes a bonus third disc comprising of a selection of rarities and previously unreleased recordings.
The Essential Bruce Springsteen was released on 11 Nov 2003 on Columbia Records. It debuted and peaked at #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart where it spent 13 weeks. It also reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was awarded certified gold and platinum records by the RIAA on 16 Dec 2003.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Disc 3:
The Essential Bruce Springsteen was reissued on 16 Oct 2015, this time as a 2-disc set (clocking at 156:25) with an updated track list, compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Greatest Hits (1995 edition) collection. This 2015 reissue features remastered tracks not found in that form on other Springsteen releases.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Collection: 1973-2012 is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released on Columbia Records in 2013. It was released on 08 Mar 2013 in Australia and 15 Apr 2013 in Europe. The compilation was not released commercially in the United States. Instead, a promotional version was given out exclusively to $1,500 ticket holders at the "MusiCares Person Of The Year" tribute event held in Los Angeles, CA, on 08 Feb 2013. The event honoured Springsteen for both his artistic achievements and philanthropic efforts. The compilation consists of 18 previously released studio tracks.
Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits- is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released by Sony Music Japan in 2023. The compilation, which was exclusively released in Japan, consists of previously released 35 audio tracks and 62 video tracks. The collection is part of a 26-title reissue campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's debut album. The series, issued in three waves (25 Oct 2023, 22 Nov 2023, and 20 Dec 2023), includes 25 albums originally released between 1973 and 2014 plus a new compilation album that includes all of Springsteen's singles released in Japan from 1975 to 1999. All audio CD's were manufactured using Sony Japan's Blu-spec CD2 format.
Disc 1: (audio CD)
Disc 2: (audio CD)
Disc 3: (DVD)
Disc 4: (DVD)
The album version of WORKING ON A DREAM appears on one Bruce Springsteen promo-only sampler and some various artists promo samplers.
Other versions of WORKING ON A DREAM were also officially released.
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Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of WORKING ON A DREAM on this website:
WORKING ON A DREAM [Album version]
