Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
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But that blood it never burned in her veins
Now I hear she's got a house up in Fairview
And a style she's trying to maintain
Well if she wants to see me
You can tell her that I'm easily found
Tell her there's a spot out 'neath Abraham's bridge, and tell her
There's a darkness on the edge of town
There's a darkness on the edge of town
Well everybody's got a secret, son
Something that they just can't face
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
They carry it with them every step that they take
'Til some day they just cut it loose
Cut it loose or let it drag 'em down
Where no one asks any questions
Or looks too long in your face
In the darkness on the edge of town
In the darkness on the edge of town
You know some folks are born into a good life
And other folks get it anyway, anyhow
Well now I lost my money and I lost my wife
Them things don't seem to matter much to me now
Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop
I'll be on that hill with everything I got
With our lives on the line where dreams are found and lost
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost
For wanting things that can only be found
In the darkness on the edge of town
In the darkness on the edge of town
Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band is a song full of longing, disillusionment and a yearning to escape. The song touches on characters living on the fringes of society, damaged by life experiences and carrying secrets. The opening lines, “they’re still racing out at the trestles,” set the scene for a society riven by conflict, racing towards an unknown future. The character being referred to is someone who has made a better life for themselves living in a house in Fairview, but at the same time, trying to distance themselves from their past.
The song also touches on the idea that everyone has their secret, something that they carry with them every step that they take. The phrase "Cut it loose or let it drag 'em down" suggests that holding onto that secret can be a burden that will eventually overwhelm an individual. This idea is contrasted with the image of the darkness on the edge of town, a place where people can escape from judgment and find acceptance, even in their darkest moments.
The final verse speaks to the desperation of the characters, their need to fulfill their dreams and desires no matter the cost. The line "with our lives on the line where dreams are found and lost" perfectly captures the sense of urgency and the high stakes of those living in the darkness on the edge of town. The song ultimately portrays a society that is complex, gritty and full of contradictions, where darkness and light coexist in equal measure.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they're still racing out at the trestles
People are still taking risks at the railroad bridges
But that blood it never burned in her veins
She never had the drive to take risks
Now I hear she's got a house up in Fairview
I've heard she's settled down and found a stable home
And a style she's trying to maintain
She's trying to present a certain image to the world
Well if she wants to see me
If she wants to reconnect with me
You can tell her that I'm easily found
She'll be able to locate me without difficulty
Tell her there's a spot out 'neath Abraham's bridge, and tell her
Let her know where we can meet
There's a darkness on the edge of town
There's a sense of despair and hopelessness lurking just outside of the town
Well everybody's got a secret, son
Everyone has something they keep hidden
Something that they just can't face
Something they're unable or unwilling to confront
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
Some people try to keep their secrets buried for their entire lives
They carry it with them every step that they take
Their secrets weigh them down no matter where they go
'Til some day they just cut it loose
Until one day they can't keep the secret any longer
Cut it loose or let it drag 'em down
They have to either reveal their secret or continue to be weighed down by it
Where no one asks any questions
A place where people don't pry or judge
Or looks too long in your face
Where people don't stare too hard at you
In the darkness on the edge of town
This is a place where these people can let go of their secrets and find some peace, even if it's a dark and desperate kind of peace
You know some folks are born into a good life
Some people are just lucky and have an easy life handed to them
And other folks get it anyway, anyhow
Others have to work harder and fight for every scrap of good fortune they get
Well now I lost my money and I lost my wife
The artist has experienced loss and hardship
Them things don't seem to matter much to me now
Those things aren't as important to the artist anymore
Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop
The artist is driven to keep going, to keep striving
I'll be on that hill with everything I got
The singer will bring all their effort and strength to the task at hand
With our lives on the line where dreams are found and lost
This is a high-stakes situation where everything is on the line
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost
The singer is committed to showing up and putting in the work, no matter the cost
For wanting things that can only be found
This is all in pursuit of something deeper and more meaningful
In the darkness on the edge of town
The singer is drawn to that place where people can confront their secrets and find some form of redemption
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind