Devils Dust
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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I got my finger on the trigger
But I don't know who to trust
When I look into your eyes
There's just devils and dust
We're a long, long way from home, Bobbie
Home's a long, long way from us
I feel a dirty wind blowing
Devils and dust

I got God on my side
I'm just trying to survive
What if what you do to survive
Kills the things you love
Fear's a powerful thing
It can turn your heart black you can trust
It'll take your God filled soul
And fill it with devils and dust

Well I dreamed of you last night
In a field of blood and stone
The blood began to dry
The smell began to rise
Well I dreamed of you last night
In a field of mud and bone
Your blood began to dry
The smell began to rise

We've got God on our side
We're just trying to survive
What if what you do to survive
Kills the things you love
Fear's a powerful thing
It'll turn your heart black you can trust
It'll take your God filled soul
Fill it with devils and dust
It'll take your God filled soul
Fill it with devils and dust

Now every woman and every man
They want to take a righteous stand
Find the love that God wills
And the faith that He commands
I've got my finger on the trigger
And tonight faith just ain't enough
When I look inside my heart
There's just devils and dust

I've got God on my side
And I'm just trying to survive
What if what you do to survive
Kills the things you love
Fear's a dangerous thing
It can turn your heart black you can trust
It'll take your God filled soul
Fill it with devils and dust




It'll take your God filled soul
Fill it with devils and dust

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bruce Springsteen's song Devils & Dust speak of fear, survival, and the conflict between love and self-preservation. The singer has his finger on the trigger but doesn't know who to trust. When he looks into someone's eyes, all he sees is devils and dust, suggesting that he cannot find any goodness or hope in the world around him. He dreams of a field of blood and stone, where the smell of death rises. The singer discusses the powerful and dangerous nature of fear, which can turn a person's heart black and fill their soul with devils and dust.


The song appears to be a commentary on the Iraq War, which the U.S. was involved in at the time of its release in 2005. The line "We're a long, long way from home, Bobbie/Home's a long, long way from us" could be interpreted as referring to soldiers who are far away from their families and loved ones. Meanwhile, the line "I feel a dirty wind blowing" suggests that something unsettling is happening, perhaps referring to the war itself.


Furthermore, the song's themes of fear, survival, and love are universal and not just limited to the context of war. The song can be seen as a critique of the idea that one must pursue self-preservation at all costs, even if it means sacrificing things that are important to them. The singer recognizes that fear is a powerful force that can deaden the soul and lead one down a dangerous path.


Overall, the lyrics of Devils & Dust are thought-provoking and complex, encouraging the listener to consider what they are willing to sacrifice in order to survive and what is truly valuable in life.


Line by Line Meaning

I got my finger on the trigger
I am ready to take action, but I am uncertain of who to trust or what to do.


But I don't know who to trust
I am unsure of who I can rely on in this situation.


When I look into your eyes
As I engage with others, I see only danger and uncertainty.


There's just devils and dust
I am surrounded by evil and decay, and I feel alone.


We're a long, long way from home, Bobbie
We are far from our place of comfort and safety.


Home's a long, long way from us
We are distant from where we belong.


I feel a dirty wind blowing
I sense danger and uncertainty approaching.


Devils and dust
We are confronted with evil and decay wherever we turn.


I got God on my side
I have faith and trust in a higher power to guide me through hard times.


I'm just trying to survive
I am doing all I can to stay alive and make it through this ordeal.


What if what you do to survive
Sometimes the things we do to stay alive might harm the things we hold dear.


Kills the things you love
Our actions may lead to the destruction of things we cherish.


Fear's a powerful thing
Fear is a strong and overwhelming emotion.


It can turn your heart black you can trust
Fear can take hold of us and change us, and we cannot escape its grasp.


It'll take your God filled soul
Fear will consume everything we hold sacred and dear.


And fill it with devils and dust
We will be left with nothing but evil and decay if we let fear take over.


Well I dreamed of you last night
In my dreams, I thought about you, and it was a nightmare.


In a field of blood and stone
The place where we were in my dream was filled with darkness and pain.


The blood began to dry
The wounds were old and no longer bleeding, but they were still there, a painful reminder of the past.


The smell began to rise
Even though the blood had dried, the smell of death and decay still lingered.


In a field of mud and bone
The place where we were in my dream was desolate and unforgiving.


We've got God on our side
We have faith and trust that a higher power will guide us through these difficult times.


Now every woman and every man
All of us, regardless of gender, are looking for help and guidance in these difficult times.


They want to take a righteous stand
We all want to do what is right and just, but it is not always clear what that is.


Find the love that God wills
We are seeking to understand and follow the path that a higher power has set out for us.


And the faith that He commands
We have complete trust and confidence in the guidance and wisdom of a higher power.


And tonight faith just ain't enough
Even though we have faith in a higher power, it feels like it is not enough to help us through our struggles.


When I look inside my heart
As I examine my beliefs and feelings, I see only darkness and decay.


There's just devils and dust
I am surrounded by evil and decay, and I feel alone.


Fear's a dangerous thing
Fear can consume us and lead us down a dark path.


It'll take your God filled soul
Fear will consume everything we hold sacred and dear, including our faith.


Fill it with devils and dust
We will be left with nothing but evil and decay if we let fear take over.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Sthrall1

As a vet w time in Iraq, this is a masterpiece that has yet to be widely understood or appreciated. How Springsteen can intuit, understand, and articulate these feelings without having walked those miles speaks to his genius and his value. Can't listen to this without misty eyes. Thanks for writing it.

@shellylambert1276

LT175 absolutely on levels many don’t know

@vedantshah9480

He lost many friends from his youth in Vietnam. He's talked about intentionally acting like he was crazy when he was called for the draft and then feeling guilty, because he doesn't know if the person who was sent in his place made it back or faced the same fate as some of his friends.

@bigmouth4383

4x OEF vet. I feel the song and your comment.

@t.g.9782

check out the vh1 storytellers he gets asked the Question ...he tells about what he wanted u to get from the song

@brphillips3

It was written as a memorial to his frien Bobbie who died in Iraq. I served in Iraq and I often find myself playing this song on repeat.

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@TaskMaster619

"What if what you do to survive kills the things you love" is one of the finest lines in music.

@blainebird123

lol

@JonDunnmusician

Agreed Aaron

@billycooper8729

Especially when most record labels are owned by evil elites closet Satan worshippers

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