Life Itself
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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We met down in the valley, where the wine of love and destruction flows
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, as good as life itself

You were 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

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 the black elms
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
I can't make it without you

Why the things that we treasure most slip away in time
'Til to the music we grow deaf and to god's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart
'Til we fall away in our own darkness, stranger to our own hearts

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

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's song "Life Itself" are about a relationship that is both destructive and irresistible. The song is a reflection on the paradoxical nature of human existence, with its joys and sorrows, love and loss, beauty and pain. We meet the singer and his lover "down in the valley, where the wine of love and destruction flows...where flowers of temptation grow."


The singer acknowledges that his lover is in trouble, carrying "a little black book from which all your secrets fell...squandered all your riches, your love, your beauty and your wealth, like you had no further use for life itself." Despite this, the singer cannot imagine life without his lover, who is "life itself, rushing over me...in your heart and in your eyes...I can't make it without you." The song ends with a toast "to your health and to life itself."


The lyrics are both romantic and melancholic, capturing the fleeting nature of love and the inevitability of loss. They also suggest that, despite the hardships of life, there is something essential and beautiful that connects us all. The song is a reminder to cherish the moments we have with the ones we love, even when those moments are difficult or fleeting.


Line by Line Meaning

We met down in the valley, where the wine of love and destruction flows
We met in a place where love can quickly turn into destruction.


There in that curve of darkness where flowers of temptation grow
We were in a dark place where temptation was readily available.


I left the rest for the others it was you and nothing else
I chose you and no one else.


You felt so good to me baby, as good as life itself
Being with you felt like the best thing in life.


You were life itself, rushing over me
Being with you was like living life to the fullest.


Life itself, the wind in the black elms
Life was like the wind that moved through the trees around us.


Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
Life was lived in your heart and seen through your eyes.


I can't make it without you
I can't live without you in my life.


I knew you were in trouble, anyone could tell
I could tell you were going through a tough time.


You carried your little black book from which all your secrets fell
You held onto a book filled with all of your secrets.


You squandered all your riches, your love, your beauty and your wealth
You wasted everything good in your life, like you had no purpose.


Like you had no further use for, for life itself
You treated life like it had no more value to you.


Why the things that we treasure most slip away in time
Why do the things we cherish most always seem to disappear in time?


'Til to the music we grow deaf and to god's beauty blind
We become deaf to the music and can no longer see the beauty God has given us.


Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart
Why do the things that bring us together inevitably pull us apart?


'Til we fall away in our own darkness, stranger to our own hearts
Until we are lost in our own darkness, forgetting who we are deep down.


So here's one for the road
Here's a toast to the future.


Here's one to your health
Here's a wish for good health.


Life itself
Life - the most valuable thing we have.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@83ledeni

We met down in the valley, where the wine of love and destruction flows
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, as good as life itself

You were 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

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, 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 the black elms
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes
I can't make it without you

Why are things that we treasure most slip away in time
'Til to the music we grow deaf and to god's beauty blind
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart

'Til we fall away in our own darkness
Stranger to our own hearts
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
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



@desmondlost7091

best song.....
We met down in the valley, where the wine of love and destruction flows 
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, as good as life itself 

You were 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 

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, 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 the black elms 
Life itself, in your heart and in your eyes 
I can't make it without you 

Why are things that we treasure most slip away in time 
'Til to the music we grow deaf and to god's beauty blind 
Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart 

'Til we fall away in our own darkness 
Stranger to our own hearts 
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 
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



All comments from YouTube:

@S.J.L

Great song, underated.

@user-hn8hs2ig4n

Μπρους ανεπαναληπτος🌍♥️♥️♥️🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷

@alfreddifeo9642

Thank you Brother and all for this

@edmor127

"I cant make it with out you"......goes right to the point of my relationship with his music!!!.......to me really one of best of all time.....so glad he is still making music.......

@annapohoryles4409

the only commentary is : LOVE LOVE LOVE !!! Mr. Springsteen - you're the most loved man in the world of music !!! For ever !!!

@markvaught672

This song has continued to grow on me until now it's become one of my favorite Bruce songs.

@gillesduchaine

I still think that the Working On a Dream album is so underrated, even among the Bruce fans. It may contain the Boss most emotional songs. 

@judasiscariot1335

Except for the cringe-inducing "Queen of the Supermarket" song. I get the vibe he's going for, but the lyrics are just so full of cheese, it brings the whole thing down a notch.

@brainfree4931

Queen of the Supermarket is raw Bruuuce. Go deeper and really listen.

@fredh1720

It has some great ones. I think overall it is just stronger than Magic, but they're both great albums

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