Not Fade Away
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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Oh

Well now you say you've found another man
Who does things to you that I can't
And that no matter what I do it's all over now
Between me and you girl
But I can't believe what you say
No I can't believe what you say
'Cause baby

I don't want to fade away
Oh I don't want to fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't want to fade away

Well now you say that you've made up your mind
It's been such a long, long time since it's been good with us
And that somewhere back along the line you lost your love and
I lost your trust
Now rooms that once were so bright
Are filled with the coming night, oh darlin'

I don't want to fade away
Oh I don't want to fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't want to fade away

You say it's not easy for you
And that you've been so lonely
While other girls go out doing what they want to do
You say that you miss the nights when we'd go out dancing
The days when you and I walked as two
Well girl, I miss them, too
Oh I swear that I do
Oh girl

Now baby I don't want to be just another useless memory holding you tight
Or just some other ghost out on the street to whom you stop and politely speak
When you pass on by vanishing into the night
Left to vanish into the night
No baby

I don't want to fade away
Oh I don't want to fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't want to fade away
Oh darlin', I don't want to fade away
No, I don't want to fade away
Tell me what can I do what can I say
'Cause darlin' I don't want to fade away

Don't make me darlin'
I don't want to fade away
Don't make me darlin'
No, I don't want to fade away




I don't want to fade away
I don't want to fade away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bruce Springsteen's "Fade Away" convey the story of a man who learns that his lover has moved on to someone new. Despite her assertions that their relationship has ended and that there is no hope of reconciliation, the man refuses to believe her and insists that he does not want to "fade away." He reflects on their past, recalling the bright rooms that are now filled with night and the nights when they used to go dancing. He pleads with her, asking her what he can do or say to keep their love alive, and urges her not to consign him to the status of just another "useless memory," consigned to vanishing into the night.


The song addresses the universal theme of failed relationships and the pain of heartbreak. In interviews, Bruce Springsteen has spoken about the inspiration behind the song, citing his own personal experiences with heartbreak and loss as well as the stories of people he knew who had gone through tough breakups. The lyrics offer a raw, emotional portrayal of the anguish experienced by someone facing the end of a relationship they deeply cherish.


Some of the key themes that emerge from the song include the importance of communication and the need for both partners to be invested in maintaining the relationship. Springsteen highlights the dangers of taking one's partner for granted and failing to prioritize maintaining the relationship, as well as the regret and sense of loss that can come when it is too late to make things right.


Overall, "Fade Away" is a poignant and reflective song that captures the range of emotions that can arise when faced with the trauma of lost love.


Line by Line Meaning

Well now you say you've found another man Who does things to you that I can't And that no matter what I do it's all over now Between me and you girl But I can't believe what you say No I can't believe what you say 'Cause baby
You're telling me that you found someone new, Someone who can do things that I can't do. And that it's all over between me and you, But I can't believe that to be true.


I don't want to fade away Oh I don't want to fade away Tell me what can I do what can I say 'Cause darlin' I don't want to fade away
I don't want our relationship to disappear, I don't want to be forgotten or brushed away. Please let me know how I can make it clear, That losing you is not something I can accept.


Well now you say that you've made up your mind It's been such a long, long time since it's been good with us And that somewhere back along the line you lost your love and I lost your trust Now rooms that once were so bright Are filled with the coming night, oh darlin'
You've decided that it's over and done, It's been a long time since we were really happy. Sometime in the past, love and trust were replaced with none, Now all I see is the darkness that's gradually creeping.


You say it's not easy for you And that you've been so lonely While other girls go out doing what they want to do You say that you miss the nights when we'd go out dancing The days when you and I walked as two Well girl, I miss them, too Oh I swear that I do Oh girl
You're struggling too and feeling alone, While others seem to be living life as they see. You say you miss the times we shared and the fun, And I feel the same way, that much is clear to me.


Now baby I don't want to be just another useless memory holding you tight Or just some other ghost out on the street to whom you stop and politely speak When you pass on by vanishing into the night Left to vanish into the night No baby
I don't want to just fade away from your life, To be a distant and forgotten memory or fleeting sight. I don't want to be a stranger or a ghost, Left behind when you move on as if all was lost.


Don't make me darlin' I don't want to fade away Don't make me darlin' No, I don't want to fade away I don't want to fade away I don't want to fade away
Please don't let this be the end, I don't want to fade away from you and have to pretend. Don't make me disappear from your life and heart, Because without you, I know I'll fall apart.




Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

David Smith

If I could transport myself back in time for one moment in rock history it would be this show at the Agora. And this was the greatest song of the greatest show. THEY ROCK THE F*CKIN HOUSE!

newenglandshorttracks.com

I saw the boss 3 times !! EVERYTIME was GREAT!!!!!!!!!

Stephen Suddick

This is the one I've been looking for. The guitar break is one of the greatest moments in Rock.

A Mrak

August 9, 1978 A night of Knights!
Huge show!
No Finer full concert ever made! Kudos to Mighty Max for this endeavor, going 8:19 of straight non stop dead on beat with out a break! I still have my 3 120 minute cassettes I recorded that night on The Buzzard 100.7 (101) FM WMMS Cleveland! Thanks Kid Leo and Bruce. Hall Of Fame City Rocks!

fernando rose

Goosebumps.

newenglandshorttracks.com

EVERY Show they did in the 70s was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen Katz

I listened to this show on WABX in Detroit in August 1978. Later saw him at Masonic Auditorium and in Saginaw, MI. Awesome shows!

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