Since forming in 1972, the band's members have changed; however, core members include saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan and, of course, guitarist/singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt joined the band while recording Born to Run and made this record at least possible. He became one of the most honored and most influential members.
Other musicians important to the band include guitarist Nils Lofgren (who stepped in after Van Zandt quit); guitarist/singer Patti Scialfa (who is also Springsten's wife); and pianist David Sancious and drummers "Mad Dog" Vini Lopez and Ernest "Boom" Carter, who all had left the band prior to Born to Run. Also, The Rising tour saw the official addition of violinist Soozie Tyrell.
In 1989 the band split up, after the massive success of the Born in the USA tour and the quieter Tunnel of Love tour. However, in 1999, the band reunited and embarked on a rather successful 18-month reunion tour - the "E-United Tour" - and now were powered by three guitars (Springsteen, Van Zandt and Lofgren, with Scialfa usually playing a fourth, acoustic guitar).
Following the events of September 11, 2001, Springsteen and the Band embarked on their first studio recordings (excepting a short recording session for Springsteen's 1995 Greatest Hits album) since 1984's Born in the U.S.A. The band recorded The Rising in 2002, and then hit the road for another marathon, two-year tour.
After The Rising, Springsteen recorded two more albums without the E Streeters followed by "Magic", released in October 2007 and featuring the hit single "Radio Nowhere". Magic was followed up by a traditionally strong tour throughout 2008, during which original band-member and friend Danny Federici passed away. Federici had already been temporarily replaced by Charlie Giordano, with whom Springsteen played the year before during the Seeger Sessions. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rounded the 100-show tour at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration.
On January 27, 2009 Springsteen's twenty-fourth album "Working on a Dream" will be released. According to the official press release, Working on a Dream was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album. A new tour for 2009 is expected to be announced soon. Springsteen and the E Street Band will play The Super Bowl halftime show on February 1, 2009.
Saturday 27th July 2009 saw Bruce and the E-Streeters played The Glastonbury Festival, England. This was the band's first-ever UK festival performance, a total of 135,000 people watched an epic, two-and-a-half hour headlining set.
Current members
* Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
* Garry Tallent - bass guitar, tuba
* Max Weinberg - drums, percussion (joined September 1974)
* Roy Bittan - piano, synthesizer (joined September 1974)
* Steven Van Zandt - lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals (officially joined July 1975 after playing in previous bands; left in 1984 to go solo; rejoined in early 1995) Steven Van Zandt
* Nils Lofgren - guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals (replaced Steven Van Zandt in June 1984; remained in group after Van Zandt returned)
* Patti Scialfa - backing and duet vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion (joined June 1984; became Springsteen's wife in 1991; they have a daughter and two sons)
* Soozie Tyrell - violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals (joined 2002, occasional appearances before that)
Former members
* Vinnie 'Mad Dog' Lopez - drums (inception through February 1974, when asked to resign)
* David Sancious - keyboards (June 1973 to August 1974)
* Ernest 'Boom' Carter - drums (February to August 1974)
* Suki Lahav - violin, backing vocals (September 1974 to March 1975)
* Danny Federici - organ, electronic glockenspiel, accordion, other keyboards (on medical leave of absence from late November 2007, temporarily replaced by Charles Giordano) (Danny passed away on April 17, 2008 after a battle with cancer.)
* Clarence Clemons - saxophone, percussion, backing vocals, larger-than-life persona and Springsteen foil (died 2011)
Cover Me
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This whole world is rough, it's just getting rougher
Cover me, come on baby, cover me
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Now promise me baby you won't let them find us
Hold me in your arms, let's let our love blind us
Cover me, shut the door and cover me
Outside's the rain, the driving snow
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light, bolt the door
I ain't going out there no more
This whole world is out there just trying to score
I've seen enough I don't wanna see any more,
Cover me, come on in and cover me
I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Outside's the rain, the driving snow
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light, bolt the door
I ain't going out there no more
This whole world is out there just trying to score
I've seen enough I ain't gonna see any more,
Cover me, wrap you arms around and cover me
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Ah looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Yeah I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
In "Cover Me," Bruce Springsteen paints a picture of an uncertain and harsh world. The times are tough, and it's only getting rougher. He is searching for a lover who will come in and cover him, offering him protection and shelter from the storms of life. He seeks a partner who will not only hold him close but also shut out the chaos of the world beyond the door.
The lyrics are a plea for comfort and safety. Springsteen is exhausted from the constant barrage of hardships and is looking for someone to share the burden with him. He longs for a lover who will be his shelter and keep him from being exposed to the harshness of the outside world. The song's climax is the repetition of the phrase, "I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me," underlining the idea that love can provide a refuge in trying times.
The repetitive structure and lyrics of "Cover Me" speak to the cyclical nature of life's difficulties. The same problems and challenges the singer faces will likely arise again unless he can find someone to help him bear them. The song's message is one of hope- that even in troubled times, love can persist and offer a glimmer of light in the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
The times are tough now, just getting tougher
The world is getting harder and harder to live in, and things are only getting worse.
This whole world is rough, it's just getting rougher
The entire world is a difficult, dangerous place, and it's only becoming more so.
Cover me, come on baby, cover me
I need someone to protect me, to shelter me from the harshness of the world.
Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
I need someone who will love me and care for me, who will provide me with the safety and security I crave.
Now promise me baby you won't let them find us
I need absolute assurance that I am safe, that no harm can come to me.
Hold me in your arms, let's let our love blind us
When we're together, I want to forget about everything else, to be lost in the pure happiness and comfort of our love.
Cover me, shut the door and cover me
I need you to physically protect me from whatever might be out there. Keep me safe.
Outside's the rain, the driving snow / I can hear the wild wind blowing / Turn out the light, bolt the door / I ain't going out there no more
The weather and the world outside are so terrifying that I refuse to even consider going out there again.
This whole world is out there just trying to score / I've seen enough I don't wanna see any more
The world is filled with people who are just trying to take advantage of others, and I've had enough. I can't handle any more of it.
Cover me, come on in and cover me / I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Again, I need someone to protect me, to provide me with the love and security that I so desperately crave.
Cover me, wrap your arms around and cover me / Well I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me / Ah looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me / Yeah I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
I cannot overstate the importance of having someone to protect me, to wrap me up and keep me safe. I am searching for that person, and I won't rest until I find them.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Stocks
The times are tough now, just getting tougher
This whole world is rough, it’s just getting rougher
Cover me, come on baby , cover me
Well I’m looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Now promise me, baby, you won’t let let them find us
Hold me in your arms, let’s let our love blind us
Cover me, shut the door and cover me
I’m looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Hey 👋
Outsides the rain ☔️ the driving snow ⛄️
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light 💡 bolt the door 🚪
I ain’t going out there no more
This whole world is out there just trying to score
I’ve seen enough I don’t wanna see anymore
Cover me, come on in and cover me
I’m looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Yeah
Outsides the rain 🌧 the driving snow ❄️
I can hear the wild wind blowing
Turn out the light 💡 bolt the door
I ain’t going out there no more
This whole world is out there just trying to score
I’ve seen enough I ain’t gonna see anymore
Cover me, wrap your arms around me, cover mr
Well, I’m looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Ah, looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me
Come on baby
Come on baby
Oh no 🙈 no, no
Come on baby
Cover me
Jackson Parker
Wish more people knew who this great man is. His music gets you through the darkest and best of times no matter what.
Mark Levasseur
Agree
Mike Proulx
Well said
Terry Miller
Love the way he makes that guiter scream .love the boss
Ginger Oxendine
Agree. Through the worst break-ups.
James Ian-Allen
Um, everyone knows who he is...the worlds greatest songwriter next to Bob Dylan. He's one of the most successful rock stars in the business.
cathy struska
This is one of my favorite 🎵 🎶 songs and it should of had more views. Bruce Springsteen is one of the best musicians there is in the world 🌎 👏.
desi oye
The guitar solo always gives me chills.
Rose
Same
Diane Harrison
Me too❤