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Darkness...the song

jomuamjomuamStolen Car
I've heard a lot of songs from Springsteen's career bantered about and such on here but not much said about this particular song from his '78 release. This is one of my favorite songs period. As a lad of 21 when this was released, this song was huge for me. All the anger and frustration felt by the person in this song resonated deeply with me. As a person who felt like an outsider, dissapointed by "relationships", this was a great song to shout out at the top of your lungs after a few drafts late at night in your '77 GMC pickup truck. Always loved....."Well if she wants to see me....". Sorta like giving the finger, eh? Anyone else see this song as "special"?

one,two,three,four.........

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J JuliusTougher Than The Rest
It's one of the few songs in his catalog that I prefer to his live performance. It's a beautiful arrangement that juxtaposes the lyrics very well. The way it fades out is almost a resignation to the singer's place in life.

The song has served as "the finger" for a few relationships I've had too.

I heard a theory once about the hill being a reference to Calvary. Unusual interpretation, but aren't they all.
D dtMember
Originally Posted By: randy5554
Originally Posted By: dt
OK, who's ever heard the first couple of bars, shouted "Oh fuck off, Bruce!" and walked out of the arena?

Just me then?


When did this happen?

Manchester 2003. Admittedly, the whole show sucked, but the 947th tuneless version of Darkness was absolutely not what I wanted to hear at the time.
Y yigbaMember
Darkness is one of his best songs - the aliens were obviously not yet in his head. Those three verses could be his best ever - the first about the girl who left him, the second about the secret that everyone keeps, the third about standing on that hill alone at the end of it all in the face of insurmountable odds (just like Hurin, sorry I digress).

The anger and the rage which he displyaed when playing it live - just like the anger in the bridge of Backstreets. It doesn't get any better than this.
I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!
JoadJoadDuke Street King
I have always thought of it as a song about himself and his fight for his music, the lawsuit against Appel and the things he had to sacrifize to get where he was after Born To Run. A great song about standing your ground and fight for your dreams.

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Hey kid, you think that's oil? Man, that ain't oil that's blood

EugeneEugeneMayor Of SimPLeton?
Originally Posted By: Joad
I have always thought of it as a song about himself and his fight for his music, the lawsuit against Appel and the things he had to sacrifize to get where he was after Born To Run. A great song about standing your ground and fight for your dreams.


Gee, you just described "The Promise". smirk
K KevinMember
Originally Posted By: Julius
It's one of the few songs in his catalog that I prefer to his live performance. It's a beautiful arrangement that juxtaposes the lyrics very well. The way it fades out is almost a resignation to the singer's place in life.


This is really true. I listen to live shows way more than the albums (particularly true of Darkness tour vs. album). And I always forget the great way the song shuts down at the end, with just Danny and Roy, on the album. The live, loud ending never quite did it for me--especially by the reunion tour when it had the stupid guitar (that's the technical name for it).

I've had the song in my head for days now, thanks to this thread.
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