1834 – Dire Straits – In the gallery (1978)

Escrita por Mark Knopfler, foi gravada entre fevereiro e março de 1978 e lançada no disco de estréia da banda, em 9 de junho de 1978. O produtor foi Muff Winwood. Mark Knppfler cantou, tocou guitarra base e guitarra solo. David Knopfler tocou guitarra solo e fez backing vocals. John Illsley tocou baixo e fez backing vocals. Pick Withers tocou bateria.

A letra:

Harry made a bareback rider
Proud and free upon a horse
And a fine coalminer
Oh yeah, for the ACB that was

A fallen angel
Jesus on the cross
A skating ballerina
You should have seen her do the skater's waltz

Some people, they got to paint and draw
Harry had to work in clay and stone
Like the waves coming to the shore
It was in his blood and in his bones

He was ignored by all the trendy boys in London
Yes, and in Leeds
He might as well have been making toys
Or strings of beads

He couldn't be
No, he couldn't be
In the gallery
No, no

In the gallery

And then you get an artist
He says he doesn't want to paint at all
He takes an empty canvas
And stickin' it on the wall

The birds of feather, all the phonies and all of the fakes
While the dealers they get together
And they decide who gets the breaks

And who's gonna be
Oh yeah, who's gonna be
In the gallery
In the gallery

No lie, he get no compromise
He get no junk, he do no string
And all the lies we subsidise
That just don't mean a thing

I've got to say he passed away in obscurity
And now all the vultures they're coming down from the tree

He's gonna be
Oh yeah, he's gonna be
In the galle-galle-galle-galle, a gallery
In the gallery

Harry made a bareback rider
Harry made a bareback rider

A versão do Dire Straits:

A versão de Minor Slow Vamps:

A versão dos Alchemists:

1833 – Bob Dylan – We better talk this over (1978)

Escrita por Bob Dylan, foi gravada entre abril e maio de 1978, no Run Down Studios, em Santa Monica, California e lançada no disco Street-Legal, o décimo oitavo disco de Bob Dylan, em 15 de junho de 1978. Foi produzida por Don DeVito. O disco foi uma partida de Bob do seu estilo anterior. Ele montou uma banda grande de pop rock pra gravação, com mulheres fazendo backing vocals. Bob cantou e tocou guitarra. Steve Douglas tocou sax tenor e sax soprano. David Mansfield tocou bandolim e violino. Alan pasqua tocou teclado. Billy Cross tocou guitarra. Steven Soles tocou guitarra e fez backing vocals. Jerry Scheff tocou baixo. Ian Wallace tocou bateria. Bobbye Hall tocou percussão. Carolyn Dennis, Joan Harris e Helena Springs fizeram backing vocals.

A letra:

I think we better talk this over
Maybe when we both get sober
You'll understand I'm only a man
Doin' the best that I can.

This situation can only get rougher.
Why should we needlessly suffer?
Let's call it a day, go our own different ways
Before we decay.

You don't have to be afraid of looking into my face,
We've done nothing to each other time will not erase.

I feel displaced, I got a low-down feeling
You been two-faced, you been double-dealing.
I took a chance, got caught in the trance
Of a downhill dance.

Oh, child, why you want to hurt me?
I'm exiled, you can't convert me.
I'm lost in the haze of your delicate ways
With both eyes glazed.

You don't have to yearn for love, you don't have to be alone,
Somewhere's in this universe there's a place that you can call home.

I guess I'll be leaving tomorrow
If I have to beg, steal or borrow.
It'd be great to cross paths in a day and a half
Look at each other and laugh.

But I don't think it's liable to happen
Like the sound of one hand clappin'.
The vows that we kept are now broken and swept
'Neath the bed where we slept.

Don't think of me and fantasize on what we never had,
Be grateful for what we've shared together and be glad.

Why should we go on watching each other through a telescope?
Eventually we'll hang ourselves on all this tangled rope.

Oh, babe, time for a new transition
I wish I was a magician.
I would wave a wand and tie back the bond
That we've both gone beyond.

A versão de Bob Dylan:

A versão de Bad Rib:

1832 – Bruce Springsteen – Adam raised a Cain (1978)

Escrita por Bruce Springsteen, foi gravada entre novembro de 1977 e fevereiro de 1978, e lançada no disco Darkness on the edge of town, o quarto de Bruce, em 2 de junho de 1978. Foi produzida por Bruce e Jon Landau. É um rock pesado que usa letras com imagens bíblicas pra explicar a relação entre um pai e um filho, simbolizado aqui por Adão e Caim. Bruce disse que essa era uma música emocionalmente autobiográfica. A relação amorosa e amarga entre pai e filho da canção é similar com a que ele teve com o próprio pai, Douglas. Bruce disse que essa música foi uma forma de falar com o pai, pois o pai não falava e eles não conversava muito. Bruce cantou e tocou guitarra. Roy Bittan tocou piano. Clarence Clemons tocou percussão e fez backing vocals. Danny Federici tocou órgão. Garry Tallent tocou baixo. Steven Van Zandt tocou guitarra e fez backing vocals. Max Weinberg tocou bateria. The Band fez backing vocals.

A letra:

In the summer that I was baptized
My father held me to his side
As they put me to the water
He said how on that day I cried

We were prisoners of love, a love in chains
He was standin' in the door I was standin' in the rain
With the same hot blood burning in our veins

Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain

All of the old faces
Ask you why you're back
They fit you with position
And the keys to your daddy's Cadillac

In the darkness of your room
Your mother calls you by your true name
You remember the faces, the places, the names
You know it's never over it's relentless as the rain

Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain

In the Bible brother Cain slew Abel
And East of Eden mama he was cast
You're born into this life paying
For the sins of somebody else's past

Daddy worked his whole life for nothing but the pain
Now he walks these empty rooms looking for something to blame
But you inherit the sins, you inherit the flames

Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain

Lost but not forgotten, from the dark heart of a dream
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain
Adam raised a Cain

A versão de Bruce Springsteen:

1831 – Bob Marley and The Wailers – Easy skanking (1978)

Escrita por Bob Marley, foi gravada entre janeiro e abril de 1977 e lançada em 23 de março de 1978, no disco Kaya, o décimo do grupo. Foi produzida por Bob Marley and The Wailers. Bob Marley cantou, tocou violão, guitarra e percussão. Aston Barrett tocou baixo e percussão. Carlton Barrett tocou bateria e percussão. Tyrone Downie tocou teclado e percussão. Alvin Patterson tocou percussão. Junior Marvin tocou guitarra solo. Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths e Judy Mowatt fizeram backing vocals. Vincent Gordon tocou trombone. Glen da Costa tocou trompete e Winston Grennan tocou bateria.

A letra:

Easy skanking (skankin' it easy)
Easy skanking (skankin' it slow)
Easy skanking (skankin' it easy)
Easy skanking (skankin' it slow)

Excuse me while I light my spliff; (spliff)
Good God, I gotta take a lift: (lift)
From reality I just can't drift; (drift)
That's why I am staying with this riff. (riff)

Take it easy (easy skankin')
Lord, I take it easy! (easy skankin')
Take it easy (easy skankin')
Got to take it easy (easy skankin')
See: we're takin' it easy (ooh-wah-da da-da)
We taking it slow, (ooh-wah-da da-da)
Takin' it easy (easy)
Got to take it slow (slow-slow)
So take it easy (easy skankin' - da-da-da-da-da-da)
Wo-oh, take it easy (easy skankin')
Take it easy (easy skankin' - da-da-da-da-da-da)
Take it easy. (easy skankin')

Excuse me while I light my spliff; (spliff)
Oh, God, I gotta take a lift: (lift)
From reality I just can't drift; (drift)
That's why I am staying with this riff. (riff)

Take it easy (takin' it easy)
Got to take it easy (takin' it slow)
Take it easy (takin' it easy)
Skanky, take it easy (takin' it slow)

Tell you what:
Herb for my wine; (ooh-wa-da-da-da)
Honey for my strong drink; (ooh-wa-da-da-da)
Herb for my wine; (ooh-wa-da-da-da)
Honey for my strong drink

I shake it easy (takin' it easy)
Skanky, take it easy (skankin' it slow)
Take it (takin' it easy) easy
Take it (skankin' it slow) easy
Take it easy (takin' it easy)
Oh-oh-ooh! (skankin' it slow)
Little bit easier (takin' it easy)
Skanky, take it easy (skankin' it slow)
Take it easy! Take it easy! Take it easy!

A versão de Bob Marley and The Wailers:

A versão de Mato Seco:

A versão de Positive Connection:

1830 – Neil Young – Motorcycle mama (1978)

Escrita por Neil Young, foi gravada em 21 de novembro de 1977, no Sound Shop Studio, em Nashville, Tennesse e lançada em 21 de outubro de 1978, no disco Comes a time, o nono disco de Neil. Foi produzida por Neil Young, David Briggs, Ben Keth e Tim Mulligan. Nicolette Larson dividiu os vocais com Neil nessa gravação. Além disso, Neil tocou guitarra e gaita. Frank Sampedro tocou guitarra e piano. Billy Talbot tocou baixo. Ralph Molina tocou bateria. Tim Mulligan tocou sax. Ben Keith tocou steel guitar.

A letra:

Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay your big spike down?
Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay your big spike down?
I always get in trouble when you bring it around
Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay it down
Do, do, do, do, ah

I'm runnin', I'm runnin'
I'm runnin' down the proud highway
Yeah, I'm runnin', I'm runnin'
I'm runnin' down that proud highway
And as long as I keep movin'
I won't need a place to stay

Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay your big spike down?
Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay your big spike down?
I always get in trouble when you bring that around
Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay it down?

Well, I'm here to deliver
I hope you can read my mail, oh yeah
I just escaped last night
From the memory county jail, yeah
I see your box is open
And your flag is up
My message is ready
If there's time enough
Ooh, ooh

Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay your big spike down?
Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay your big spike down?

Motorcycle mama
Won't you lay it down?

A versão de Neil Young:

A versão de Doublewide Kings:

A versão de Popa Chubby:

1829 – Eric Clapton – Tell me that you love me (1978)

 

Escrita por Eric Clapton, foi gravada em 1978 e lançada em novembro de 1978, no disco Backless, o sexto da carreira de Eric Clapton. Foi produzida por Glyn Johns. Eric tocou guitarra e cantou. Dick Sims tocou orgão e piano. George Terry tocou guitarra. Carl Radle tocou baixo e fez backing vocals. Jamie Oldaker tocou bateria, percussão e backing vocals. Marcy Levy fez backing vocals.

A letra:

Tell me that you love me as often as you can
Let me know that I'm your one and only man
Give me confirmation with every passing day
A love as sweet as ours will never fade away

Catch me when I'm falling, help me when I'm blue
Don't you realize that I'd do the same for you?
Find me when I'm lonely, carry me back home
Treat me gently and my heart will never roam

Straighten me out, pull me through
Let me know that I'm still in love with you
Be my woman, be my friend
Stick with me until the very end

Straighten me out, pull me through
Let me know that I'm still in love with you
Be my woman, be my friend
Stick with me until the very end

Tell me that you love me as often as you can
Let me know that I'm your one and only man
Give me confirmation with every passing day
A love as sweet as ours will never fade away

Tell me that you love me as often as you can
Let me know that I'm your one and only man
Give me confirmation with every passing day
A love as sweet as ours will never fade away

Catch me when I'm falling, help me when I'm blue
Don't you realize that I'd do the same for you?
Find me when I'm lonely, carry me back home
Treat me gently and my heart will never roam

A versão de Eric Clapton:

1828 – Dire Straits – Down to the waterline (1978)

Escrita por Mark Knopfler, foi gravada entre fevereiro e março de 1978 e lançada no disco de estréia da banda, chamado apenas de Dire Straits. Saiu também em compacto, com Water of love como Lado A. Foi produzida por Muff Winwood. São as memórias de Mark andando pela margem do rio Tyne, à noite, com sua namorada, quando era adolescente.

A letra:

Sweet surrender on the quayside
You remember we used to run and hide
In the shadow of the cargoes I take you one time
And we're counting all the numbers down to the waterline

Near misses on the dog leap stairways
French kisses in the darkened doorways
A foghorn blowing out wild and cold
A policeman shines a light upon my shoulder

Up comes a coaster fast and silent in the night
Over my shoulder all you can see are the pilot lights
No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn
Your hands are cold but your lips are warm

She can see him on the jetty where they used to go
She can feel him in the places where the sailors go
When she's walking by the river and the railway line
She can still hear him whisper
Let's go down to the waterline
Come on

A versão do Dire Straits:

1827 – David Gilmour – There's no way out of here (1978)

 

Escrita por Ken Baker, foi gravada entre fevereiro e março de 1978, no Super Bear Studios, em Nice, France. Foi lançada em 26 de maio de 1978, no disco de estréia de David Gilmour, chamado apenas de David Gilmour. Foi produzida por David Gilmour. O único compacto do disco foi justamente There's no way out of here. Foi um fracasso na Europa, mas tocou bem nas rádios americanas que só tocavam LPs. Ela não foi gravada originalmente por Gilmour. Trata-se de um cover da banda Unicorn, que a gravou em 1976, no disco Too many crooks, que foi produzida por David Gilmour. David cantou, tocou guitarra, violão, lap steel guitar, tevlado e gaita. Rick Wills tocou baixo e fez backing vocals. Willie Wilson tocou bateria e percussão. Carlena Williams, Debbie Doss e Shirley Roden, fizeram backing vocals.

A letra:

There's no way out of here
When you come in
You're in for good
There was no promise made
The part you played
The chance you took

There are no boundaries set
The time and yet
You waste it still
So it slips through your hands
Like grains of sand
You watch it go
There's no time to be lost
You'll pay the cost
So get it right

There's no way out of here
When you come in
You're in for good

There never was an answer
There an answer
Not without listening
Without seeing

There are no answers here
When you look out
You don't see in
There was no promise made
The part you played
The chance you took

There's no way out of here
When you come in
You're in for good

There never was an answer
There an answer
Not without listening
Without seeing

There's no way out of here
When you come in
You're in for good
There are no answers here
When you look out
You don't see in

There was no promise made
The part you played
The chance you took

(When you come in)
(You're in for good)

A versão de David Gilmour:

A versão de Monster Magnet:

A versão do Unicorn:

1826 – Bruce Springsteen – Racing in the street (1978)

 

Escrita por Bruce Springsteen, foi gravada em 2 de julho de 1977 e lançada em 2 de junho de 1978, no disco Darkness on the edge of town, o quarto disco de Bruce. Foi produzida por Bruce Springsteen e Jon Landau. Muitos críticos dizem que é a melhor música de Bruce, incluindo os autores do The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Bruce começou a escrever essa canção logo após o reveillon de 1975, juntamente com Darkness on the edge of town e The Promise. O narrador tem um Chevy 1969 que foi construído por ele e um parceiro, pra ganharem dinheiro em corridas de carro pelas ruas. Ele divide as pessoas em dois grupos. O primeiro que desiste de viver e vai morrendo aos poucos e o segundo grupo é o que ele está, que tem um objetivo na vida. No caso, é ganhar corridas de rua. No entanto, a namorada que ele ganhou de um competidor, não divide os planos de ficar com um cara que corre de carro nas ruas. É a primeira canção onde Bruce mostra que a mulher tem sentimentos e sofre. Foi regravada por Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris e Roger Taylor, entre outros artistas. Chegou ao número 1 na Austrália. Bruce tocou guitarra e cantou. Roy Bittan tocou piano. Clarence Clemons tocou pandeiro e maracas. Danny Federici tocou orgão. Garry Tallent tocou baixo. Steven Van Zandt tocou guitarra e backing vocals. Max Weinberg tocou bateria.

A letra:

I got a sixty-nine Chevy with a three-ninety-six
Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor
She's waiting tonight down in the parking lot
Outside the Seven-Eleven store
Me and my partner Sonny built her straight out of scratch
And he rides with me from town to town
We only run for the money, got no strings attached
We shut 'em up and then we shut 'em down

Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I want to blow 'em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For racin' in the street

We take all the action we can meet
And we cover all the northeast state
When the strip shuts down we run 'em in the street
From the fire roads to the interstate
Some guys they just give up living
And start dying little by little, piece by piece
Some guys come home from work and wash up
And go racin' in the street

Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I want to blow 'em all out of their seats
Calling out around the world, we're going racin' in the street

I met her on the strip three years ago
In a Camaro with this dude from L.A.
I blew that Camaro off my back
And drove that little girl away
But now there's wrinkles around my baby's eyes
And she cries herself to sleep at night
When I come home the house is dark
She sighs, "baby did you make it all right"
She sits on the porch of her daddy's house
But all her pretty dreams are torn
She stares off alone into the night
AcqwdcqfvqcsdWith the eyes of one who hates for just being born
For all the shut down strangers and hot rod angels
Rumbling through this promised land
Tonight my baby and me, we're gonna ride to the sea
And wash these sins off our hands

Tonight, tonight the highway's bright
Out of our way, mister, you best keep
'Cause summer's here and the time is right
For racin' in the street

A versão de Bruce Springsteen:

A versão de Townes Van Zandt:

A versão de Emmylou Harris:

1825 – Bob Marley and The Wailers – Time will tell (1978)

 

 

Escrita por Bob Marley, foi gravada entre janeiro e abril de 1977, no Island Studios, em Londres, e lançado em 23 de março de 1978 no disco Kaya, o décimo disco do grupo. Foi produzida por Bob Marley and The Wailers. Bob Marley cantou, tocou violão, guitarra e percussão. Aston Barrett tocou baixo e percussão. Carlton Barrett tocou bateria e percussão. Tyrone Downie tocou teclado e percussão. Alvin Patterson tocou percussão. Junior Marvin tocou guitarra solo. Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths e Judy Mowatt fizeram backing vocals. Vincent Gordon tocou trombone. Glen da Costa tocou trompete e Winston Grennan tocou bateria.

A letra:

Jah would never give the power to a baldhead
Run come crucify the dread

Time alone, oh, time will tell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Time alone, oh, time will tell
You think you're in heaven but you're living in hell

Back them up, oh not the brothers
But the ones, who set them up

Time alone, oh, time will tell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Time alone, oh, time will tell
You think you're in heaven but you're living in hell

Sold my ticket, run and go
Sold man to the ground
Sold man, take a man pride
Oh children weep no more
Oh my sycamore tree, saw the freedom tree
Saw you settle the score
Oh children weep no more
Weep no more, children weep no more

Jah would never give the power to a baldhead
Run come crucify the dread

Time alone, oh, time will tell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell
Time alone, oh, time will tell
Think you're in heaven but you're living in hell

A versão de Bob Marley and The Wailers:

A versão de Jaz Elise:

A versão de Ziggy Marley:

1824 – Neil Young – Human Highway (1978)

Escrita por Neil Young, foi gravada em 14 de setembro de 1977, no Triiad Recording Studios, em Fort Lauderdale, Flórida e lançada no disco Comes a time, o nono disco de Neil, em 21 de outubro de 1978. Foi produzida por Neil Young, David Briggs, Ben Keith e Tim Mulligan. Foi composta no começo dos anos 70, pra ser lançada em duas oportunidades com o CSNY, em 1973 e 1978, mas nunca foi lançada até 1978, apenas por Neil. Neil tocou guitarra, gaita e cantou. Frank Sampedro cantou e tocou piano. Billy Talbot tocou baixo. Ralph Molina tocou bateria. Tim Mulligan tocou sax. Nicolette Larson fez harmonias vocais. Ben Keith tocou steel guitar.

A letra:

I come down from the misty mountain
I got lost on the human highway
Take my head refreshing fountain
Take my eyes from what they've seen.
Take my head and change my mind
How could people get so unkind.

I come down from the crooked mansion
I went lookin' for the D.J.'s daughter
Since that day I heard it mentioned
That my name is on the line.
Now, my name is on the line
How could people get so unkind.

Now, my name is on the line
How could people get so unkind.

I come down from the misty mountain
I got lost on the human highway
Take my head refreshing fountain
Take my eyes from what they've seen.
Take my head and change my mind
How could people get so unkind.

A versão de Neil Young:

A versão de Fragile Star:

A versão de CSN:

1823 – Eric Clapton – I'll make love to you anytime (1978)

 

Escrita por J.J Cale foi gravada em 1978 no Olympic Studio em Londres e lançada no disco Backless, o sexto de Eric Clapton, em novembro de 1978. O próprio J. J. Cale iria lança-la em 1979, no seu disco 5. Foi produzida por Glyn Johns. Eric Clapton tocou guitarras e cantou. Dick Sims tocou órgão e piano. George Terry tocou guitarra. Carl Radle tocou baixo e fez backing vocals. Jamie Oldaker tocou bateria, percussão e fez backing vocals. Marcy Levy fez backing vocals.

A letra:

Well I can't read and I can't write
And I don't know my left from right

I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time at all

I can't swim and I can't fly
I ain't no fish, ain't a bird in the sky

And I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time at all

I can't count from one to ten
And I don't know the shape I'm in

I can't tell if the sun's gonna shine
And I don't know if you'll ever be mine
But I'll make love to you any old time at all

A versão de Eric Clapton:

A versão de J.J. Cale:

A versão de Art Vandalay:

1822 – Dire Straits – Six blade knife (1978)

 

Escrita por Mark Knopfler, foi gravada no Basing Street Studios, entre fevereiro e março de 1978 e lançada no disco de estréia da banda, chamado apenas Dire Straits, em 9 de junho de 1978. Foi produzida por Muff Winwood. Mark Knopfler cantou, tocou guitarra solo e base. David Knopfler tocou guitarra base e fez backing vocals. John Illsley focou baixo e fez backing vocals. Pick Withers tocou bateria.

A letra:

Your six blade knife
Do anything for you
Anything you want it to
One blade breaking my heart
One blade tearing me apart
Your six blade knife
Do anything for you

You can take away my mind like you take away the top of a tin
When you come up from behind and lay it down cold on my skin
Took a stone from my soul when I was lame
Just so you could make me tame, yes
You take away my mind like you take away the top of a tin

I'd like to be free of it, babe
I don't want it no more
I'd like to be free of it now
I don't want it no more

Everybody got a knife it can be just what you want it to be
A needle, a wife or something that you just can't see

Your six blade knife, keep you strong
Yes and it'll do me wrong
Your six blade knife
Do anything for you
Do anything
Anything

 

A versão do Dire Straits:

A versão do Ripley:

 

A versão do Italian Dire Straits:

1821 – David Gilmour – No way (1978)

 

Escrita por David Gilmour, foi gravada entre fevereiro e março de 1978 e lançada em 26 de maio de 1978, no disco solo de estréia de Gilmour. Foi produzida por ele mesmo. David Gilmour cantou, tocou guitarra e violão, lap steel guitar e teclado. Rick Will stocou baixo e fez backing vocals. Willie Wilson tocou bateria e percussão.

A letra:

There's no way I'm going to let go
There's no way, because it's my show
I'm hanging on for a little while
I won't go down easy, that's not my style

I'm all tied up, tied up in a knot
And I can't decide just what it is I've got
Did I get out of touch? Did I lose my way?
I've not forgot, no, not a single day

Now you might believe I'm not a happy man
Putting myself apart from the common clan
Well, the boat we're sailing, we have a leak or two
But I know it's sound, like me and you

A versão de David Gilmour:

1820 – Bruce Springsteen – The promised land (1978)

Escrita por Bruce Springsteen, foi gravada em 27 de outubro de 1977, no The Record Plant, em New York City. Foi lançada em 2 de junho de 1978, no disco Darkness on the edge of town, o quarto disco de Bruce. Sairia também em compacto, em outubro de 1978, com Streets of fire como Lado B. Foi produzida por Bruce e Jon Landau. Essa canção se originou durante uma viagem de Utah pra Nevada, em agosto de 1977, que Bruce fez com o fotógrafo Eric Meola e o guitarrista Steven Van Zandt. Voaram pra Salt Lake City e alugaram um Ford Galaxie 1965, Vermelho e dirigiram até Reno, em Nevada , procurando lugares pra fotos e Bruce queria ver lugares que apenas via nos seus sonhos. Bruce estava chateado porque um dos seus ídolos, Elvis Presley, havia morrido. Dormiram no carro, viram o deserto e pegaram uma tempestade muito forte. Esse título foi em homenagem à canção Promised land de Chuck Berry. Na Cança de Chuck Berry, o cantor sai da Virginia pra ir pra terra prometida, a California. O narrador trabalha na garagem do seu pai no dia e à noite dirige por toda a noite à procura de uma miragem. Ele tem dificuldades na vida, mas agora em vez de fugir delas, elas às enfrente, tentando acabar com os problemas. Diz que tentou de tudo pra viver da forma correta, mas que isso não fez com que ele não tivesse problemas. Mas que agora vai agir de forma diferente. Bruce cantou e tocou guitarra e gaita. Roy Bittan tocou piano. Clarence Clemons tocou sax. Danny Federici tocou órgão. Garry Tallent tocou baixo. Steven Van Zandt tocou guitarra. Max Wenberg tocou bateria.

A letra:

On a rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert
I pick up my money and head back into town
Driving 'cross the Waynesboro county line
I got the radio on and I'm just killing time
Working all day in my daddy's garage
Driving all night chasing some mirage
Pretty soon little girl I'm gonna take charge

The dogs on Main Street howl 'cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

I've done my best to live the right way
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak I just want to explode
Explode and tear this whole town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
Find somebody itching for something to start

The dogs on Main Street howl 'cause they understand
If I could reach one moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

Well there's a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I'm heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain't got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

The dogs on Main Street howl 'cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

A versão de Bruce Springsteen: