Bruce Springsteen lyrics -- Bruce Springsteen shows -- Bruce Springsteen records

Song title: Adam raised a Cain


Adam raised a Cain - Album version

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

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

In the Bible Cain slew Abel and East of Eden 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
You inherit the sins you inherit the flames
Adam raised a Cain

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

Notes: During the second part of the Human Touch tour was played acoustically.
Used in the soundtrack of the file "Baby, it's you", in 1983.

Adam raised a Cain - "Rattling the chains" version

In the summer that I was baptized, my father held me to his side
Later as I grew older, tell me 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
And 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
She knows you didn't come back, its all a little game
You remember the faces, you remember the names

Adam raised a Cain...

In the Bible Cain slew Abel but East of Eden, mamma 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 haunts these empty rooms, rattling these chains
You inherit the sins, you inherit the flames

Adam raised a Cain...

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

Notes: Outtake lyrics.

Adam raised a Cain - TOL Live version

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 your religion
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 Cain slew Abel
And East of Eden 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
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…

Notes: This version played during the TOL tour has minor lyrics differences.

Statistics from the KILLING FLOOR (www.brucespringsteen.it) database

Published on the following official releases:

First known live performance: 19/05/1978 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA
Last known live performance: 09/02/2017 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney ,Australia

Song 'history':


Published on DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, in 1978.
Often played during the Darkness tour (38 times)
The song (in live version) was then included in the 'LIVE 1975-85' box set
A real milestone of each setlist of the Tunnel of Love tour
22 perfomances were given during the Human Touch tour
Played at the Bridge Benefit show of 1995.
Often played during the Ghost of Tom Joad tour (81 times)
15 perfomances were given during the Reunion tour
Not much used during the Rising tour, deserving only 5 renderings
Played during the 'Double Take' shows in 2002
Played during the rehearsals for the Devils and dust Tour, in Mar/Apr 2005.
It only saw the light 4 times in the whole Devils and Dust tour
Played during the rehearsals for the We shall overcome / The Seeger session tour, in Mar/Apr 2006.
Not much used during the The Seeger Session tour, deserving only less than a dozen renderings
Played during the Magic tour (14 times)
Not much used during the Working on a Dream tour, deserving only less than a dozen renderings
Another version of the song also appears on the 'The Promise' Album, released in November 2010, in the Thrill Hill Vault 1976-1978 DVD volume
The Wrecking Ball tour counted 15 apparitions of this song
Not much used during the High Hopes tour, deserving only less than a dozen renderings
Bruce gave this song only two shots through the 2016 The River tour (24/03/2016 Key Arena, Seattle,WA ,USA and 19/06/2016 Olympic Stadium, Berlin ,Germany)
Performed 1 times during the 2017 Summer tour

The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database