Come On Up For The Rising

Well I survived my second Springsteen concert in four days. When I told my buddy Jeff that I was going to a 2nd show, he looked at me funny. I said,"what's wrong, do you have a problem with a 45 year old man chasing a 58 year old rock star around the state of Texas?". He quickly said "yes". Well, Jeff it sure was a blast....both shows. Last night it was my wife, my 19 year E Street buddy Dave, my 29 year E Street buddy "Big E", Claybee, Mark, and Chris from Jersey....a great mix. Big E and I attended our first Springsteen concert together in 1980. $8.50 for a ticket then...now that's inflation!

The show had the same framework as Austin's, but there were some great tradeouts: No Surrender (his farewell to Miami Steve), Ghost of Tom Joad (knew he had to appear sometime), It's Hard To Be A Saint In the City (oldie but goodie), Cadillac Ranch (a Texas favorite), and Rosalita (36 years old and still giving).

The Rising had some great appeal last night. This was Bruce's response to 9/11. In an article he stated that his vision of The Twin Towers was the fireman climbing the stairs as if they were ascending into Heaven. He equated it to the Ascension of Christ. Now that's an Easter song my friends.

THE RISING
Cant see nothin in front of me
Cant see nothin coming up behind
I make my way through this darkness
I cant feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far Ive gone
How far Ive gone, how high Ive climbed
On my backs a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder a half mile of line
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Left the house this morning
Bells ringing filled the air
Wearin the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin down here
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
Theres spirits above and behind me
Faces gone black, eyes burnin bright
May their precious blood bind me Lord, as I stand before your fiery light
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,liI
see you mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
Theres holy pictures of our children
Dancin in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin on the end of my line
Sky of blackness and sorrow ( a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness ( a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear ( a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow ( a dream of life)
Your burnin wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight