Darkness On The Edge Of Town Songs Ranked
Darkness on the Edge of Town is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on June 2, 1978. The album marked the end of a three-year gap between albums brought on by contractual obligations and legal battling with former manager Mike Appel. Reviews for Darkness on the Edge of Town were overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised the maturity of the album’s themes and lyrics. It remains one of Springsteen’s most highly regarded records by both fans and critics and several of its songs have become staples of Springsteen’s live performances. In 2020, it ranked at No. 91 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Here are all of Darkness On The Edge Of Town songs ranked.
Relive the music of Bruce Springsteen by clicking below.
10. Factory
“Another very understated lament. Doesn’t sound like much of anything at all the first few times until the anguished lyrics really sink in, particularly the last verse.”
9. Streets of Fire
“A more weary regret, and in my opinion a clear foreshadowing of the protagonist of the song “Born in the USA’. Great lyrics as always but not the most memorable tune.”
8. Something in the Night
“Starts with an absolutely gorgeous, wistful piano figure from Bittan. The one gripe I have with this song is Weinberg’s drumming – the song’s pace is stately enough, and Max seems intent on slowing it down even further. I really didn’t care at all for the protracted roll that all but ruins the beginning, either. All is forgiven at the end though, when the opening piano figure is reprised over Bruce’s heartfelt “wawwwwwwww” in the background. More brilliant lyrics about the pain of regret and powerlessness. One of Bruce’s greatest compositions that falls just short of being a great song.”
See more: Bruce Springsteen Albums Ranked
7. Adam Raised a Cain
“Tough, hard-rocking song about the frictions between father & son. “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”. ouch.”
6. Candy’s Room
“All I can think is that Bruce must have had a chuckle when he wrote this one – but he sure seems to be singing it with a straight face. Who knows? Even the so-called “comic relief” songs on this record bite!”
5. Prove It All Night
“Possibly the most lightweight thing on the record. I won’t say “throwaway” because after all it was the hit single, and the chorus is actually damned catchy. Just when you think you’ve got a nice little pop song, the final verse throws a pretty good right cross.”
See more: Bruce Springsteen Songs Ranked
4. The Promised Land
“A song like “The Promised Land” though is one of Bruce’s most uplifting. I get chills every time he says “Blow away the dreams that tear you apart. Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and broken hearted.” Who doesn’t yearn to do that? We all have our demons but “Darkness…” characters are full of them. It sounds great though and that’s all that matters. If you don’t own this album you should of course, along with numerous other Bruce albums.”
3. Racing in the Street
“The jewel of the record and one of the most poignant, heartbreaking songs ever written by Bruce, or by anybody on God’s green earth. A momument to regret, to having blown it and knowing it full well, to “if only, if only, if only”. I’d bet the bank that this song has made many a tough guy totally break down. The band is absolutely perfect in every way, right down to the fade.”
2. Darkness on the Edge of Town
“The perfect way to end the record, with its “I’ll go down, but I’ll go down fighting” sentiment. The protagonist of the song knows he’s already lost everything”
1. Badlands
“Not much to say other than it’s another classic anthem we all know. You’ll notice the much lower-key approach as compared with songs like “Thunder Road or “Born to Run”.
