Album: Magic (2007)
Play Video
  • I got a coin in your palm
    I can make it disappear
    I got a card up my sleeve
    Name it and I'll pull it out your ear

    I got a rabbit in the hat
    If you wanna come and see
    This is what will be
    This is what will be

    I got shackles on my wrists
    Soon I'll slip and I'll be gone
    Chain me in a box in the river
    And rising in the sun

    Trust none of what you hear
    And less of what you see
    This is what will be (This is what will be)
    This is what will be

    (I'll cut you in half)

    I got a shiny saw blade (a shiny saw blade)
    All I need's a volunteer
    I'll cut you in half
    While you're smilin' ear to ear

    And the freedom that you sought
    Driftin' like a ghost amongst the trees
    This is what will be
    This is what will be (This is what will be)

    Now there's a fire down below
    But it's coming up here
    So leave everything you know
    Carry only what you fear

    On the road the sun is sinkin' low
    Bodies hanging in the trees
    This is what will be (This is what will be)
    This is what will be Writer/s: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Bt from AlabamaIt's a damn good song no matter what your interpretation of its meaning is.
  • Tom from Washington, DcHeine - He has several songs in which he never mentions the title, in fact one on nearly all his studio albums - Reno and The Hitter (from Devils and Dust), Incident on 57th Street, New York Serende, and Wild Billy's Circus Story (from The Wild ...), Meeting across the river (from Born to Run), The Last Carnival (from Working on a dream), Open all Night and Highway Patrolman (from Nebraska), Does this bus stop ... (from Greetings from Asbury Park), Valentine's Day (from Tunnel of Love).
  • Heine from Sarpsborg, NorwayI believe this is one of two Springsteen songs in which he never mentions the title og the song. the other is Goin' Cali.
  • Sarah from Kennewick, WaBrilliant. Just listen to the lyrics; hauntingly poetic, forget the war stuff when you listen to it & apply it to your own personal past.
  • Gene from San Diego, CaPeople like the previous person claims that it is against the War in Iraq. While it was possibly inspired by such times, it is actually a song about how war is formed and how it happens. Honestly, this song makes me shiver because of it's truthfulness. It maintains that cold, evil (can I say "evil"), shady feel that is real. It can apply to the current war, but it is mostly about all wars that occur.
  • 13scarecrows from Sallisaw, OkIts juz a protest song about the Bush Administration. C'mon bruce get over it! :)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.