The Ties That Bind

Album: The River (1980)
Play Video
  • You been hurt and you're all cried out you say
    You walk down the street pushin' people outta your way
    You packed your bags and all alone you want to ride
    You don't want nothin', don't need no one by your side
    You're walkin' tough baby, but you're walkin' blind
    To the ties that bind

    The ties that bind
    Now you can't break the ties that bind

    Cheap romance, it's all just a crutch
    You don't want nothin' that anybody can touch
    You're so afraid of being somebody's fool
    Not walkin' tough baby, not walkin' cool
    You walk cool, but darlin', can you walk the line
    And face the ties that bind
    The ties that bind
    Now you can't break the ties that bind

    I would rather feel the hurt inside, yes I would darlin'
    Than know the emptiness your heart must hide
    Yes I would, darlin', yes I would, darlin'
    Yes I would, baby

    Oh, you sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain
    Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet your pain
    It's a long dark highway and a thin white line
    Connecting baby, your heart to mine
    We're runnin' now but darlin' we will stand in time
    To face the ties that bind
    The ties that bind
    Now you can't break the ties that bind
    You can't forsake the ties that bind
    Oh Writer/s: Bruce Springsteen
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Jenn from Buffalo, NyMy dad asks me if i know what songs mean, and he told me wut this song means, he said, that a son can't leave behind what he knows, his family, and his memories.
  • Gene from San Diego, CaMan, this song is pretty intense. Love it.
  • Tim from Farmington, CtI'm a huge Bruce fan, but I've often wondered if the title and the line that specifically says "baby, can you walk the line" is a Johnny Cash reference, since in "Walk the Line" Johnny Cash "left the ends out for the tie that binds"...

    Anyone have any idea?
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaBruce Springsteen can write songs like a madman!
  • Don from San Antonio, TxI've heard the demo track with the reverb on the drums that was mentioned above...completely crushing!!

    This song rocks devastatingly. When this, "Two Hearts" and "Hungry Heart" rally together, buildings fall. I hate to say it, but I was not impressed with any of the recent live performances of this song. Yawn. It deserves a better performance!
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.