In the summer that I was baptized
My father held me to his side
As they put me into 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 (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)

All of the old faces
Asked 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 (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)

In the Bible Cain slew Abel
And East of Eden mama he was cast
You're born into this life paying
For the sins of somebody else's past

Well 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 (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)

Lost but not forgotten, from the dark heart of a dream
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)
Adam raised a Cain (yeah)

Oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh

Oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh (hey)
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh (hey)
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh (hey)


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Adam Raised a Cain Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Adam Raised a Cain song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    This is what you get when a difficult father and son relationship is told by a brilliant storyteller.

    "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".

    As for the guitar... it's really a very simple, nearly one note lead. It must be pointed out however that it is probably the most emotionally charged note, basically "spit" out of his guitar, played over and over as if lamenting the pain. There hasn't been many recorded leads like that, excepting maybe the one note lead in Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young.

    Springsteen at his finest. Oh, one more thing. It's frighteningly good, maybe BETTER, live.

    dray33on October 10, 2009   Link

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