Live 29 Jun 2000 version
There's a code of silence that we don't dare speak
There's a wall between us and a river so deep
We keep pretending that there's nothing wrong
But there's a code of silence and it can't go on
Is the truth so elusive, so elusive you see
That it ain't enough baby, to bridge the distance between you and me
There's a list of grievance a 100 miles long
There's a code of silence and it can't go on
Well you walk with your eyes open
But your lips they remain sealed
While the vows we made are broken
Beneath the truth you need to reveal
Well I came to know now darlin'
Need to know what's going on
But come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
Now you walk with your eyes open
But your lips they remain sealed
While the vows we made are broken
Beneath the truth we fear to reveal
I need to know now darlin'
Need to know what's going on
So come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
There's a code of silence that we don't dare speak
A wall between us and the river's deep
We keep pretending that there's nothing wrong
But there's a code of silence
And it can't go on, (can't go on), can't go on
And it can't go on, and it can't go on, and it can't go on
And it can't go on, yeah yeah (can't go on), and it can't go on
(Can't go on baby), and it can't go on, (can't go on)
No it can't go on, (can't go on)
Aha, aha
Aha, aha
Aha, aha
Aha, aha
The above lyrics are for the live 29 Jun 2000 performance of CODE OF SILENCE at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, during The Reunion Tour. It was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 3-disc edition) compilation album. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance (for a solo vocal performance - Singles or Tracks only) in 2005.
In the liner notes found in The Essential Bruce Springsteen booklet, Springsteen wrote about CODE OF SILENCE: "Written with Joe Grushecky in the winter of '97 and recorded live in NYC on the '99 tour with the E Street Band."
The 29 Jun 2000 show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, was the ninth of ten consecutive shows at the arena that concluded The Reunion Tour. Some of this show aired as part of HBO's Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live In New York City TV special and was subsequently included on the Live In New York City album and home video in 2001.
The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released as part of Sony BMG'S (previously Sony Music Entertainment) series of "Essential" sets. According to Springsteen's liner notes comments, the collection was intended as an introduction to his music for new fans who attended shows on The Rising Tour.
The collection is fundamentally a 2-disc set (clocking at 153:37) compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Live In New York City release. A 3-disc limited edition (clocking at 201:04) was also released. It includes a bonus third disc comprising of a selection of rarities and previously unreleased recordings.
The Essential Bruce Springsteen was released on 11 Nov 2003 on Columbia Records. It debuted and peaked at #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart where it spent 13 weeks. It also reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was awarded certified gold and platinum records by the RIAA on 16 Dec 2003.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Disc 3:
The Essential Bruce Springsteen was reissued on 16 Oct 2015, this time as a 2-disc set (clocking at 156:25) with an updated track list, compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Greatest Hits (1995 edition) collection. This 2015 reissue features remastered tracks not found in that form on other Springsteen releases.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Bruce Springsteen's live 29 Jun 2000 version of CODE OF SILENCE, which was officially released in 2003 on The Essential Bruce Springsteen, won a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance (for a solo vocal performance - Singles or Tracks only) in 2005. Springsteen did not attend the award ceremony, which took place on 13 Feb 2005 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance award was given out before the broadcast, and acknowledged during the broadcast by a flash of text at the bottom of the screen.
List of available versions of CODE OF SILENCE on this website:
CODE OF SILENCE [Joe Grushecky's album version]
