FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)

Dave Edmunds' cover version

At sixteen she quit high school to make her fortune in the promised land
She got a job behind the counter in an all-night hamburger stand
She wrote faithfully home to mama, "now mama don't you worry none"
From small things, mama, big things one day come

It was late one Friday, he pulled in out of the dark
He was tall and handsome, first she took his order then she took his heart
They bought a house up on the hillside, where little feet would soon run
From small things, mama, big things one day come

Oh but love is fleeting, it's sad but it's true
When your heart is beating, you don't wanna hear the news
She packed her bags and with a Wyomie country real estate man
She drove down to Tampa with an "El Dorado Grande"
She wrote back, "Dear Mama, life is just heaven in the sun
From small things, mama, big things one day come"
Whoah!

Well she shot him dead on a sunny Florida road
When they caught her all she said was she couldn't stand the way he drove

Back home lonesome Johnny waits for his baby's parole
He waits high on the hillside where the Wyomie rivers roll
At his feet and almost grown now, a blue-eyed daughter and a handsome son
From small things, mama, big things one day come
From small things, mama, big things one day come
Well, from small things, mama, big things one day come

From small things, mama, big things one day come
From small things, mama, big things one day come
Yeah, from small things, mama, big things one day come

Info

The above lyrics are for Dave Edmunds' cover version of Bruce Springsteen's FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME). The song was released on his 1982 album D.E. 7th.

Dave Edmunds -- D.E. 7th

LP - Arista (SPART 1184) - UK, 1982

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played a six-nights stand (29 and 30 May and 01, 02, 04, and 05 Jun 1981) at Wembley Arena, London, as part of The River Tour. When British rock veteran Dave Edmunds went to see Springsteen perform at Wembley Arena, he expected a good show but not necessarily a new song to record. "I was backstage in the hospitality area after the gig," Edmunds remembered, "and one of his crew of road managers tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Bruce wants to meet you.' I went back and had this great talk with him, and he played me this song and said, 'I'd like you to do this, if you like it.' He said he'd send me the tape, which he did." The song was FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME). Edmunds recorded it and released it as the opening track of his 1982 album D.E. 7th. He also released the song as a single which peaked only at #28 on the US Mainstream Rock singles chart. But the presence of a previously unrecorded Springsteen song in the wake of The River's success was enough to give Edmunds his highest charting album of his career: #56 on the Billboard Top 200.

Single Releases

Dave Edmunds' cover version of FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME) was released a single in the U.S., Europe, and other countries. It was also used as a B-side.

Dave Edmunds -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) / Your True Love"

7" single - Arista (K-8860) - Australia, 1982

Comes in a die-cut company sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things Big Things Come" on the label.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- YOUR TRUE LOVE [Live]

Dave Edmunds / Fashion -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) / Move On"

7" single - Arista (PROMO-1) - Australia, 1982

Shared promo, comes in a card wraparound sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on the label.

A1- Dave Edmunds: FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- Fashion: MOVE ON

Dave Edmunds -- Me And The Boys

7" single - Arista (104 130) - France, 1982

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things" on the sleeve and "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on the label.

A1- ME AND THE BOYS
B1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)

Dave Edmunds -- From Small Things, Big Things Come

7" single - Arista (104.085) - Germany, 1982

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on the sleeve and on the label.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- LOUISISANA MAN

Dave Edmunds -- From Small Things, Big Things Come

7" single - Arista (ARI 8201) - Holland, 1982

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on the sleeve and on the label.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- DEAR DAD

Dave Edmunds -- "The Wanderer / From Small Things, Big Things Come / Your True Love"

7" EP - Arista (ARI 8200) - Holland, 1982

This is a promotional EP included as a bonus with some Scandinavian copies Edmunds' 1982 album D.E. 7th.

A1- THE WANDERER
A2- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- YOUR TRUE LOVE [Live]

Dave Edmunds -- "De Las Cosas Chicas Vienen Las Grandes / Besos Recalentados"

7" single - Arista (104.445) - Mexico, 1982

Comes in a die-cut company sleeve. The song is titled "De Las Cosas Chicas Vienen Las Grandes" in Spanish on the label.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- WARMED OVER KISSES (LEFT OVER LOVE)

Dave Edmunds -- From Small Things, Big Things Come

7" single - Arista (ARI 8201) - Sweden, 1982

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on the sleeve and on the label.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- DEAR DAD

Dave Edmunds -- From Small Things Big Things 1 Day Come

7" single - Arista (ARIST 478) - UK, 1982

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things Big Things 1 Day Come" on the sleeve and "From Small Things Big Things Come" on the label.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- YOUR TRUE LOVE [Live]

Dave Edmunds -- From Small Things Big Things Come

7" single - Arista (ARIST 468 / ARIST 478) - UK, 1982

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things Big Things Come" on both the sleeve and the label. The sleeve has catalog number ARIST 468 and the labels have catalog number ARIST 478.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- YOUR TRUE LOVE [Live]

Dave Edmunds -- "The Wanderer / From Small Things, Big Things Come / Your True Love"

7" EP - Arista (JUKE 1) - UK, 1982

This is a promotional EP included as a bonus with some UK copies Edmunds' 1982 album D.E. 7th.

A1- THE WANDERER
A2- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- YOUR TRUE LOVE [Live]

Dave Edmunds -- Something About You Baby

12" EP - Arista (ARIST 12562) - UK, 1984

Comes in a picture sleeve. The song is titled "From Small Things Big Things Come" on the sleeve and "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on the label.

A1- SOMETHING ABOUT YOU [Extended Version]
B1- SLIPPING AWAY
B2- WARMED OVER KISSES (LEFT OVER LOVE)
B3- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B4- CAN'T GET ENOUGH

Dave Edmunds -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) / Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)"

7" single - Columbia (18-02960) - USA, 1982

Comes in a die-cut Columbia company sleeve.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- WARMED OVER KISSES (LEFT OVER LOVE)

Dave Edmunds -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)"

7" single - Columbia (18-02960) - USA, 1982

Promo issue, white labels. Comes in a die-cut Columbia company sleeve.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)

Dave Edmunds -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)"

7" single - Columbia (18-02960) - USA, 1982

Promo issue, sunburst labels. Comes in a die-cut Columbia company sleeve.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)

Dave Edmunds -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) / Run Rudolph Run"

7" single - Columbia (13-05487) - USA, 1985

Columbia's "Hall Of Fame" series reissue, comes in a die-cut "Hall Of Fame" company sleeve.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- RUN RUDOLPH RUN

Dave Edmunds -- "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) / Run Rudolph Run"

7" single - Columbia (13-05487) - USA, late 1980's

Collectables reissue, comes in a die-cut Collectables company sleeve.

A1- FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME)
B1- RUN RUDOLPH RUN

Other Official Releases

Dave Edmunds' cover version of FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME) also appears on several other releases, including some various artists Bruce Springsteen tribute albums.

Various artists -- New Music Seminar Sampler

2xLP - Columbia (A2S 1521) - USA, 1982

White label promotional release. The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- Cover Me

LP - Rhino (RNIN 70700) - USA, 1986
MC - Rhino (RNIC 70700) - USA, 1986

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It was reissued in 1989 under the same title. It includes one track not found on the 1989 reissue and is missing three tracks found only on the 1989 reissue. The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- Cover Me

CD - Rhino (R2 70700) - USA, 1989

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It's a reissue of the 1986 release of the same title. It includes three tracks not found on the 1989 reissue and is missing one track found only on the 1986 release. The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- Songs From The Boss

LP - Dover Records (ADD 3) - UK, 1988
MC - Dover Records (ZDD 3) - UK, 1988
CD - Dover Records (CCD 3) - UK, 1988

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- Rock Guitar Legends Volume 2

3xCD - Knight (RGLCD 47006) - France, 1991
4xMC - Knight (RGLMC 47006) - France, 1991

The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Grow" on this release.

Various artists -- The Rock Collection: Guitar Rock

2xCD - Time Life Music (TL 527/29) - Europe, 1993

The song is titled "From Small Things Big Things Grow" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- The Dave Edmunds Anthology (1968-1990)

2xCD - Rhino (R2 71191) - USA, 1993

The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- Chronicles

CD - Connoisseur Collection (VSOP CD 209) - UK, 1994

The song is titled "From Small Things Big Things Will Come" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- Best Of Dave Edmunds

CD - Arista / RCA / BMG (BVCA-7326) - Japan, 1995

The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on this release.

Various artists -- The Bruce Springsteen Songbook

CD - Connoisseur Collection (VSOP CD 224) - UK, 1996

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Come" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- Rockin'

CD - Camden / BMG (74321 451922) - Europe, 1997

The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Grow" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- I Hear You Knocking

CD - Cedar / Zounds Music (2700020084 B) - Germany, 1999

The song is titled "From Small Things, Big Things Grow" on this release.

Various artists -- Guitar Heroes

3xCD - Sony Music (A3K 53348) - USA, 2001

The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- From Small Things: The Best Of Dave Edmunds

CD - Columbia / Legacy (CK 90278) - USA, 2004

The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Dave Edmunds -- Here Comes The Weekend

CD - Sony BMG Music Entertainment (A 94328) - USA, 2005

The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- If I Were The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen

CD - Castle (CMQCD1422) - UK, 2006

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- Rock & Roll Highway

3xCD - Sony Special Products (SSP27495.2) - USA, 2006

The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Various artists -- All Time Best

CD - Sony Music / Arista (88875022192) - Germany, 2014

The song is titled "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" on this release.

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Some of the information on this page is taken from Gary Graff's 2005 book The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen A to E to Z. Information about some of the above releases is taken from the Nebraska website.

Request

Please contact me if you have scans for or info about any official release containing Dave Edmunds' cover version of FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME) that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following releases:

• Dave Edmunds -- "De Las Cosas Chicas Vienen Las Grandes / Besos Recalentados" || 7" single - Arista (104.445) - Mexico, 1982

Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .

Available Versions

List of available versions of FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME) on this website:

Page last updated: 12 Dec 2015