MY CITY OF RUINS

Album version

There's a blood red circle on the cold dark ground
And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open, I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Now the sweet bells of mercy drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner like scattered leaves
The boarded up windows, the empty streets
While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up

Now there's tears on the pillow, darling, where we slept
And you took my heart when you left
Without your sweet kiss my soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins

Now with these hands, with these hands
With these hands, with these hands
I pray, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for the strength, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for the faith, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for your love, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for the strength, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for your love, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for the faith, Lord (with these hands), alright (with these hands)
I pray for the strength, Lord (with these hands), come on (with these hands), come on
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up, come on rise up
Come on rise up

Info

MY CITY OF RUINS is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 2002 album The Rising. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of MY CITY OF RUINS as released on The Rising.

Writing and Recording

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The Rising

The Rising is Bruce Springsteen's 12th studio album, released on 30 Jul 2002 on Columbia Records. It's Springsteen's first studio album in seven years and his first with the E Street Band in 18 years. The album was produced and mixed by Brendan O'Brien and recorded with the E Street Band between January and March 2002 at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, GA. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2003, and was also nominated for the Album Of The Year award.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Rising

The album features 15 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 72:52.

Other Official Releases

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Other versions of MY CITY OF RUINS were also officially released.

The live 21 Sep 2001 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the America: A Tribute To Heroes various artists album and home video in 2001.

The live 16 Jun 2003 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the Helsinki June 16, 2003 official live download in 2018.

The live 30 Apr 2006 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans April 30, 2006 official live download in 2017.

The live 17 Nov 2006 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band PBS Exclusive EP in 2007.

The live 09 Mar 2012 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the Apollo Theater 03/09/12 official live download in 2014.

The live 28 Jul 2012 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the Gothenburg July 28, 2012 official live download in 2020.

The live 22 Sep 2012 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the East Rutherford, NJ 09.22.12 official live download in 2019.

The live 31 Jul 2012 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the Olympiastadion, Helsinki July 31, 2012 official live download in 2017.

The live 12 Nov 2012 version of MY CITY OF RUINS was released on the St. Paul, MN Nov 12, 2012 official live download in 2020.

Live History: on-tour

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Live History: off-tour

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MY CITY OF RUINS was performed off-tour on 21 Sep 2001 at Sony Music Studios in New York City, NY, during the "America: A Tribute To Heroes" benefit concert. See the live 21 Sep 2001 version for more details.

Appearance in Movies

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Covers

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At least 10 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's MY CITY OF RUINS.

Kevin Bachus -- Childhood Dreams

CD - no label (no catalog number) - Holland, 2005

This album includes 6 Bruce Springsteen covers (out of 12 tracks)

Andrew Nicholson -- Lost Highway: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

CD - no label (no catalog number) - UK, 2008

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

The Hit Co. -- A Tribute To The Best Of Bruce Springsteen Box Set

Digital album - Planet Music (unknown catalog number) - unknown country, 2010

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It was also released the same year as three separate volumes: Long Live The Boss: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen Vol. 1 1973-1985, Long Live The Boss: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen Vol. 2 1980-1989, and Long Live The Boss: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen Vol. 3 1990-2009. A Tribute To The Best Of Bruce Springsteen Box Set however includes two tracks not found on the three separate volumes. In 2012, the same tracks found on A Tribute To The Best Of Bruce Springsteen Box Set were distributed over three download-only digital Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp tribute albums: Working Class Heroes: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, Vol. 1, Working Class Heroes: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, Vol. 2, and Working Class Heroes: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, Vol. 3.

The Boss Band -- The Ultimate Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

Digital album - Big Eye Music (unknown catalog number) - USA, 2011

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Catch This Beat -- Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

Digital album - Talking Clive (unknown catalog number) - USA, 2012

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Déjà Vu -- Tribute To Working Class Hero Bruce Springsteen - Vol. 2

Digital album - Zulu (unknown catalog number) - USA, 2012

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Lorenzo "FullG" Bianchi -- Via Emilia Shuffle

CD - no label (no catalog number) - Italy, 2016

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Various artists -- Las Vaquitas Son Ajenas: Visión Social y Politica de Bruce Springsteen

CD EP - no label (no catalog number) - Argentina, 2016

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute EP. MY CITY OF RUINS is performed by Sicofante.

Heaven Is Shining -- Born In The USA

Digital album - Rosenklang (unknown catalog number) - Germany, 2021

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

A Voice In The World -- We Sing For Our Blood

Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - Portugal, 2022

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Available Versions

List of available versions of MY CITY OF RUINS on this website:

Page last updated: 25 May 2017