The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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)
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)
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One of Bruce's most autobiographical song's about returning home and seeing his Father, who Bruce never got along with.
How good are the lines "In the darkness of your room, your mother calls you by your true name"
"Daddy worked his whole life for nothing but the pain Now he walks these empty rooms looking for something to blame"
Once again, Bruce proving he is the greatest song-writer of all time.
"you're born into this life paying for someone else's past"
amazing. that's basically all there is to it.
you inherit the sins YOU INHERIT THE FLLLAAAYAYYYYMEMEZZZZ
haha 100% charged, hard, raspy bruce
dude this is probably the best song off the whole album between the amazing guitar, lyrics and powerful vocals from bruce, he was wasnt even singing, more like moaning and wailing into the mike, so raw and magnificent, only bruce could do it. As for the lyrics, even the title gets you thinking, proposing the idea that it was the father adam that raised cain to be the terrible son he was makes you take a whole other outlook on the story, plus he worked this idea into his own relationship with his father. the best lines by far are: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 What a picture!!! this is really the guts of an explosive relationship with a father. Kind of like you cant stand your old man, but you are so exactly like him in so many ways, and he is responsible for everything you dont like about yourself... man i could go on but this song does the job
F£$%ing love this song. The guitar at the start and between the 2nd + 3rd verse is awesome. Love the vocals on this song too.
I think this song is about not having a great father and sort of inheriting his problems. You get his bad attitude, his problems, his doubts, his fears, etc. You also know that all his trouble never really got him anywhere.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these lyrics mistitled? I think the name of the song is "Adam Raised a Cain" not "Adam Raised a Cane"
It should be "Adam raised a Cain". In the Bible Adam was the father of Cain and Able. And Cain killed Able, so I don't know if The Boss is saying that if someone is raised in a tought and violent household, then they are likely to do something that they will regret?
The song title is self-evident that the title is wrong. Anyway, yes, it is "Cain" referencing Cain and Abel from the Bible.
just another angry track from his best record.
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.
The sins of the father are visited upon the son... the narrator loves his father but is aware that he risks being tied to his failures and wants to break free of them.