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One Step Up Lyrics

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Woke up this morning my house was cold
Checked out the furnace she wasn't burnin'
Went out and hoped in my old Ford
Hit the engine but she ain't turnin'
We've given each other some hard lessons lately
But we ain't learnin'
We're the same sad story that's a fact
One step up and two steps back

Bird on a wire outside my motel room
But he ain't singin'
Girl in white outside a church in June
But the church bells they ain't ringing
I'm sittin' here in this bar tonight
But all I'm thinkin' is
I'm the same old story same old act
One step up and two steps back

It's the same thing night on night
Who's wrong baby who's right
Another fight and I slam the door on
Another battle in our dirty little war
When I look at myself I don't see
The man I wanted to be
Somewhere along the line I slipped off track
I'm caught movin' one step up and two steps back

There's a girl across the bar
I get the message she's sendin'
Mmm she ain't lookin' to married
And me well honey I'm pretending
Last night I dreamed I held you in my arms
The music was never-ending
We danced as the evening sky faded to black
One step up and two steps back

Comments/Interpretations

by Asha on 6/20/2008 4:23pm
everytime i read these lyrics I think of the one who was not meant to be - and shed a tear....

by Jesse on 7/29/2008 11:23pm
This is one of the saddest songs and poetically moving I have heard. The boss is a musical god...

by Michelle on 9/25/2008 11:30pm
easy to get lost in this song.

by adu on 11/12/2008 10:06pm
wish I wasn't living this song...but it's good to know I'm not alone.

by yael on 1/17/2009 8:15am
you are not...

by Herb on 2/1/2009 4:49am
Last night I watched an episode of "Cold Case" about a young couple that drifted apart over the years, and this song was played during some scenes... I`m 48, and not the sentimental kind, but it made me very sad.
There is an Austrian (Ostbahn Kurti) who sang the song in Viennese dialect, I like that very much, too.
Although, Bruce is great, one of my favourite American artists.

by Auron on 4/18/2009 10:44pm
yeah adu, what yael said...

by P on 5/21/2009 7:15pm
You're not alone, that's for sure.

by Brian on 5/26/2009 12:24pm
Similar chord progressions to The Wrestler. Similar story, too. Hmmm...

by John on 7/16/2009 12:39pm
Just beautiful. Everyone's been there, married or not.

by ursula on 8/18/2009 12:39pm
beautiful song.... well he is THE BOSS after al.....
love you Bruce

by Blair on 11/25/2009 10:35am
I tell you that this song can be heard many different ways...My dad is secretly planning to leave my mom after 27 years of marriage and I can tell you he hears it his own way which make me very sad and fed up! He is just sooooo nonsensical! But I don't really care about him, what I want is for my mom to be happy and free at last! THIS IS OF COURSE A GREAT SONG AND I JUST LOVE BRUCE,HE'S MY VERY FAVOURITE! Take all great care of you and of your love because you're never safe in this matter...

by Josh on 10/2/2010 7:37am
I heard this song when I was young. It sounded mellow and relaxing. As I grow into midlife and live through (if not all) these passages it makes sense and ironically think of when I didn't know the meaning and was just a 'easy, mellow and relaxing' song.

by jake on 10/21/2010 3:47pm
i like kenny chesney version

by Theresa on 11/2/2010 2:09am
this song has been constantly in my head the last week...it's so beautiful and sad

by Satanya on 11/16/2010 3:13pm
Song hits me in the heart like a freight train, Right now it's my turn to go through it.

by Rob on 11/17/2010 8:42pm
Eddie Vedder Did a great version before he was in Pearl Jam

by lisa on 3/13/2011 2:42pm
..just before my sister died i told her about this song,and how it reminded me of my own life..i especially like the verse..same old story,same old act....

by Piyush Sinha on 3/25/2011 1:13am
I connect with this song to myself than any other song....what a song...brilliant...thank you Bruce for such a beautiful song...

by holly on 3/28/2011 2:39pm
Jake, I just heard the Kenny verson, and thought to myself, gee, this reminds me of a Bruce song. Googled it, and sure enough! I'm a HUGE KC fan, and my BF is a huge Bruce fan, I thought it was weird that I picked up on that fact that it's a Bruce song.
I do admit, I really like the Kenny version.

by Jim on 6/29/2011 6:51pm
Isn't it funny (not) that a song you've heard many times before over the years that meant nothing to you one day becomes the story of your life? And for the record...I love you Nicole.

by Jeanette on 7/13/2011 2:40pm
Can relate to this song sooooooooo much.
By the way Jim i luv you more than anything in this world, never ever forget that xxxx

by vincent on 12/10/2011 10:03pm
the song is for all of us at one point in time it hits home and stays there for a long time

by jj on 9/19/2012 7:09pm
it's music, don't freak out

by Asmar on 9/21/2012 7:18pm
Been grooving on The Boss since near the beginning. When he dropped this one, it fit then. Unfortunately, I have relived it, several times over. Even till this day. At least I still the music. They can't take that away from me.

by Val on 10/5/2012 12:30pm
Always makes me want to cry

by Mike on 11/9/2012 2:49am
This reminds me of my life right now. My marriage is great, addiction is the problem. "When I look at myself I don't see the man I wanted to be"

by Murph on 2/21/2013 12:12am
Music hits everyone in their own way. The song may be about the past... Or serve as a guide of how to live life and take advantage of opportunities that present themselves.

by dave on 3/7/2013 7:13am
great song
makes me thing of love lost, my ex....

by jj on 8/25/2013 8:39pm
Truly beautiful heartwrenching song.I heard it first when I was 18 and didn't think much of it til now that I'm in midlife.The lyrics are both beautiful and painful at the same time. Bruce Rocks.

by javi on 8/25/2013 8:40pm
Truly beautiful heartwrenching song.I heard it first when I was 18 and didn't think much of it til now that I'm in midlife.The lyrics are both beautiful and painful at the same time. Bruce Rocks.

by Tom on 11/27/2013 8:26pm
Great song! Especially the guitar riff. The lyrics are sad, so they're easy to relate to. Just don't stay sad!! Life's too damn good for that :)

by Tom on 1/12/2014 4:24pm
The past few days I've been listening to this. I've done some stupid things.
When I look at myself I don't see the man I wanted to be, somewhere along the line I slipped off track. I'm the same old story, same old act.

This is a lovely, mellow song, I've heard it a number of times when it's come on my iPod on shuffle or when I've listened to the Tunnel of Love album, but it's only these past few days I've really LISTENED to it. Simple but amazing lyrics, and as with any song you can interpret it how you like and mould the meaning to fit your life and your outlook. I hope I can be the man I wanted to be.

by allen on 9/7/2014 6:40am
Heather inzerma We both have been through our stuff. ou are my best friend. I love you and am sorry if we hurt each other. You are the love of my life.

by sherry on 9/21/2014 3:53pm
Obviously Kenny Chesney likes Bruce's version or he wouldn't have covered it

by Larry on 11/12/2014 3:38pm
This song's theme fits my life perfectly. I know what I am and I'm nothing to be proud of. Hard lessons, slamming doors in another chapter of our dirty little war, one that nobody really wins. Life doesn't owe you a happy ending.