Dusty Springfield - SON OF A PREACHER MAN

First performance: 10/04/2005

Coverinfo

Bruce played the song 2 times, both The Stone Pony and both as schoolbenifits. He played the song together with Patti Scialfa.
 
2005-04-10 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ (Rumson Country Day School Benefit)
The fourth annual Rumson Country Day School benefit concert. The band consisted of Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Bandiera, Joey Stann, Muddy Shews, Joe Bellia, Kevin Kavanaugh, Ed Manion and Chris Anderson.  
 
2006-09-17 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ (Ranney School Benefit)
Private benefit for parents and teachers of the Ranney School of Tinton Falls, NJ with Bobby Bandiera's band (plus saxophonist Ed Manion on several songs) backing Bruce.
 

Songinfo

"Son of a Preacher Man" is a song written and composed by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins and recorded by British singer Dusty Springfield in September 1968 for the album Dusty in Memphis. "Son of a Preacher Man" was to be the last Top Ten chart hit for Springfield for almost 20 years, till she teamed up with Pet Shop Boys for the single "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" in 1987. In 1967, songwriters John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins", were asked by Jerry Wexler to write a song for Aretha Franklin. Remembering the fact that Franklin's father was a preacher, as Wilkins's grandfather had been, Hurley and Wilkins quickly came up with "Son of a Preacher Man". Wexler liked the song and recorded it with Aretha Franklin, but then decided that it did not fit with her other songs and passed the song on to Dusty Springfield .
 
 
 

Other cover versions

 
  • The song was recorded by Franklin's older sister Erma, who included it on her 1969 Brunswick album Soul Sister.

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

Billy Ray was a preacher's son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered around and starting talkin'
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
Then he'd look into my eyes
Lord knows, to my surprise

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacherman
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacherman
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was

Bein' good isn't always easy
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet-talkin' to me
He'd come'n tell me "Everything is all right"
He'd kiss and tell me "Everything is all right"
Can I get away again tonight?

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacherman
The only boy who can ever teach me
Was the son of a preacherman
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was (yes he was)

How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Takin' time to make time
Tellin' me that he's all mine
Learnin' from each other's knowin'
Lookin' to see how much we've grown and

The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacherman
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacherman
Yes he was, he was, ooh, yes he was

(The only one who could ever reach me)
He was the sweet-talkin' son of a preacherman
(The only boy who could ever teach me)
Was the son of a preacherman

(The only one who could ever reach me)
Was the sweet-talkin' son of a preacherman