Traditional - Samson And Delilah

First performance: 05/10/2006


Coverinfo

Performed only once during the Seeger Sessions tour in 2006:
 
 
2006-10-05 Arena Di Verona, Verona, Italy 
 
First ever Springsteen versions of "Samson And Delilah" and "Valerie", both in one-off performances.
 
 
 

Songinfo

"Samson and Delilah" is a traditional song based on the Biblical tale of Samson and his betrayal by Delilah. Many versions of this song were sung in the years by several artists. under the name "If I Had My Way" . Most famously is the version by Blind Willie Johnson. Bruce's rendition of the song is mostly close to Reverend Gary Davis' version. 
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
I'd tear this building down
Well Delilah, she was a woman who was fine and fair
Now she had good looks, God knows and coal black hair
Delilah, she came into Samson's mind
And the first he saw this woman, well she looked so fine
Now Delilah, she set down on Samson's knee
And said tell me where your strength lies (if you please)
She spoke so kind and she talked so fair
'Til Samson said "Delilah, you can cut off my hair
You can (shave my head), just as clean as my hand
My strength will come as natural as any man"

If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
I'd tear this building down

(Hoo-hoo) you read about old Samson (hoo-hoo) from his birth
(Hoo-hoo) that Samson was the strongest man that (hoo-hoo) lived on Earth
(Hoo-hoo) so one day while he was (hoo-hoo) walkin' along
Well he (hoo-hoo) looked on the ground and saw an (hoo-hoo) old jawbone
Now he (hoo-hoo) stretched out his arm! And it (hoo-hoo) broke like flint
(Hoo-hoo) when he got to movin' ten (hoo-hoo) thousand men was dead, well

If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
I'd tear this building down

Well old Samson and the lion now they got in an attack
And Samson he jumped up onto the lion's back
So you read about this lion killed a man with his paws
But Samson got his hand in the lion's jaws
And he (rode that beast) until he (killed him dead)
As the bees made honey in the lion's head
Woo-hoooo
If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way! (if I had my way)
I'd tear this building down
Hoo-hoo
Hoo-hoo
If I had my way (if I had my way)
If I had my way now (if I had my way)
If I had my way (if I had my way)
I swear I'd tear this building down

Hey now!
If I had my way (if I had my way)