On one level, this cover has no business working as well as it does.
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” is an angry song–anger born out of frustration.
But if we listen to Bruce’s lyrics carefully, we realize that while Bruce sings “Darkness” in a tone of determination and defiance, at its core it’s a song of addiction and defeat.
Midwest band The Winter Blanket gets it. Their cover taps into the isolation and resignation of the point-of-view character and reinvents the song as one of quiet contemplation and acceptance of one’s lot in life.
The result is a delicate, introspective recasting of one of Bruce’s most well-known songs, by a band that clearly understands and honors Bruce’s songwriting.
Take a listen:
