2008-10-04 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA

Scheduled: 15:30 Local Start Time ??:?? / End Time ??:??

Info & Setlist | Venue

Bruce begins a three city solo mini-tour in support of Barack Obama's presidential bid.

Obama Election Rally

Bruce Springsteen

Intro to “The Promised Land”
“Hello (crowd cheers) Philadelphia (crowd cheers) oh yeah…I thank the Governor, I’m not Barack Obama but I’ll do my best (crowd cheers)…it’s a pleasure to be here today, I heard they’ve registered thousands and thousands of voters – I salute you (crowd cheers) it’s great to be here in my home away from home, Philly (crowd cheers) alright…”

Intro to “Thunder Road”
“Thank you…thank you very much…alright…here we go…alright, I tried this four years ago – this time we’re winning (chuckles) (crowd cheers)…”

Intro to “No Surrender”
“Thank you for your kind assistance (crowd cheers) alright…I think I need a G-harp, though…oh, yeah-yeah-yeah, sorry…alright, better tell (?)…”

Intro to “Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?”
“Well done (crowd cheers) well done, Philadelphia (crowd cheers)… this is a song, uh, I played many, many times back at the old Main Point (crowd cheers)…”

Intro to “The Rising”
“Thank you, thank you so much (crowd cheers)…we got a Spinal Tap-problem, wait a minute (makes a sort of sound of something breaking down)(chuckles) alright…one second…be right there…I’ve got a short little thing to say…I don’t really need that right now…oh boy, I need a rock (?)…alright, as I said, I’m glad…I’m glad to be here today for this voter registration drive and, and for Barack Obama (crowd cheers) the next President of the United States (crowd cheers) I've, uh…I’ve spent 35 years writing about America, its people and the meaning of the American Promise…that’s the Promise that was handed down to us, right here in this city (crowd cheers) from our founding fathers, with one instruction, that was “Do your best to make these things real”…opportunity, equality, social and economic justice, a fair shake for all of our citizens, the American idea, as a positive influence, around the world for a more just and peaceful existence – these are the things that give our lives hope and they give our lives shape and meaning and these are the ties that bind us together and give us faith in our contract with one another (crowd cheers) I've, uh, I’ve spent most of my creative life measuring, uh…measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality and for many Americans, who are today losing their jobs and their homes or seeing their retirement funds disappear, who have no healthcare, or who have been abandoned in our inner cities…the distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful for people… I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work and I think he understands, in his heart, the cost of that distance, in blood and in suffering, in the lives of everyday Americans and I believe that as President…I think he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning (crowd applauds) after the, uh…disastrous administration of the past eight years…what we really need is we need somebody to lead us in an American reclamation project (crowd cheers) now, in my job, in my job, I travel around the world and I occasionally play big stadiums, just like Senator Obama (chuckles) and I've continued to find, wherever I go, that America remains a repository of people's hopes and possibilities and desires, and that despite the terrible erosion to our standing in the world, accomplished by our recent administration, we remain, for many, many people, this house of dreams, and one thousand George Bushes and one thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down (crowd cheers) they will…they will, however…they will, however, be leaving office (crowd cheers) that’s the good news (crowd cheers) the bad news is that they’ll be leaving office dropping the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq and our financial crisis in our laps…our sacred house of dreams has been abused, it’s been looted and it’s been left in a terrible state of disrepair…it needs care, it needs saving and it needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power or a quick buck (crowd cheers) it needs strong arms…it needs a citizenry of strong arms, hearts, minds, it needs someone with Senator Obama’s understanding, his temperateness, his deliberativeness, his maturity, compassion, toughness and faith, to help us rebuild our house once again (crowd cheers) but most importantly, it needs you (chuckles) and me (chuckles) it needs us …it needs us to re-build our house with the generosity that is at the heart of the American spirit, a house that’s truer and big enough to contain the hopes and dreams of all of our fellow citizens because that’s where our future lies and we will rise or we will fall as a people by our ability to accomplish this task and now I don't know about you, but I know that I want my house back, I want my America back and I want my country back (crowd cheers) so…I say now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising (crowd cheers)…”

Intro to “This Land Is Your Land”
“Thank you, Philly (crowd cheers) let’s build that house (crowd cheers)…(crowd starts yelling out “Yes we can”)…something by an old house builder right here…”

After “This Land Is Your Land”
“It’s up to you now (crowd cheers)…thank you, Philly, thank you, Pennsylvania (crowd cheers) Obama, Obama – get out there and vote (crowd cheers) let’s build that house, let’s build that house (crowd cheers) thank you (crowd cheers)…”

^{Compiled by : Johanna Pirttijärvi.}

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Bruce Springsteen Inspires Voters With Passionate Acoustic Set at Philadelphia Rally

On Saturday, Bruce Springsteen kicked off three days of Vote For Change concerts on behalf of Barack Obama with a powerful acoustic set that drew estimated 50,000 to the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Cutting a distinctly Woody Guthriesque profile in rolled up flannel, denim and tousled hair, Springsteen stood atop a 30 foot high stage emblazoned with the word “CHANGE” and belted out a seven-song, 45 minute acoustic set as a gift for Obama volunteers and a catalyst for the disengaged to register to vote. Plenty of people heard the call — according to the Obama campaign, some 21,000 new voters were registered as a result of the event.

“I’m not Barack Obama, but I’ll do my best,” said Springsteen, before wheezing his harmonica like an angry freight train launching into a tense, jingle-jangle reading of “The Promised Land,” his 1978 affirmation of faith in the ideal American in a time of dwindling opportunity and diminished expectations.

Four songs later — including a like-minded “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” the obligatory “Thunder Road” and the rarely-heard “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” — Bruce spoke humbly about why he believes in Barack Obama. “I’ve spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful. I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning.”

After a mournful rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” Springsteen sent the people back out onto the streets with marching orders to take their country back from “those who who would sell it down the river for a quick buck.”

^{By Jonathan Valania via Rolling Stone.}

Springsteen for Obama

The big draw for a crowd of nearly 50,000 at a get-out-the-vote rally in Philadelphia on Saturday was not Senator Barack Obama, whose campaign was sponsoring the rally, but Bruce Springsteen. The Boss performed a free, 40-minute set on Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th and 22nd Streets in Center City. Mr. Springsteen likened the country to a house that needs rebuilding: “I don’t know about you, but I want my house back — I want my America back, and I want my country back,” he told the crowd before playing “The Rising,” a song inspired by 9/11. Mr. Springsteen continued his three-day swing for Mr. Obama with a concert at Ohio State University in Columbus on Sunday and is scheduled to perform at Oestrike Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Monday afternoon.

^{By Steven McElroy via The New York Times.}

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