| HIGH HOPES - V1 | 3:31 | YBNT2 |
| HIGH HOPES - V2 | 4:20 | BB: EP |
| HIGH HOPES - V3 | 2:46 | private |
| HIGH HOPES - V4 | uncirculating | |
| HIGH HOPES - V5 | uncirculating | |
| HIGH HOPES - V6 | 4:57 | HOPES |
Note: Song written in 1987 by Tim McConnell (aka Tim Scott). Recorded by Springsteen in January, 1995 at The Hit Factory, New York City. V1 is a brief snippet of a different recorded take, as heard in the video. V2 is the complete take officially issued on the Blood Brothers EP. V3 is an alternative, rather funky arrangement with low, almost whispered lyrics and is reminiscent of War's "Spill The Wine". The take is aborted early, with Bruce requesting a cup of tea.
Thanks to a text by Tom Morello, who was filling in for actor Steve Van Zandt on the ten-day 2013 Australian tour, Springsteen decided to open the March 16 Brisbane show with "High Hopes", the first time he has ever played it live! He also phoned Nick Didia, former Southern Tracks studio engineer, now living Down-Under at Byron Bay, 750 km from Sydney. Nick made arrangements for time at Studios 301 in Sydney the next day, as well as an evening slot for Morello at their Byron Bay branch office (running late from Brisbane). On March 17, 2013, a travel day to Sydney, the E Street Band arrived at the studio in the afternoon, recording two takes of "High Hopes" V4 and V5, and completing "Just Like Fire Would", in an unknown number of takes. The word is Morello recorded his parts at Byron Bay late into the night, but he was on time and ready next day for the opener in Sydney, with "High Hopes" still in the lineup. V6 is the final album track that opens High Hopes, featuring numerous overdubs, courtesy of co-producer Ron Aniello, recorded later that year in New York and Los Angeles. On November 19, 2013, a CD-R single, digital download and video were all released, well ahead of the January 2014 album date.