Track 11 of Born In The U.S.A., 1984.
- Credits
- Performances
- Multiples
- Released on Album
- Released as Live Download
- On The Tracks
- Media
- Lyrics
- Links
- Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
- Roy Bittan: piano, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Clarence Clemons: saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
- Danny Federici: organ, glockenspiel
- Garry Tallent: bass, backing vocals
- Max Weinberg: drums, backing vocals
- Arthur Baker Remixes (1984)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
- Tina B: backing vocals
- Roy Bittan: piano, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Jocelyn Brown: backing vocals
- Clarence Clemons: saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
- Danny Federici: organ, glockenspiel
- Cindy Mizelle: backing vocals
- John Robie: electronic percussion, keyboards
- Garry Tallent: bass, backing vocals
- Max Weinberg: drums, backing vocals
Performed multiple times during the following shows:
Released on Born In The U.S.A. (1984), Dancing In The Dark (Single, 1984), Greatest Hits (1995), The Essential (2003), Greatest Hits (2009), Collection:1973–2012 (2013), Blinded By The Light (Soundtrack, 2019), and Best Of (2024).
A live version is released on Springsteen On Broadway (2018) (recorded July 17/18, 2018).
Live versions are available on the following 265 official live downloads:
- 2024-11-16 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
- 2024-11-13 Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
- 2024-11-09 Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
- 2024-11-06 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- 2024-11-03 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- 2024-10-31 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
- 2024-09-15 Beach, Surf Stage, Asbury Park, NJ
- 2024-09-13 Oriole Park At Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
- 2024-09-07 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
- 2024-08-23 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 2024-08-21 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 2024-08-18 PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2024-08-15 PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2024-07-27 Wembley Stadium, London, England
- 2024-07-25 Wembley Stadium, London, England
- 2024-07-21 Dokken, Bergen, Norway
- 2024-07-18 Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
- 2024-07-15 Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
- 2024-07-12 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
- 2024-07-09 Odense Dyrskuepladsen, Odense, Denmark
- 2024-07-05 Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena, Hannover, Germany
- 2024-07-02 Werchter Park, Werchter, Belgium
- 2024-06-29 Goffertpark, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- 2024-06-27 Goffertpark, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- 2024-06-22 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2024-06-20 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2024-06-17 Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
- 2024-06-14 Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
- 2024-06-12 Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
- 2024-05-22 Stadium Of Light, Sunderland, England
- 2024-05-19 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
- 2024-05-16 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland
- 2024-05-12 Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, Ireland
- 2024-05-09 Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- 2024-05-05 Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
- 2024-04-21 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
- 2024-04-18 JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
- 2024-04-15 MVP Arena, Albany, NY
- 2024-04-12 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
- 2024-04-07 Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
- 2024-04-04 Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
- 2024-03-31 Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
- 2024-03-28 Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
- 2024-03-25 Pechanga Arena, San Diego, CA
- 2024-03-22 T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- 2024-03-19 Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
- 2023-09-03 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-09-01 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-08-26 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2023-08-24 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2023-08-11 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- 2023-08-09 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- 2023-07-25 Autodromo Di Monza, Prato Della Gerascia, Monza, Italy
- 2023-07-23 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
- 2023-07-21 Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany
- 2023-07-18 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
- 2023-07-15 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany
- 2023-07-13 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2023-07-11 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2023-07-08 Hyde Park, London, England
- 2023-07-06 Hyde Park, London, England
- 2023-07-02 Voldsløkka Stadion, Oslo, Norway
- 2023-06-30 Voldsløkka Stadion, Oslo, Norway
- 2023-06-28 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-26 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-24 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-21 Merkur Spielarena, Düsseldorf, Germany
- 2023-06-18 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
- 2023-06-16 Villa Park, Birmingham, England
- 2023-06-13 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland
- 2023-06-11 Megaland, Landgraaf, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-30 BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2023-05-27 Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-25 Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-21 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
- 2023-05-18 Parco Urbano Giorgio Bassani, Ferrara, Italy
- 2023-05-15 Paris La Défense Arena, Nanterre, France
- 2023-05-13 Paris La Défense Arena, Nanterre, France
- 2023-05-09 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-05-07 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-05-05 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-04-30 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2023-04-28 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2023-04-14 Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- 2023-04-11 UBS Arena, Belmont Park, Elmont, NY
- 2023-04-09 UBS Arena, Belmont Park, Elmont, NY
- 2023-04-07 CFG Bank Arena, Baltimore, MD
- 2023-04-05 Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH
- 2023-04-03 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2023-04-01 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2023-03-29 Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- 2023-03-27 Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
- 2023-03-25 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
- 2023-03-23 KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
- 2023-03-20 TD Garden, Boston, MA
- 2023-03-18 Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State University, University Park, PA
- 2023-03-16 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
- 2023-03-07 fiserv.forum, Milwaukee, WI
- 2023-03-05 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
- 2023-03-02 Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- 2023-02-27 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
- 2023-02-25 Moda Center, Portland, OR
- 2023-02-21 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
- 2023-02-18 T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
- 2023-02-16 Moody Center, University Of Texas, Austin, TX
- 2023-02-14 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- 2023-02-10 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- 2023-02-07 Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FL
- 2023-02-05 Amway Center, Orlando, FL
- 2023-02-03 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- 2023-02-01 Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
- 2017-02-25 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
- 2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
- 2017-02-18 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
- 2017-02-16 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2017-02-14 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2017-02-11 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Victoria, Australia
- 2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 2017-02-04 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 2017-02-02 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 2017-01-30 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- 2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2017-01-25 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2016-09-11 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2016-09-09 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 2016-09-07 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
- 2016-09-05 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, Virginia Beach, VA
- 2016-09-01 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
- 2016-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2016-08-28 United Center, Chicago, IL
- 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2016-07-31 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland
- 2016-07-28 Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
- 2016-07-26 Granåsen Arena, Trondheim, Norway
- 2016-07-23 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-07-20 CASA Arena, Horsens, Denmark
- 2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
- 2016-07-13 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
- 2016-07-11 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
- 2016-07-09 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
- 2016-07-05 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
- 2016-07-03 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
- 2016-06-29 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
- 2016-06-27 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-06-22 Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2016-06-19 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
- 2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
- 2016-06-14 Malieveld, The Hague, The Netherlands
- 2016-06-05 Wembley Stadium, London, England
- 2016-06-03 Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England
- 2016-06-01 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
- 2016-05-29 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
- 2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
- 2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
- 2016-05-21 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
- 2016-05-19 Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal
- 2016-05-17 Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- 2016-05-14 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
- 2016-04-25 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2016-04-23 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2016-04-20 Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, MD
- 2016-04-18 Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State University, University Park, PA
- 2016-04-14 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
- 2016-04-12 Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
- 2016-04-07 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
- 2016-04-05 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- 2016-04-03 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
- 2016-03-31 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
- 2016-03-28 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2016-03-24 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
- 2016-03-22 Moda Center, Portland, OR
- 2016-03-19 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016-03-17 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016-03-15 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016-03-13 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
- 2016-03-10 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
- 2016-03-06 Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO
- 2016-03-03 BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
- 2016-02-29 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
- 2016-02-27 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY
- 2016-02-25 First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY
- 2016-02-23 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
- 2016-02-21 KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
- 2016-02-18 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
- 2016-02-16 BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL
- 2016-02-12 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
- 2016-02-10 XL Center, Hartford, CT
- 2016-02-08 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
- 2016-02-04 TD Garden, Boston, MA
- 2016-02-02 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
- 2016-01-31 Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- 2016-01-29 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
- 2016-01-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2016-01-19 United Center, Chicago, IL
- 2016-01-16 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
- 2014-05-17 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
- 2014-05-14 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
- 2014-05-13 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
- 2014-05-06 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
- 2014-05-01 MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
- 2014-04-29 BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL
- 2014-04-26 Aaron's Amphitheatre At Lakewood, Atlanta, GA
- 2014-04-24 PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
- 2014-04-22 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2014-04-19 Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
- 2014-04-17 Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
- 2014-04-15 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
- 2014-04-12 Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
- 2014-04-08 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
- 2014-03-02 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
- 2014-03-01 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
- 2014-02-26 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2014-02-23 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
- 2014-02-22 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
- 2014-02-19 AllPhones Arena, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- 2014-02-15 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 2014-02-12 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- 2014-02-11 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- 2014-02-08 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2014-02-07 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2014-02-05 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2014-02-01 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2014-01-29 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2014-01-28 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2014-01-26 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2013-07-24 First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
- 2013-07-23 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
- 2013-07-11 Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy
- 2012-11-12 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
- 2012-09-22 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2012-08-15 Fenway Park, Boston, MA
- 2012-07-31 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
- 2012-07-28 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2012-07-05 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
- 2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
- 2009-11-22 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
- 2009-11-10 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
- 2009-11-08 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2009-11-07 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
- 2009-10-20 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
- 2009-10-14 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
- 2009-05-04 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
- 2008-08-23 Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO
One of these recordings is also available on the playlists The Live Series: Songs Of Friendship (2019), The Live Series Collection: Stripped Down (2020), The Live Series: Songs Of Celebration (2024), The Born In The U.S.A. Tour '84-'85 (2024), and Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (2024).
| DANCING IN THE DARK - V1a | 4:31 | BUERM / 1984AC |
| DANCING IN THE DARK - V1b | 3:57 | BITUSA / GREATEST / ESSENTIAL / GREATEST: 2009 / BESTOF |
| DANCING IN THE DARK - V2a blaster mix | 6:09 | 1984 EP |
| DANCING IN THE DARK - V2b radio mix | 4:50 | 1984 EP |
| DANCING IN THE DARK - V2c dub mix | 5:30 | 1984 EP |
Note: The last song on Born In The U.S.A. to be recorded. Written after Jon Landau convinced Bruce that the album needed a single. According to Dave Marsh in Glory Days, Bruce was not impressed with Landau's approach. "Look," he snarled, "I've written seventy songs. You want another one, you write it." Despite this reaction, Bruce sat in his hotel room and wrote the song in a single night, essentially writing about his frustrations, sick of "trying to write this book." Six takes were cut on February 14, 1984 at The Hit Factory, utilizing a new Yamaha synthesizer, but the track was not completed until March 8, after 58 mixes. Just the one outtake of "Dancing In The Dark" circulates, V1a, that contains a longer sax solo and a hard-ending (no fade-out) at the end that was cut short for the official album version. Curiously, the final synthesizer note is held for a few seconds at the conclusion of the song. This take is sourced from a March 1984 rough cut of the album. The 7" and 12" singles were released on May 9, 1984, and the 12" finished as the biggest seller in the U.S.A. that year.
V2a thru V2c are extended, radio friendly dance/disco remixes cut at the Power Station in April or early May 1984 by Arthur Baker, at the request of Columbia Records. The recording engineer for the remixes was Chris Lord-Alge. Providing the backing female vocals are Cindy Mizelle, Jocelyn Brown, and Baker's then-wife Tina B. Mizelle would later join the Sessions Band in 2006, and then become an E Street regular as a member of the E Street Choir between 2009 and 2014. These remixes were released on June 29, 1984.
Studio Sessions: Born In The U.S.A.
Dancing In The Dark |
I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired, man I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help
You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
Message just keep getting clearer, radio's on and I'm moving 'round my place
I check my look in the mirror, I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't getting nowhere, I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere, baby I just know that there is
You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
You sit around getting older, there's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders, come on baby this laugh's on me
Stay on the streets of this town and they'll be carving you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry, hey baby, I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action, I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction, come on now baby gimme just one look
You can't start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey baby!
| Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song. |
- MusicBrainz
- Bruce Springsteen's powerful isolated vocals on 'Dancing In The Dark' (FarOutMagazine)
- The Untold Story (GoldenAgeOfMusic)
- Cover Me Round-up (EStreetShuffle)
- Cover Me Round-up (#2) (EStreetShuffle)
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