Darkness On The Edge Of Town

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Track 10 of Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978.

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Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
- Roy Bittan: piano, backing vocals
- Clarence Clemons: percussion, backing vocals
- Danny Federici: organ, glockenspiel
- Garry Tallent: bass
- Steven Van Zandt: guitar, backing vocals
- Max Weinberg: drums

^{Performed live 703 times (not including snippet performances).}

2021-12-13 Town Hall, New York City, NY
2020-01-18 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2016-09-11 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2016-07-09 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
2016-06-29 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
2016-06-01 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
2016-05-19 Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal
2015-07-18 Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ
2015-01-17 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
2014-05-22 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
2014-05-01 MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
2014-04-19 Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
2014-04-12 Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
2014-03-02 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
2014-02-19 AllPhones Arena, Sydney, Australia
2014-02-15 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
2014-02-11 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
2014-01-28 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
2014-01-18 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
2013-09-18 Espaço Das Américas, São Paulo, Brazil
2013-06-22 Goffertpark, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
2013-06-15 Wembley Stadium, London, England
2013-05-04 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden
2013-03-20 Allphones Arena, Sydney, Australia
2012-12-04 Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
2012-09-08 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
2012-08-29 Vernon Downs Raceway, Vernon, NY
2012-08-15 Fenway Park, Boston, MA
2012-07-17 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
2012-06-07 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2012-05-25 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
2012-04-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
2012-04-13 First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY
2012-03-29 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
2012-01-14 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
2011-11-04 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
2011-01-15 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
2010-11-05 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
2010-11-04 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
2010-05-06 Dreyfuss Theater, Madison, NJ
2010-01-16 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
2009-10-14 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
2009-10-02 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2009-08-25 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
2009-08-02 Auditorio Monte Do Gozo, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
2009-07-16 Les Vieilles Charrues, Carhaix, France
2009-07-12 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
2009-07-05 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
2009-05-19 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
2009-04-26 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2009-04-15 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
2008-08-30 Roadhouse At The Lakefront (The), Milwaukee, WI
2008-07-20 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
2008-07-05 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2008-06-25 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2008-06-18 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2008-06-16 LTU Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany
2008-05-31 Emirates Stadium, London, England
2008-05-22 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
2008-05-07 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ
2008-04-28 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
2008-04-22 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
2008-03-29 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
2008-03-16 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
2008-03-03 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON
2008-03-02 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
2007-12-08 Forum København, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007-12-02 SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
2007-11-25 Palacio De Deportes De Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
2007-11-19 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
2007-11-15 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
2007-10-09 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
2007-10-02 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
2006-12-02 Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
2005-11-11 Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, VA
2005-10-24 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
2005-10-21 Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, RI
2005-10-20 DCU Center, Worcester, MA
2005-10-12 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
2005-10-09 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
2005-08-13 Pontiac Theatre, Vancouver, BC
2005-08-11 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
2005-08-10 Theater Of The Clouds, Portland, OR
2005-08-07 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
2005-08-01 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
2005-07-28 Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
2005-07-26 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
2005-07-23 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2005-07-18 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
2004-10-13 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
2004-10-03 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
2003-09-14 Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
2003-08-28 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-08-17 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
2003-07-15 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2003-06-28 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
2003-06-21 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
2003-06-19 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
2003-06-17 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
2003-05-29 Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, England
2003-05-22 Arena Aufschalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
2003-05-08 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2003-04-14 Skyreach Centre, Edmonton, AB
2003-03-22 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia
2003-02-20 Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA
2003-02-19 Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA
2002-12-13 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
2002-11-24 Ice Palace, Tampa, FL
2002-11-12 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
2002-11-03 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
2002-10-16 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
2002-10-14 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
2002-10-07 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
2002-08-29 Hayden Planetarium, New York City, NY
2002-08-27 Compaq Center At San Jose, San Jose, CA
2002-08-25 America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ
2002-08-21 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
2002-08-18 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
2002-08-15 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
2002-08-14 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
2002-08-12 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2002-08-10 MCI Center, Washington, DC
2002-08-07 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
2002-08-05 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
2002-08-02 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2002-07-30 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (Evening)
2002-07-26 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2002-07-25 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
2000-06-29 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2000-06-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2000-06-12 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
2000-06-03 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
2000-05-29 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
2000-05-21 Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
2000-05-03 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
2000-04-30 Firstar Center, Cincinnati, OH
2000-04-25 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
2000-04-22 Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena, Raleigh, NC
2000-04-17 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX
2000-04-12 Nashville Arena, Nashville, TN
2000-04-09 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
2000-04-04 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
2000-04-03 Rose Garden, Portland, OR
2000-03-30 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
2000-03-19 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
2000-03-13 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
2000-03-09 National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL
2000-03-06 Ice Palace, Tampa, FL
2000-02-28 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
1999-11-28 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
1999-11-21 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
1999-11-19 Marine Midland Arena, Buffalo, NY
1999-11-17 Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
1999-11-14 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
1999-11-10 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
1999-11-09 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
1999-11-06 Fargodome, Fargo, ND
1999-10-25 Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA
1999-10-23 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
1999-10-17 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
1999-10-15 America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ
1999-09-27 United Center, Chicago, IL
1999-09-13 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
1999-09-08 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
1999-09-03 MCI Center, Washington, DC
1999-08-31 MCI Center, Washington, DC
1999-08-24 FleetCenter, Boston, MA
1999-08-21 FleetCenter, Boston, MA
1999-08-12 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1999-08-09 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1999-08-04 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1999-07-29 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1999-07-26 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1999-07-15 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1999-06-27 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
1999-06-23 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
1999-06-19 Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands
1999-06-15 Stadion Am Bieberer Berg, Offenbach, Germany
1999-06-13 Bruno-Plache-Stadion, Leipzig, Germany
1999-06-11 Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy
1999-06-07 Estadio De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
1999-06-03 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
1999-05-19 Earls Court, London, England
1999-05-01 Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
1999-04-24 Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
1999-04-23 Donau Arena, Regensburg, Germany
1999-04-19 FilaForum, Milan, Italy
1999-04-17 PalaMalaguti, Bologna, Italy
1999-04-15 Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany
1999-04-13 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
1999-04-11 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
1999-04-09 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
1999-03-19 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
1999-03-18 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
1997-05-26 Palais Des Congrès De Paris, Paris, France
1997-05-25 Palais Des Congrès De Paris, Paris, France
1997-05-22 Teatro Augusteo, Naples, Italy
1997-05-21 Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
1997-05-19 Zénith Oméga, Toulon, France
1997-05-18 Palais Des Congrès Acropolis, Nice, France
1997-05-16 Opéra Berlioz, Le Corum, Montpellier, France
1997-05-15 Auditorium Maurice-Ravel, Lyon, France
1997-05-12 Congress Centre, Prague, Czech Republic
1997-05-10 Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw, Poland
1997-05-09 Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw, Poland
1997-05-07 Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria
1997-05-06 Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria
1997-02-17 Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
1997-02-16 Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
1997-02-15 Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
1997-02-12 Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
1997-02-11 Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
1997-02-10 Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
1997-02-08 Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
1997-02-07 Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
1997-02-05 Concert Hall (The), QPAC, Brisbane, Australia
1997-02-04 Concert Hall (The), QPAC, Brisbane, Australia
1997-01-31 Forum Hall, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu, Tokyo, Japan
1997-01-30 Forum Hall, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu, Tokyo, Japan
1997-01-29 Forum Hall, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu, Tokyo, Japan
1997-01-27 Forum Hall, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu, Tokyo, Japan
1996-12-14 Ovens Auditorium, Charlotte, NC
1996-12-12 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
1996-12-11 Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH
1996-12-10 Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH
1996-12-06 Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Concert Hall, Birmingham, AL
1996-12-05 Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC
1996-12-03 Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL
1996-12-02 Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL
1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
1996-11-25 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
1996-11-24 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
1996-11-21 Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
1996-11-20 Louisville Palace, Louisville, KY
1996-11-19 Ellis Auditorium, Memphis, TN
1996-11-14 Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA
1996-11-13 Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY
1996-11-12 Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
1996-11-08 Gymnasium, St. Rose Of Lima School, Freehold, NJ
1996-10-29 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
1996-10-28 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR

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^{Performed live 1 times as a snippet.}

2022-10-31 SiriusXM Studio, New York City, NY

Performed multiple times during the following shows:

1992-09-22 Warner Hollywood Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Released on Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978) and The Essential (2003).

Live versions are released on Live/1975–85 (1986) (recorded December 29, 1980), In Concert: MTV XXPlugged (1992) (recorded September 22, 1992), Columbia Records Radio Hour (US-only Promotional Tape, 1995)/The Ghost Of Tom Joad (Single, 1995)/Live & Rare (EU-only promotional EP, 2003) (recorded December 9, 1995), Missing (Single, 1996) (recorded April 19, 1996), and Waitin' On A Sunny Day (Single, 2003) (recorded June 29, 2000).

Live versions are available on the following 57 official live downloads:

2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
2017-01-22 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
2016-09-14 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2016-09-11 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
2016-07-09 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
2016-06-29 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
2016-06-01 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
2016-05-19 Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal
2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
2014-05-01 MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
2014-04-19 Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC
2014-04-12 Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
2014-03-02 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
2014-02-19 AllPhones Arena, Sydney, Australia
2014-02-15 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
2014-02-11 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
2014-01-28 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
2012-08-15 Fenway Park, Boston, MA
2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
2008-04-28 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
2008-04-22 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
2007-11-19 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
1999-10-23 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
1997-05-18 Palais Des Congrès Acropolis, Nice, France
1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
1996-11-24 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
1996-11-08 Gymnasium, St. Rose Of Lima School, Freehold, NJ
1996-03-19 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
1995-12-09 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA
1993-05-14 Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany
1992-12-13 Boston Garden, Boston, MA
1992-07-25 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1990-11-17 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
1990-11-16 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
1984-08-20 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1984-08-19 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-07-09 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
1981-06-05 Wembley Arena, London, England
1981-06-04 Wembley Arena, London, England
1980-12-31 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1980-12-29 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1980-12-28 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
1980-11-05 ASU Activity Center, Tempe, AZ
1978-12-16 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
1978-12-15 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
1978-12-08 Summit (The), Houston, TX
1978-10-01 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
1978-09-30 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
1978-09-20 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
1978-09-19 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
1978-08-09 Agora (The), Cleveland, OH
1978-07-07 Roxy Theatre (The), West Hollywood, CA
1978-07-01 Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V1a	4:26	DO-3 / DDO / UP / DDOC
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V1b	4:43	RTT / DDITV
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V2a	4:23	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V2b	4:23	DARKNESS / ESSENTIAL: 2003 / GREATEST: 2009 / PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: Bruce began writing "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" right after Born To Run, according to a 1978 interview. Indeed, the title can be found in two lists of songs that were penned some time in 1976, supporting his recollection. It is rumored that band rehearsals during 1976 at Bruce's home at Holmdel, NJ included versions of "Darkness On The Edge Of Town". With music and some lyrics written by February 1976, the song was subtitled "The Racer" for a time.

Though it is listed on the 'Star Wars' demo tape of June 1, 1977, pictured below, V1a was not cut until June 6. V1b is the full length, speed-corrected version. Sony logs show takes recorded on June 8, 9, 20 and 23, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. Work on the lyrics was needed. Bruce then put "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" aside for the rest of the year. It was not included on the 'Badlands' album sequence from October, nor the January 16, 1978 sequence. On March 8, he suddenly called his forces together, and over three days, they re-recorded from scratch and completed what would become the title track of the album. The March takes were cut in a studio with bare concrete walls, after the room was gutted prior to renovation. V2a and V2b are the album track recording, with a slight difference. V2a can be identified by the addition of the word "ready" to the line "I'll be there on time ready to pay the cost." V2b is mix take #28 from March 30, 1978, and was pressed to metal acetate on April 12.

^{Studio Sessions: Darkness On The Edge Of Town}

Darkness On The Edge Of Town

Well, they're still racing out at the Trestles
But that blood it never burned in her veins
Now I hear she's got a house up in Fairview
And a style she's trying to maintain

Well, if she wants to see me
You can tell her that I'm easily found
Tell her there's a spot out 'neath Abram's Bridge
And tell her there's a darkness on the edge of town
There's a darkness on the edge of town

Well, everybody's got a secret, Sonny
Something that they just can't face
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
They carry it with them every step that they take

Till some day they just cut it loose
Cut it loose or let it drag 'em down
Where no one asks any questions
Or looks too long in your face
In the darkness on the edge of town
In the darkness on the edge of town

Well, now some folks are born into a good life
And other folks get it anyway anyhow
Well, I lost my money and I lost my wife
Them things don't seem to matter much to me now

Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop
I'll be on that hill with everything I've got
Well, lives on the line where dreams are found and lost
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost
For wanting things that can only be found
In the darkness on the edge of town
In the darkness on the edge of town

^{Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.}