Track 4 of Nebraska, 1982.
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- Nebraska (1982)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, glockenspiel, tambourine, organ, synthesizer
Released on Nebraska (1982) and The Essential (2015).
Live versions are released on Live/1975–85 (1986)/Live Collection II (EP, 1986)/Born To Run (Single, 1987) (recorded August 19, 1985) and PBS Exclusive (EP, 2007) (recorded November 18, 2006).
Live versions are available on the following 67 official live downloads:
- 2023-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 2023-08-26 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- 2023-08-09 Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- 2023-07-25 Autodromo Di Monza, Prato Della Gerascia, Monza, Italy
- 2023-07-23 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
- 2023-07-13 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2023-06-28 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2023-06-11 Megaland, Landgraaf, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-30 BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2023-05-25 Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 2023-05-18 Parco Urbano Giorgio Bassani, Ferrara, Italy
- 2023-05-13 Paris La Défense Arena, Nanterre, France
- 2023-05-09 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-05-05 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
- 2023-04-30 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 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
- 2023-03-02 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
- 2017-02-11 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Victoria, Australia
- 2017-02-02 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2017-01-25 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
- 2016-06-05 Wembley Stadium, London, England
- 2016-06-01 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
- 2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
- 2016-05-21 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
- 2016-05-19 Bela Vista Park, Lisbon, Portugal
- 2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
- 2014-04-24 PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
- 2014-04-22 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2014-04-17 Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
- 2014-04-15 Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
- 2014-02-23 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
- 2014-02-07 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 2014-02-01 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2014-01-26 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2012-07-04 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
- 2009-05-04 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
- 2006-04-30 New Orleans Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA
- 1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
- 1996-11-24 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
- 1996-11-08 St. Rose Of Lima School, Gymnasium, Freehold, NJ
- 1985-09-27 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
- 1985-08-22 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1984-08-20 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
- 1984-08-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
One of these recordings is also available on the playlists The Live Series: Songs From Around The World (2019), and The Live Series: Songs Of New Jersey (2023).
| JOHNNY 99 - V1 | 3:50 | FFOD / HNWB |
| JOHNNY 99 - V2 | 3:26 | FFOD / HNWB |
| JOHNNY 99 - V3 | uncirculating | |
| JOHNNY 99 - V4 take 1 | uncirculating | |
| JOHNNY 99 - V5a take 2 | 3:30 | LM-1 |
| JOHNNY 99 - V5b take 2 | 3:36 | NEBRASKA / ESSENTIAL: 2015 |
| JOHNNY 99 - V5c take 2 stereo mix | 3:36 | NEBRASKA |
| JOHNNY 99 - V6 take 3 | uncirculating | |
| JOHNNY 99 - V7 | uncirculating |
Note: V1 is similar to the released version, with some lyrical variations. V2 is closer still. Both are acoustic demos recorded at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, NJ from mid-September to December 1981. Three different, complete, recordings were made on January 3, 1982, but only one has surfaced (V5), in three alternative mixes. One of the recordings has a different ending verse. In late April 1982 Bruce recorded takes at the Power Station on April 27–28 and May 3, 1982. These cuts may be solo or with the band.
Studio Sessions: Nebraska / Born In The U.S.A.
Johnny 99 |
Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late that month
Ralph went out looking for a job but he couldn't find none
He came home too drunk from mixing Tanqueray and wine
He got a gun, shot a night clerk, now they call him Johnny 99
Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you don't stop
Johnny's waving his gun around and threatening to blow his top
When an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind
Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99
Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was Mean John Brown
He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down
Well the evidence is clear, gonna let the sentence son fit the crime
Prison for 98 and a year and we'll call it even, Johnny 99
A fistfight broke out in the courtroom, they had to drag Johnny's girl away
His mama stood up and shouted, "Judge, don't take my boy this way"
Well son you got any statement you'd like to make
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away
Now judge, judge, I got debts no honest man could pay
The bank was holding my mortgage, they taking my house away
Now I ain't saying that makes me an innocent man
But it was more and all this that put that gun in my hand
Well your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead
And if you can take a man's life for the thoughts that's in his head
Then won't you sit back in that chair and think it over, Judge, one more time
And let 'em shave off my hair and put me on that execution line
| Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song. |
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