Nothing Man

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Track 4 of The Rising, 2002.

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Credits

• The Rising (2002)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
  • Roy Bittan: keyboard
  • Clarence Clemons: backing vocals, percussion[?]
  • Danny Federici: keyboard
  • Nils Lofgren: guitar, backing vocals
  • Patti Scialfa: backing vocals
  • Garry Tallent: bass
  • Steven Van Zandt: guitar, backing vocals
  • Max Weinberg: drums, percussion[?]

Performances

Performed live 13 times (not including snippet performances). 2005-10-28 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 2005-10-24 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA 2005-10-12 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN 2005-10-06 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY 2005-08-11 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA 2005-08-10 Theater Of The Clouds, Portland, OR 2005-08-06 Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 2005-08-03 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI 2005-07-24 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 2005-07-23 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA 2005-07-20 Arena At Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT 2003-03-11 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY 2002-09-30 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN

Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances) Performed at 0 show(s) of 130 on the 2023-25 International Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 266 on the Springsteen On Broadway run. Performed at 0 show(s) of 14 on the Summer '17 Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 0 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 133 on the Wrecking Ball Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 83 on the Working On A Dream Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 99 on the Magic Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 56 on The Seeger Sessions Tour. Performed at 11 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 2 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 0 known other show(s), plus 0 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on The Rising (2002).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 1 official live downloads:

• 2005-08-03 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI

On The Tracks

NOTHING MAN - V1		uncirculating
NOTHING MAN - V2		uncirculating
NOTHING MAN - V3	4:23	RISING

Note: "Nothing Man" was initially recorded in the spring of 1994 at a house in Los Angeles rented by Toby Scott, who assisted with programming drum loops. The finished recording was mixed by Bob Clearmountain and selected for The Farewell Party. When that album was cancelled, the song was set aside. According to Chuck Plotkin, the E Street Band returned to the song during the March 2001 sessions at the Power Station (V2). The song (probably in its '94 iteration) was also among the initial demos Bruce played for Brendan O'Brien. After the 9/11 attacks, the song became particular thematically salient, and in February–March 2002, a somewhat rewritten version was recorded at Southern Tracks Studio (V3) with the E Street Band and issued on The Rising.

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^{Studio Sessions: Greatest Hits}

Lyrics

Nothing Man

I don't remember how I felt, I never thought I'd live
To read about myself in my hometown paper
How my brave young life was forever changed
In a misty cloud of pink vapor

Darling give me your kiss, only understand
I am the nothing man
(I am)

Around here everybody acts the same
Around here everybody acts like nothing's changed
Friday night, the club meets at Al's Barbecue
The sky's still the same unbelievable blue

Darling give me your kiss, come and take my hand
I am, the nothing man
(I am)

(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)

You can call me Joe, buy me a drink and shake my hand
You want courage, I'll show you courage you can understand
The pearl and silver resting on my night table
It's just me Lord, I pray and I'm able

Darling with this kiss, say you understand
I am the nothing man
I am the nothing man

(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)
(Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo)

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

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