Track 10 of Nebraska, 1982.
- Nebraska (1982)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (2025)
- Bruce Springsteen: vocals, harmonica, electric guitar
- Garry Tallent: bass
- Max Weinberg: drums
Released on Nebraska (1982) and Nebraska '82: Electric Nebraska (2025).
Live versions are released on Live/1975–85 (1986) (recorded August 19, 1984) and Nebraska '82: Nebraska Live (2025) (recorded April 22, 2025 without an audience).
Live versions are available on the following 31 official live downloads:
- 2025-05-20 Co-op Live, Manchester, England
- 2024-11-19 Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
- 2024-11-16 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
- 2024-11-13 Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
- 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
- 2024-08-15 PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2024-07-25 Wembley Stadium, London, England
- 2024-07-15 Strawberry Arena, Solna, Sweden
- 2024-07-12 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland
- 2024-07-09 Odense Dyrskuepladsen, Odense, Denmark
- 2024-07-02 Werchter Park, Werchter, Belgium
- 2024-06-22 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- 2024-05-19 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
- 2016-07-11 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
- 2012-11-15 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, NE
- 2008-03-20 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- 2007-11-19 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
- 2007-10-26 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
- 2005-08-13 Pontiac Theatre At GM Place, Vancouver, BC
- 2005-08-03 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
- 2005-07-31 Value City Theatre, Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
- 2005-06-25 Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden
- 2005-05-17 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA
- 1996-09-25 E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH
- 1996-03-19 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- 1990-11-17 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
- 1990-11-16 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
- 1988-03-28 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
- 1984-08-19 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V1a (take 1) | 4:00 | LM-1 |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V1b (take 1) | 4:02 | NEBRASKA |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V1c (take 1) stereo mix | 3:56 | NEBRASKA |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V2 (take 2) | uncirculating | |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V3 | 3:34 | circulating |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V4 | 0:50 | circulating |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V5 | 3:38 | NEBRASKA82: ELECTRIC |
Note: Springsteen recorded two complete recordings at his home in Colts Neck between December 17, 1981 and January 2, 1982, but only one has surfaced, which is take #1. This take circulates in three different mixes, and the second (unused) take has an extra verse. Inspired by Springsteen's own experience driving down Highway 33 on his way to Millstone, a township in Monmouth County.
V3 is a full-band rehearsal (missing the opening lines) of a new electric arrangement recorded on April 15, 1982. This performance is a work-in-progress, with some lyrical variation including an extra third verse. This may be the same verse used in V2. The first verse is sung by Springsteen alone accompanied by electric guitar, before drum and bass join in for the rest of the song. Max Weinberg's driving beat features throughout. V4 is a short take of just the second verse. These two rehearsal takes entered circulation in October 2025. V5 is multiple studio takes from April 27–28, 1982 at Power Station, likely with the E Street Band. The result is officially released in October 2025 on Electric Nebraska, recorded on April 27 in a similar arrangement to the April 15 rehearsal.
Studio Sessions: Nebraska / Born In The U.S.A.
Reason To Believe |
Seen a man standin' over a dead dog lyin' by the highway in a ditch
He's lookin' down kinda puzzled pokin' that dog with a stick
Got his car door flung open he's standin' out on Highway 31
Like if he stood there long enough that dog'd get up and run
It struck me kinda funny, seemed kinda funny sir to me
Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Now Mary Lou loved Johnny with a love mean and true
She said "Baby I'll work for you every day, bring my money home to you"
One day he up and left her and ever since that
She waits down at the end of that dirt road for young Johnny to come back
Struck me kinda funny, funny yeah to me
How at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Take a baby to the river, Kyle William they called him
Wash the baby in the water, take away little Kyle's sin
In a whitewash shotgun shack an old man passes away
Take his body to the graveyard, over him they pray
Lord won't you tell us, tell us what does it mean
At the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Congregation gathers down by the riverside
Preacher stands with a Bible, groom stands waitin' for his bride
Congregation gone and the sun sets behind a weepin' willow tree
Groom stands alone and watches the river rush on so effortlessly
Wonderin' where can his baby be
Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
| Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song. |
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