Reason To Believe

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Track 10 of Nebraska, 1982.

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Credits

• Nebraska (1982)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, glockenspiel, tambourine, organ, synthesizer

Performances

Performed live 224 times (not including snippet performances). 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 2013-07-20 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2013-06-30 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, England 2012-12-04 Honda Center, Anaheim, CA 2012-11-15 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, NE 2008-08-19 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA 2008-05-30 Emirates Stadium, London, England 2008-05-25 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland 2008-05-22 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland 2008-04-27 Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, NC 2008-04-25 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA 2008-04-13 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX 2008-04-08 Honda Center, Anaheim, CA 2008-04-07 Honda Center, Anaheim, CA 2008-04-05 HP Pavilion At San Jose, San Jose, CA 2008-03-31 GM Place, Vancouver, BC 2008-03-29 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA 2008-03-28 Rose Garden, Portland, OR 2008-03-24 Value City Arena, Columbus, OH 2008-03-22 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH 2008-03-20 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN 2008-03-17 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI 2008-03-16 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN 2008-03-14 Qwest Center, Omaha, NE 2008-03-10 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY 2008-03-07 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY 2008-03-06 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY 2008-03-03 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON 2008-03-02 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC 2008-02-28 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 2007-12-19 O2 Arena (The), London, England 2007-12-17 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France 2007-12-15 Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland 2007-12-13 Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany 2007-12-12 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium 2007-12-10 Globen, Stockholm, Sweden 2007-12-08 Forum København, Copenhagen, Denmark 2007-12-04 Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway 2007-12-02 SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany 2007-12-01 Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands 2007-11-28 DatchForum, Milan, Italy 2007-11-26 Bizkaia Arena, Bilbao, Spain 2007-11-25 Palacio De Deportes De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain 2007-11-19 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 2007-11-18 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 2007-11-15 Times Union Center, Albany, NY 2007-11-14 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 2007-11-12 Verizon Center, Washington, DC 2007-11-11 Verizon Center, Washington, DC 2007-11-05 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI 2007-11-04 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH 2007-11-02 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN 2007-10-30 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 2007-10-29 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 2007-10-26 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA 2007-10-25 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA 2007-10-22 United Center, Chicago, IL 2007-10-21 United Center, Chicago, IL 2007-10-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2007-10-17 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2007-10-15 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON 2007-10-14 Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, ON 2007-10-10 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 2007-10-09 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 2007-10-06 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA 2007-10-05 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA 2007-10-02 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 2007-09-28 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 2005-11-09 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 2005-11-04 St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL 2005-10-30 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 2005-10-24 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA 2005-10-21 Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence, RI 2005-10-15 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI 2005-08-13 Pontiac Theatre At GM Place, 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 2005-08-06 Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO 2005-08-03 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI 2005-08-01 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH 2005-07-31 Value City Theatre, Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH 2005-07-28 Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2005-07-26 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC 2005-07-24 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 2005-07-23 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA 2005-07-20 Arena At Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT 2005-07-18 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY 2005-07-16 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY 2005-07-14 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON 2005-07-13 Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON 2005-06-28 ICC Berlin, Berlin, Germany 2005-06-27 Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany 2005-06-25 Hovet, Stockholm, Sweden 2005-06-23 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden 2005-06-22 Forum København, Copenhagen, Denmark 2005-06-20 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France 2005-06-19 Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2005-06-16 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany 2005-06-15 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany 2005-06-13 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany 2005-06-07 DatchForum, Milan, Italy 2005-06-06 PalaLottomatica, Rome, Italy 2005-06-04 PalaMalaguti, Bologna, Italy 2005-06-02 Palacio De Deportes De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain 2005-06-01 Pavelló Olímpic De Badalona, Barcelona, Spain 2005-05-30 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium 2005-05-28 Royal Albert Hall, London, England 2005-05-27 Royal Albert Hall, London, England 2005-05-24 Point Theatre (The), Dublin, Ireland 2005-05-20 Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA 2005-05-19 Theater At The Continental Airlines Arena (The), East Rutherford, NJ 2005-05-17 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA 2005-05-15 Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 2005-05-14 Patriot Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 2005-05-11 Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, IL 2005-05-10 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN 2005-05-07 Lecture Hall (The), Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO 2005-05-05 Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA 2005-05-03 Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, CA 2005-05-02 Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, CA 2005-04-30 Glendale Arena, Glendale, AZ 2005-04-28 Nokia Live At Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX 2005-04-25 Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI 2005-04-22 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1997-05-22 Teatro Augusteo, Naples, Italy 1997-05-19 Zénith Oméga, Toulon, France 1997-05-16 Opéra Berlioz, Corum (Le), Montpellier, France 1997-05-12 Congress Centre, Prague, Czech Republic 1997-05-09 Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw, Poland 1997-02-16 Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 1996-10-03 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN 1996-09-26 Hill Auditorium, University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1996-09-25 E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH 1996-03-19 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland 1996-03-14 Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway 1996-03-13 Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden 1996-03-03 Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland 1996-03-02 City Hall, Newcastle, England 1996-02-29 Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England 1996-02-25 Doelen (De), Rotterdam, The Netherlands 1996-02-21 Zénith De Paris (Le), Paris, France 1996-02-18 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany 1996-02-17 Congress Centrum Hamburg, Halle 1, Hamburg, Germany 1996-01-17 Music Hall, Cleveland, OH 1995-12-15 Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA 1995-12-13 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY 1995-12-12 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY 1995-12-08 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA 1995-12-06 DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC 1990-11-17 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA 1990-11-16 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA 1985-04-13 Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyōgi-jō, Tokyo, Japan 1985-03-31 QE II Jubilee Sports Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 1985-03-27 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1985-03-23 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1985-03-21 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1985-01-27 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY 1985-01-26 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY 1985-01-24 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI 1985-01-23 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI 1985-01-19 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC 1985-01-18 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC 1985-01-16 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 1985-01-15 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 1985-01-13 Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC 1985-01-10 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY 1985-01-08 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN 1985-01-07 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN 1985-01-05 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA 1985-01-04 Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, VA 1984-12-17 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA 1984-12-16 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA 1984-12-14 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN 1984-12-13 Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN 1984-12-11 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY 1984-12-09 Murphy Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 1984-12-07 Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee, FL 1984-12-06 Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Arena, Birmingham, AL 1984-12-02 LSU Assembly Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 1984-11-30 Summit (The), Houston, TX 1984-11-29 Summit (The), Houston, TX 1984-11-26 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX 1984-11-25 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX 1984-11-23 Frank Erwin Center, University Of Texas, Austin, TX 1984-11-19 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO 1984-11-18 Bob Devaney Sports Center, University Of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 1984-11-16 Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 1984-11-15 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO 1984-11-12 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO 1984-11-11 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO 1984-11-08 ASU Activity Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 1984-11-04 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-11-02 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-31 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-29 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-26 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-25 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-10-21 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA 1984-10-17 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA 1984-09-21 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 1984-09-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1984-09-15 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1984-08-29 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1984-08-19 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-17 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-08 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-07-05 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH 1984-07-01 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN

Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances) Performed at 14 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 1 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 0 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 4 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 62 show(s) of 99 on the Magic Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 56 on The Seeger Sessions Tour. Performed at 56 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 132 on The Reunion Tour. Performed at 25 show(s) of 128 on The Ghost Of Tom Joad Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 102 on the World Tour 1992-93. Performed at 0 show(s) of 20 on the Human Rights Now! Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 67 on the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour. Performed at 58 show(s) of 156 on the Born In The U.S.A. Tour. Performed at 2 known other show(s), plus 2 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on Nebraska (1982).

A live version is released on Live/1975–85 (1986) (recorded Augst 19, 1984).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 27 official live downloads:

• 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
• 2008-03-20 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• 2007-11-19 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
• 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

On The Tracks

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	private
REASON TO BELIEVE - V4	0:50	private
REASON TO BELIEVE - V5		uncirculating

Note: On January 3, 1982 two complete recordings were made but only one has surfaced, which is take #1. This take circulates in three different mixes. 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 the song Springsteen recorded solo in January 1982. This performance is a work-in-progress, with some lyrical variation including an extra third verse, suggesting it was recorded before "Reason To Believe" was completed, probably during a band get-together at Springsteen's house some time between the end of the River Tour and late December 1982. The first verse is sung by Springsteen alone accompanied by electric guitar, before drum and bass join in for the rest of the song. A driving beat features throughout. V4 is a short take of just the second verse. V5 is multiple studio takes from April 27–28, 1982 at Power Station. These takes could be solo or with the band.

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^{Studio Sessions: Nebraska / Born In The U.S.A.}

Lyrics

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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