Sherry Darling

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Disc 1 track 2 of The River, 1980.

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Credits

• The River (1980)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
  • Roy Bittan: piano, backing vocals
  • Clarence Clemons: saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
  • Danny Federici: organ, glockenspiel
  • Garry Tallent: bass
  • Steven Van Zandt: guitar, backing vocals
  • Max Weinberg: drums, percussion

Performances

Performed live 326 times. 1981-02-22 Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC 1981-02-20 Hollywood Sportatorium (The), Pembroke Pines, FL 1981-02-18 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL 1981-02-16 Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, FL 1981-02-15 Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, FL 1981-02-13 Humphrey Coliseum, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 1981-02-12 Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, AL 1981-02-07 Assembly Hall, University Of Illinois, Champaign, IL 1981-02-05 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO 1981-02-04 SIU Arena, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 1981-02-02 Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison, WI 1981-02-01 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN 1981-01-29 Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 1981-01-28 Checkerdome, St. Louis, MO 1981-01-26 Athletic & Convocation Center, University Of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN 1981-01-24 Ottawa Civic Centre, Ottawa, ON 1981-01-23 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QC 1981-01-21 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON 1981-01-20 Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON 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 1980-12-19 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1980-12-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1980-12-16 Boston Garden, Boston, MA 1980-12-15 Boston Garden, Boston, MA 1980-12-12 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 1980-12-11 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI 1980-12-09 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1980-12-08 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1980-12-06 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1980-12-04 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY 1980-12-02 Rochester Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY 1980-11-30 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 1980-11-28 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1980-11-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1980-11-24 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1980-11-14 Summit (The), Houston, TX 1980-11-05 ASU Activity Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 1980-10-31 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1980-10-30 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1980-10-27 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA 1980-10-25 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR 1980-10-24 Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, WA 1980-10-20 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO 1980-10-18 Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO 1980-10-17 Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO 1980-10-14 Mecca Arena, Milwaukee, WI 1980-10-13 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN 1980-10-11 Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL 1980-10-10 Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL 1980-10-09 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI 1980-10-07 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 1980-10-06 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 1980-10-04 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH 1980-10-03 Crisler Arena, University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1979-09-22 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1979-09-21 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1979-06-03 Whisky A Go Go, West Hollywood, CA 1978-11-10 Reilly Center, St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY 1978-09-05 Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH 1978-09-03 Saginaw Civic Center, Saginaw, MI 1978-08-29 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA 1978-08-26 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI 1978-08-25 New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT 1978-08-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1978-08-21 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1978-08-19 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1978-08-18 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1978-08-15 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1978-08-12 Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, ME 1978-08-10 Rochester Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY 1978-08-09 Agora (The), Cleveland, OH 1978-08-07 Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI 1978-08-05 Louisville Gardens, Louisville, KY 1978-08-04 Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, WV page 2 of 2« previous12

Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances) Performed at 4 show(s) of 118 on the 2023-24 International Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 266 on the Springsteen On Broadway run. Performed at 2 show(s) of 14 on the Summer '17 Tour. Performed at 69 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 3 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 8 show(s) of 133 on the Wrecking Ball Tour. Performed at 8 show(s) of 83 on the Working On A Dream Tour. Performed at 5 show(s) of 99 on the Magic Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 56 on The Seeger Sessions Tour. Performed at 1 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 7 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 7 show(s) of 132 on The Reunion Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 128 on The Ghost Of Tom Joad Tour. Performed at 2 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 57 show(s) of 156 on the Born In The U.S.A. Tour. Performed at 128 show(s) of 138 on The River Tour. Performed at 17 show(s) of 111 on the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour. Performed at 8 known other show(s), plus 0 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on The River (1980), Sherry Darling (Single, 1981), and The Ties That Bind: The River Collection (2015).

A live version is released on The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts (2021) (recorded September 22, 1979). Also available on playlist The Darkness Tour '78 (2023).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 94 official live downloads:

• 2024-06-27 Goffertpark, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
• 2024-04-07 Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
• 2023-08-30 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
• 2017-02-04 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• 2016-09-09 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
• 2016-09-01 Nationals Park, Washington, DC
• 2016-08-28 United Center, Chicago, IL
• 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-08-23 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-07-31 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2016-07-28 Frognerparken, Oslo, Norway
• 2016-07-26 Granåsen Arena, Trondheim, Norway
• 2016-07-23 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 2016-07-20 CASA Arena, Horsens, Denmark
• 2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
• 2016-07-13 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
• 2016-07-11 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
• 2016-07-09 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium
• 2016-07-05 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
• 2016-07-03 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
• 2016-06-29 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway
• 2016-06-27 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 2016-06-22 Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 2016-06-19 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
• 2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
• 2016-06-14 Malieveld, The Hague, The Netherlands
• 2016-06-05 Wembley Stadium, London, England
• 2016-06-03 Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England
• 2016-06-01 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
• 2016-05-29 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
• 2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
• 2016-05-25 Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
• 2016-05-21 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
• 2016-05-17 Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
• 2016-05-14 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
• 2016-04-25 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
• 2016-04-23 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
• 2016-04-20 Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, MD
• 2016-04-18 Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State University, University Park, PA
• 2016-04-14 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI
• 2016-04-12 Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
• 2016-04-07 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
• 2016-04-05 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• 2016-04-03 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
• 2016-03-31 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
• 2016-03-28 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 2016-03-24 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
• 2016-03-22 Moda Center, Portland, OR
• 2016-03-19 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• 2016-03-17 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• 2016-03-15 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• 2016-03-13 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
• 2016-03-10 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
• 2016-03-06 Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, MO
• 2016-03-03 BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
• 2016-02-29 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
• 2016-02-27 Blue Cross Arena At The War Memorial, Rochester, NY
• 2016-02-25 First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY
• 2016-02-23 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• 2016-02-21 KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
• 2016-02-18 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
• 2016-02-16 BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL
• 2016-02-12 Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• 2016-02-10 XL Center, Hartford, CT
• 2016-02-08 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
• 2016-02-04 TD Garden, Boston, MA
• 2016-02-02 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• 2016-01-31 Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• 2016-01-29 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• 2016-01-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 2016-01-19 United Center, Chicago, IL
• 2016-01-16 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2014-04-12 Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
• 2014-02-26 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• 2014-02-07 Perth Arena, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• 2012-08-15 Fenway Park, Boston, MA
• 2009-11-08 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 2009-10-14 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
• 2005-08-03 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• 1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
• 1999-07-18 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
• 1985-08-22 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 1984-08-05 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
• 1979-09-22 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 1979-09-21 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 1978-08-09 Agora (The), Cleveland, OH

Media

On The Tracks

SHERRY DARLING - V1	4:00	LM-3 / DO-2 / AM / UP / LMEC2
SHERRY DARLING - V2	4:51	DDO / DO-3 / ODM / HOD / AM / UP
SHERRY DARLING - V3	4:03	DROC2 / ATMF / RRR
SHERRY DARLING - V4	4:00	RIVER

Note: "Sherry Darling" was recorded at Atlantic Studios on June 24 and 27 and July 1, 1977 during the Darkness sessions, but was held over for the next album for thematic reasons. V1 and V2 are from one of these three dates. Inspired by sixties frat-rock bands such as The Swingin' Medallions and The Kingsmen, it was premiered live during the Darkness Tour with a spoken introduction: "This was a song that we recorded live in the studio about two years ago, the beginning of the summer and it was originally gonna be on Darkness, but it was too weird so we left it off." Bruce would often refer to "two summers ago" when introducing the song in 1978, which would indicate it was first recorded in 1976. However, Bruce's dates are notoriously unreliable so it is more likely he is referring to June 1977. Springsteen returned to "Sherry Darling" in the spring of 1979, with takes at Power Station on May 25, 1979. V3 may pre-date that session, featuring a guide vocal with still unfinished and bluffed vocals. Despite completion before the abandoned Ties That Bind, it appears the song was never considered for that album. The logs show more work on February 23, 1980 and V4 was completed on March 8 with final overdubs before a mixing session on April 12, 1980 and inclusion on The River. Crowd and party noises were overdubbed, perhaps in an attempt to capture some of the excitement of the live performances.

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^{Studio Sessions: Darkness On the Edge of Town}

Lyrics

Sherry Darling

(Hey, hey, hey, what you say Sherry Darling)
(Alright)

Your Mamma's yapping in the back seat
Tell her to push over and move them big feet
Every Monday morning I gotta drive her down to the unemployment agency
Well this morning I ain't fighting, tell her I give up
Tell her she wins if she'll just shut up
But it's the last time that she's gonna be riding with me

And you can tell her there's a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talking she'll be walking that last block
And she can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway's free
And I got you and baby you've got me
Hey, hey, hey, what you say, Sherry Darling

Now there's girls melting on the beach
And they're so fine but so out of reach
'Cause I'm stuck in traffic down here on 53rd Street
Now Sherry my love for you is real
But I didn't count on this package deal
And baby this car just ain't big enough for her and me

So you can tell her there's a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talking she'll be walking that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway's free
And I got you and baby you've got me
Hey, hey, hey, what you say, Sherry Darling

Come one with me!

Well let there be sunlight, let there be rain
Let the brokenhearted love again
Sherry, we can run with our arms open wide before the tide
To all the girls down at Sacred Heart
And all you operators back in the park
Say hey, hey, hey, what you say, Sherry Darling
Ho, ho, ho, say hey, hey, what you say, Sherry Darling
Oh come on, say hey, hey, hey, what you say, Sherry Darling

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

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