Tougher Than The Rest

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Track 2 of Tunnel Of Love, 1987.

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Credits

• Tunnel Of Love (1987)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar, mandolin, bass, keyboards, synthesizer, harmonica, drum machines
  • Danny Federici: organ
  • Max Weinberg: percussion

Performances

Performed live 379 times. 2016-07-11 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France 2016-06-27 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 2016-06-05 Wembley Stadium, London, England 2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland 2016-03-24 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA 2016-03-19 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 2016-01-29 Verizon Center, Washington, DC 2014-04-26 Aaron's Amphitheatre At Lakewood, Atlanta, GA 2014-01-29 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa 2013-07-23 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 2013-06-18 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 2013-05-16 Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning, Denmark 2013-03-31 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Australia 2013-03-30 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Australia 2012-11-08 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY 2012-07-12 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 2009-10-09 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 2009-04-10 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 2008-07-20 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain 2008-07-15 Estadio Anoeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain 2007-10-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2007-10-14 Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, ON 2005-10-28 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 2005-10-24 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA 2005-10-13 United Center, Chicago, IL 2005-10-07 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 2005-10-04 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 2005-07-26 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC 2005-07-16 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY 2005-07-13 Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON 2005-06-27 Color Line Arena, Hamburg, Germany 2005-06-22 Forum København, Copenhagen, Denmark 2005-06-16 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany 2005-06-07 DatchForum, Milan, Italy 2005-05-30 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium 2005-05-27 Royal Albert Hall, London, England 2005-05-03 Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, CA 2005-04-21 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 2003-08-09 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA 2003-06-08 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy 2003-03-04 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL 2002-10-07 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY 2002-07-26 Sonny's Southern Cuisine, Asbury Park, NJ 2000-03-10 National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL 1999-06-26 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark 1999-06-05 Estadio La Romareda, Zaragoza, Spain 1999-04-13 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany 1999-04-11 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain 1999-04-09 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain 1999-03-18 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 1999-03-11 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1996-11-25 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1993-03-23 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ 1992-07-25 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1992-07-13 Wembley Arena, London, England 1992-07-09 Wembley Arena, London, England 1992-07-04 Plaza Monumental, Barcelona, Spain 1992-06-30 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France 1992-06-26 Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany 1992-06-21 Forum Di Assago, Milan, Italy 1990-11-17 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA 1988-08-03 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain 1988-08-02 Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain 1988-07-30 Weserstadion, Bremen, West Germany 1988-07-27 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway 1988-07-25 Københavns Idrætspark, Copenhagen, Denmark 1988-07-22 Waldbühne, West Berlin, West Germany 1988-07-17 Olympia-Reitstadion Riem, Munich, West Germany 1988-07-14 St. Jakob Stadion, Basel, Switzerland 1988-07-12 Waldstadion, Frankfurt, West Germany 1988-07-10 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England 1988-07-09 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England 1988-07-07 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland 1988-07-03 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden 1988-07-02 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden 1988-06-29 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 1988-06-28 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 1988-06-25 Wembley Stadium, London, England 1988-06-22 Villa Park, Birmingham, England 1988-06-21 Villa Park, Birmingham, England 1988-06-19 Hippodrome De Vincennes, Paris, France 1988-06-16 Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Italy 1988-06-15 Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Italy 1988-06-11 Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy 1988-05-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1988-05-22 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1988-05-19 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1988-05-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1988-05-16 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 1988-05-13 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN 1988-05-10 Met Center, Bloomington, MN 1988-05-09 Met Center, Bloomington, MN 1988-05-06 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA 1988-05-05 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA 1988-05-03 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA 1988-05-02 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA 1988-04-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1988-04-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1988-04-25 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1988-04-23 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1988-04-22 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1988-04-20 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO 1988-04-17 St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO 1988-04-15 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX 1988-04-13 Summit (The), Houston, TX 1988-04-12 Summit (The), Houston, TX 1988-04-05 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1988-04-04 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1988-04-02 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY 1988-04-01 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY 1988-03-29 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI 1988-03-28 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI 1988-03-26 Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY 1988-03-23 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA 1988-03-22 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA 1988-03-20 Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 1988-03-17 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL 1988-03-16 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL 1988-03-14 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 1988-03-13 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 1988-03-09 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1988-03-08 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1988-03-04 Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC 1988-03-03 Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC 1988-02-29 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA 1988-02-28 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA 1988-02-25 Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA 1987-10-31 McLoone's Rum Runner, Sea Bright, NJ page 2 of 2« previous12

Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances) Performed at 0 show(s) of 116 on the 2023-24 International Tour. Performed at 239 show(s) of 266 on the Springsteen On Broadway run. Performed at 0 show(s) of 14 on the Summer '17 Tour. Performed at 9 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 2 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 6 show(s) of 133 on the Wrecking Ball Tour. Performed at 2 show(s) of 83 on the Working On A Dream Tour. Performed at 4 show(s) of 99 on the Magic Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 56 on The Seeger Sessions Tour. Performed at 15 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 0 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 4 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 6 show(s) of 132 on The Reunion Tour. Performed at 2 show(s) of 128 on The Ghost Of Tom Joad Tour. Performed at 7 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 66 show(s) of 67 on the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour. Performed at 9 known other show(s), plus 8 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on Tunnel Of Love (1987), Tougher Than The Rest (Single, 1988), Wild (Soundtrack, 2014), and The Essential (2015).

Live versions are released on the Chimes Of Freedom (EP, 1988)/Tougher Than The Rest (Single, 1988)/Better Days (Single, 1992) (recorded April 27, 1988) and Springsteen On Broadway (2018) (recorded July 17/18, 2018).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 20 official live downloads:

• 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-07-16 Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy
• 2016-07-11 AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
• 2016-06-27 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 2016-06-05 Wembley Stadium, London, England
• 2016-05-27 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
• 2016-03-24 KeyArena At Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
• 2016-03-19 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• 2016-01-29 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• 2014-04-26 Aaron's Amphitheatre At Lakewood, Atlanta, GA
• 2014-01-29 Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, South Africa
• 1996-11-26 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
• 1992-07-25 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
• 1990-11-17 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
• 1988-07-03 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1988-05-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 1988-05-16 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 1988-04-28 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• 1988-04-23 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• 1988-03-28 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI

On The Tracks

TOUGHER THAN THE REST

4:32

TUNNEL / ESSENTIAL: 2015 / 1988 single

Note: Recorded some time between January and April 1987 at Thrill Hill Recording, Rumson, New Jersey (Springsteen's home studio). Springsteen handles multiple instruments, with overdubs by Danny Federici (organ) and Max Weinberg (percussion). Originally written as a rockabilly song.

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^{Studio Sessions: Tunnel Of Love}

Lyrics

Tougher Than The Rest

Well it's Saturday night, you're all dressed up in blue
I been watching you a while, maybe you been watching me too
So somebody ran out, left somebody's heart in a mess
Well if you're looking for love, honey I'm tougher than the rest

Some girls they want a handsome Dan or some good looking Joe
On their arm, some girls like a sweet talking Romeo
Well 'round here baby, I learned you get what you can get
So if you're rough enough for love, honey I'm tougher than the rest

The road is dark and it's a thin thin line
But I want you to know I'll walk it for you any time
Maybe your other boyfriends couldn't pass the test
Well if you're rough and ready for love, honey I'm tougher than the rest

Well it ain't no secret I've been around a time or two
Well I don't know baby, maybe you've been around too
Well there's another dance, all you gotta do is say yes
And if you're rough and ready for love, honey I'm tougher than the rest
If you're rough enough for love, baby I'm tougher than the rest

Hoo hoo hoo
Hoo-hoo

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

Links

• MusicBrainz

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