Used Cars

---

Track 7 of Nebraska, 1982.

---

Credits

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

Performances

Performed live 38 times (not including snippet performances). 2021-03-15 Stone Hill Farm, Colts Neck, NJ 2008-10-06 Oestrike Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI 2005-11-17 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 2005-11-09 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 2005-04-21 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 1996-11-08 St. Rose Of Lima School, Gymnasium, Freehold, NJ 1985-09-24 Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO 1985-09-19 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA 1985-08-21 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1985-03-24 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1985-01-19 Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC 1985-01-15 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 1984-11-02 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 1984-08-28 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1984-08-25 Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1984-08-12 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-11 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-09 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-08 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-06 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-08-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1984-07-31 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI 1984-07-30 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI 1984-07-27 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY 1984-07-26 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON 1984-07-24 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON 1984-07-23 CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON 1984-07-21 Montreal Forum, Montreal, QC 1984-07-17 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL 1984-07-13 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI 1984-07-12 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI 1984-07-09 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 1984-07-08 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH 1984-07-06 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH 1984-07-05 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH 1984-07-02 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN 1984-07-01 St. Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, MN 1984-06-29 St. Paul Civic 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 2 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 1 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 32 show(s) of 156 on the Born In The U.S.A. Tour. Performed at 2 known other show(s), plus 1 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on Nebraska (1982).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 3 official live downloads:

• 1996-11-08 St. Rose Of Lima School, Gymnasium, Freehold, NJ
• 1984-08-06 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
• 1984-08-05 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

One of these recordings is also available on the playlists The Live Series Collection: Songs Of The Road (2018), and The Live Series: Songs Of Introspection (2023).

On The Tracks

USED CARS - V1	3:17	FFOD / HNWB
USED CARS - V2	2:30	FFOD / HNWB
USED CARS - V3	2:45	FFOD / HNWB
USED CARS - V4		uncirculating
USED CARS - V5		uncirculating
USED CARS - V6 take 1		uncirculating
USED CARS - V7a take 2	3:00	LM-1
USED CARS - V7b take 2	3:01	NEBRASKA
USED CARS - V7c take 2 stereo mix	2:59	NEBRASKA
USED CARS - V8		uncirculating

Note: V1–V3 are acoustic demos recorded at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, NJ from mid-September to December 1981, similar to the released version with some lyrical and melodic variations. Then four different, complete, recordings were made - only one has surfaced (three mixes). Take 1 was "a little dirty recording wise," according to Springsteen. V8 was cut during sessions at the Power Station on April 30, 1982, and could either be solo or with the band.

---

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

Lyrics

Used Cars

My little sister's in the front seat with an ice cream cone
My ma's in the back seat sitting all alone
As my pa steers her slow out of the lot
For a test drive down Michigan Avenue

Now my ma she fingers her wedding band
And watches the salesman stare at my old man's hands
He's telling us all about the break he'd give us if he could, but he just can't
Well if I could I swear I know just what I'd do

Now mister the day the lottery I win I ain't ever gonna ride in no used car again

Now the neighbours come from near and far
As we pull up in our brand new used car
I wish he'd just hit the gas and let out a cry
And tell them all they can kiss our asses goodbye

My dad he sweats the same job from morning to morn
Me I walk home on the same dirty streets where I was born
Up the block I can hear my little sister in the front seat blowing that horn
The sounds echoing all down Michigan Avenue

Now mister the day my number comes in I ain't ever gonna ride in no used car again

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

---

Disclaimer | © 1996 - 2024 | Brucebase