Youngstown

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Track 4 of The Ghost Of Tom Joad, 1995.

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Credits

• The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1995)
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals, guitar
  • Jim Hanson: bass
  • Gary Mallaber: drums, percussion
  • Chuck Plotkin: keyboard
  • Marty Rifkin: pedal steel guitar
  • Soozie Tyrell: violin

Performances

Performed live 297 times. 2017-02-25 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand 2017-02-18 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, Australia 2017-02-14 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia 2017-02-11 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Australia 2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia 2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia 2017-02-04 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia 2017-01-30 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia 2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany 2016-06-03 Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England 2016-05-29 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland 2016-02-23 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH 2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT 2014-04-22 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2014-02-07 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia 2013-07-13 Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium 2013-07-03 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland 2013-05-08 HK Areena, Turku, Finland 2013-03-27 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia 2013-03-18 Allphones Arena, Sydney, Australia 2012-11-12 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN 2012-10-27 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA 2012-10-18 Cuyahoga Community College, Parma, OH 2012-07-27 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 2012-07-24 Koengen, Bergen, Norway 2012-07-09 Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland 2012-06-21 Stadium Of Light, Sunderland, England 2012-06-17 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain 2012-06-11 Stadio Nereo Rocco, Trieste, Italy 2012-05-30 Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany 2012-05-25 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany 2012-05-17 Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain 2012-04-27 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 2012-04-17 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH 2012-04-12 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI 2009-09-21 Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA 2009-07-30 Estadio Municipal De Foietes, Benidorm, Spain 2009-07-28 Estadio Olimpico De La Cartuja, Seville, Spain 2009-07-16 Les Vieilles Charrues, Carhaix, France 2009-07-12 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland 2009-06-28 Hyde Park, London, England (Evening) 2009-06-13 Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN 2009-06-09 Koengen, Bergen, Norway 2009-06-05 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden 2009-05-19 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 2009-04-29 Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 2009-04-22 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA 2009-04-16 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA 2009-04-10 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 2009-04-07 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK 2009-04-05 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX 2008-11-02 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland, OH 2008-10-05 Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 2008-08-30 Roadhouse At The Lakefront (The), Milwaukee, WI 2008-08-24 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO 2008-08-21 Sommet Center, Nashville, TN 2008-08-18 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA 2008-08-15 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL 2008-08-02 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA 2008-07-27 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 2008-07-20 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain 2008-07-11 Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland 2007-11-14 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 2006-11-14 Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, England 2005-07-28 Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2005-05-17 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA 2005-05-15 Wolstein Center, Cleveland, OH 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 2005-04-21 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 2004-10-08 TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FL 2004-10-03 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI 2004-10-02 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH 2004-10-01 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA 2002-12-04 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 2000-07-01 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-29 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-26 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-22 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-20 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-17 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-15 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-12 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY 2000-06-04 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA 2000-06-03 Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA 2000-05-29 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT 2000-05-27 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV 2000-05-22 Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA 2000-05-21 Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA 2000-05-08 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 2000-05-07 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 2000-05-04 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON 2000-05-03 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON 2000-04-30 Firstar Center, Cincinnati, OH 2000-04-26 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 2000-04-25 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA 2000-04-22 Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena, Raleigh, NC 2000-04-21 Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 2000-04-18 Compaq Center, Houston, TX 2000-04-17 Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX 2000-04-15 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY 2000-04-12 Nashville Arena, Nashville, TN 2000-04-09 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO 2000-04-08 Kiel Center, St. Louis, MO 2000-04-04 Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA 2000-04-03 Rose Garden, Portland, OR 2000-03-31 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 2000-03-30 Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 2000-03-19 New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA 2000-03-18 Pyramid Arena, Memphis, TN 2000-03-14 Alltel Arena, Little Rock, AR 2000-03-13 Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX 2000-03-10 National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL 2000-03-09 National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL 2000-03-06 Ice Palace, Tampa, FL 2000-03-04 Orlando Arena, Orlando, FL 2000-02-28 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA 1999-11-29 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN 1999-11-28 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN 1999-11-21 Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY 1999-11-19 Marine Midland Arena, Buffalo, NY 1999-11-17 Value City Arena, Columbus, OH 1999-11-15 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH 1999-11-14 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH 1999-11-10 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN 1999-11-09 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI 1999-11-06 Fargodome, Fargo, ND 1999-10-28 Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA 1999-10-26 Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA 1999-10-25 Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA 1999-10-23 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 1999-10-21 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 1999-10-18 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 1999-10-17 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 1999-10-15 America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ 1999-09-30 United Center, Chicago, IL 1999-09-28 United Center, Chicago, IL 1999-09-27 United Center, Chicago, IL 1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA 1999-09-24 First Union Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 1999-09-21 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA 1999-09-20 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA 1999-09-15 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA 1999-09-13 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA 1999-09-09 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI 1999-09-08 Palace Of Auburn Hills (The), Auburn Hills, MI 1999-09-03 MCI Center, Washington, DC 1999-09-01 MCI Center, Washington, DC 1999-08-31 MCI Center, Washington, DC 1999-08-27 FleetCenter, Boston, MA 1999-08-26 FleetCenter, Boston, MA 1999-08-24 FleetCenter, Boston, MA 1999-08-22 FleetCenter, Boston, MA 1999-08-21 FleetCenter, Boston, MA 1999-08-12 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-11 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-09 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-07 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-06 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-04 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-02 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-08-01 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-29 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-27 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-26 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-24 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-20 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-18 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-07-15 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1999-06-27 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway 1999-06-26 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark 1999-06-24 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden 1999-06-23 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden 1999-06-20 Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands 1999-06-19 Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands 1999-06-17 Weserstadion, Bremen, Germany 1999-06-15 Stadion Am Bieberer Berg, Offenbach, Germany 1999-06-13 Bruno-Plache-Stadion, Leipzig, Germany 1999-06-11 Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy 1999-06-07 Estadio De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain 1999-06-05 Estadio La Romareda, Zaragoza, Spain 1999-06-03 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France 1999-06-02 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France 1999-05-30 Parkbühne Wuhlheide, Berlin, Germany 1999-05-29 Parkbühne Wuhlheide, Berlin, Germany 1999-05-27 Flanders Expo, Ghent, Belgium 1999-05-25 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland 1999-05-23 Earls Court, London, England 1999-05-21 Earls Court, London, England 1999-05-19 Earls Court, London, England 1999-05-18 Earls Court, London, England 1999-05-16 NEC Arena, Birmingham, England 1999-05-02 Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England 1999-05-01 Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England 1999-04-28 Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France 1999-04-26 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland 1999-04-24 Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria 1999-04-23 Donau Arena, Regensburg, Germany 1999-04-20 FilaForum, Milan, Italy 1999-04-19 FilaForum, Milan, Italy 1999-04-17 PalaMalaguti, Bologna, Italy 1999-04-15 Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany 1999-04-13 Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany 1999-04-11 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain 1999-04-09 Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain 1999-03-19 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 1999-03-18 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 1997-05-26 Palais Des Congrès De Paris, Paris, France 1997-05-07 Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria 1997-02-10 Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia 1997-01-31 Forum Hall, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu, Tokyo, Japan 1996-12-11 Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH 1996-12-03 Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL 1996-10-26 Event Center Arena, San Jose, CA 1996-10-21 Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, Tempe, AZ 1996-10-19 Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM 1996-10-16 Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO 1996-10-15 Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City, UT 1996-10-03 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN 1996-09-25 E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH 1996-09-24 James W. Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI 1996-09-18 Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT 1996-09-16 Benedum Center For The Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, PA 1996-05-08 Palacio De Congresos Y Exposiciones, Madrid, Spain 1996-05-06 Teatro Tívoli, Barcelona, Spain 1996-05-02 Zürich Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland 1996-05-01 Palais Des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium 1996-04-24 Brixton Academy, London, England 1996-04-22 Royal Albert Hall, London, England 1996-04-20 Koningin Elisabethzaal, Antwerp, Belgium 1996-04-19 ICC Berlin, Saal 1, Berlin, Germany 1996-04-17 Royal Albert Hall, London, England 1996-04-16 Royal Albert Hall, London, England 1996-04-13 Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, Italy 1996-04-11 Teatro Smeraldo, Milan, Italy 1996-04-10 Auditorium Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy 1996-03-20 Point Theatre (The), Dublin, Ireland page 1 of 212next »

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 0 show(s) of 266 on the Springsteen On Broadway run. Performed at 10 show(s) of 14 on the Summer '17 Tour. Performed at 6 show(s) of 75 on the The River Tour 2016. Performed at 3 show(s) of 33 on the High Hopes Tour. Performed at 18 show(s) of 133 on the Wrecking Ball Tour. Performed at 16 show(s) of 83 on the Working On A Dream Tour. Performed at 9 show(s) of 99 on the Magic Tour. Performed at 1 show(s) of 56 on The Seeger Sessions Tour. Performed at 11 show(s) of 72 on the Devils & Dust Tour. Performed at 4 show(s) of 7 on the Vote For Change Tour. Performed at 1 show(s) of 120 on The Rising Tour. Performed at 132 show(s) of 132 on The Reunion Tour. Performed at 75 show(s) of 128 on The Ghost Of Tom Joad Tour. Performed at 6 known other show(s), plus 5 public tour rehearsal(s).

Released on Album

Released on The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1995) and Youngstown (Single, 1995).

Live versions are released on Columbia Records Radio Hour (US-only Promotional Tape, 1995) (recorded December 9, 1995) and Live In New York City (2001) (recorded June 29, 2000).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 31 official live downloads:

• 2017-02-25 Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
• 2017-02-21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
• 2017-02-18 Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, Australia
• 2017-02-14 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
• 2017-02-11 Hanging Rock, Mt. Macedon, Australia
• 2017-02-09 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
• 2017-02-07 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
• 2017-02-04 AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia
• 2017-01-30 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
• 2017-01-27 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
• 2016-08-25 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
• 2016-06-25 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 2016-06-17 Olympiastadion, Munich, Germany
• 2016-06-03 Ricoh Arena, Coventry, England
• 2016-05-29 Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
• 2016-02-23 Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• 2014-05-18 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• 2014-04-22 Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2014-02-07 Perth Arena, Perth, Australia
• 2012-11-12 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
• 2008-08-21 Sommet Center, Nashville, TN
• 2005-05-17 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA
• 2000-07-01 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 2000-06-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• 2000-05-22 Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
• 1999-10-23 Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• 1999-09-30 United Center, Chicago, IL
• 1999-09-25 First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
• 1999-07-18 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
• 1996-03-19 King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• 1995-12-09 Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA

On The Tracks

YOUNGSTOWN

3:50

JOAD

Note: Springsteen was inspired to write "Youngstown" after he read Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass, Dale Maharidge's book about the struggling working-class and the decline of industry. Recorded sometime between April–June 1995 (probably closer to the end of the sessions) at Thrill Hill West, Bruce's Los Angeles home studio. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and his five-man backing band on this recording is Chuck Plotkin (keyboards), Jim Hanson (bass), Marty Rifkin (pedal steel), Gary Mallaber (drums), and Soozie Tyrell (violin). Reimagined as a searing rocker for 1999's Reunion Tour.

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^{Studio Sessions: The Ghost Of Tom Joad}

Lyrics

Youngstown

Here in northeast Ohio, back in eighteen-o-three
James and Danny Heaton found the ore that was lining Yellow Creek
They built a blast furnace here along the shore
And they made the cannon balls that helped the Union win the war

Here in Youngstown, here in Youngstown
My sweet Jenny I'm sinking down
Here darling in Youngstown

Well my daddy worked the furnaces, kept 'em hotter than hell
I come home from 'Nam worked my way to scarfer, a job that'd suit the devil as well
Well taconite coke and limestone fed my children and made my pay
Them smokestacks reaching like the arms of God into a beautiful sky of soot and clay

Here in Youngstown, here in Youngstown
Sweet Jenny I'm sinking down
Here darling in Youngstown

Well my daddy come on the Ohio works when he come home from World War Two
Now the yard's just scrap and rubble, he said "Them big boys did what Hitler couldn't do."
Yeah these mills they built the tanks and bombs that won this country's wars
We sent our sons to Korea and Vietnam, now we're wondering what they were dying for

Here in Youngstown, here in Youngstown
My sweet Jenny I'm sinking down
Here darling in Youngstown

From the Monongahela valley to the Mesabi iron range
To the coal mines of Appalachia, the story's always the same
Seven hundred tons of metal a day, now sir you tell me the world's changed
Once I made you rich enough, rich enough to forget my name

And Youngstown, and Youngstown
My sweet Jenny I'm sinking down
Here darling in Youngstown

When I die I don't want no part of heaven, I would not do heaven's work well
I pray the devil comes and takes me to stand in the fiery furnaces of hell

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

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