DANCING IN THE DARK

Live 04 Oct 2003 version

[Spoken intro:] Mr. Jon Landau, Willie Nile, come on up.

One two three

Let's hear from management

I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning (ooh-ooh-oh), go to bed feelin' the same way
I ain't nothing but tired, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark

Message just keep getting clearer (ooh-ooh-oh), radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
Check my look in the mirror (ooh-ooh-oh), want to change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't getting nowhere, just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere baby, I just know that there is

You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark

Sittin' around getting older, there's a joke here somewhere, it's on me
Shake the world off my shoulders, come on baby (come one baby)
Come on baby (come on baby), come on baby (come on baby), have a laugh on me

One two three four
Stay on the streets of this town (ooh-ooh-oh), they'll be carving you up alright
Say you gotta stay hungry (ooh-ooh-oh), hey baby, I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action, sick of sitting 'round here tryin' to write this book
I need a love reaction, baby gimme just one look

You can't start a fire sitting 'round cryin' over a broken heart
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark
Can't start a fire worryin' about your little world fallin' apart
This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark

Alright, come on New York!

One two three
You can't start a fire sitting 'round cryin' over a broken heart
This gun's for hire (this gun's for hire), this gun's for hire (this gun's for hire)
This gun's for hire (this gun's for hire) even if we're just dancing in the dark

One two
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Heyyyyy!

We got another ???
One two three
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Hey baby! (Hey baby)
Heyyyyy!

[Spoken outro:] Mr. Jon Landau, Willie Nile. Come on Bonds. Bonds down there? Where is he? Anybody seen Bonds? Bonds is pissing, according to the guys under the stage. We've got Garland Jeffreys. Oh, here he comes. I told 'em what I learned from Bob, I don't wanna tell 'em what I learned from you.

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 04 Oct 2003 performance of DANCING IN THE DARK at Shea Stadium in New York City, NY, during The Rising Tour. Springsteen grabbed a teenage girl for the dancing part. Jon Landau and Willie Nile made a guest appearance on the song, playing guitar and sharing some vocals. Nile raced to get to the show following his own concert in Amagansett, NY, two-and-a-half hours away; he made in time to guest on the show's last theree songs.

Promotional poster for the 04 Oct 2003 show at Shea Stadium, New York City, NY

Ticket stub for the 04 Oct 2003 show at Shea Stadium, New York City, NY

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band concluded The Rising Tour with three shows at Shea Stadium in New York City, NY (01, 03, and 04 Oct 2003). Initially two shows were scheduled (01 and 03 Oct 2003) but a third show was added at a later stage (04 Oct 2003).

Available Versions

List of available versions of DANCING IN THE DARK on this website:

Page last updated: 06 May 2012