Lyrics

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Live 27 Nov 1995 version

[Spoken intro:] This uh, this next song I guess is about just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And uh, I mean uh, before I go on let me point out that uh, this is not autobiographical. Uh, and uh, you'll the reason why pretty shortly. This is called "Little Things That Count".

She said we could just sleep together, there'd be nothing wrong
We could just hold each other with our clothes on
I went to answer, I don't think we should
Then I heard a voice say, yeah I guess we could
She kissed me lightly and said you know sometimes when you're down
It's the little things that count
It's the little things that count
It's the little things

She said it was too late, and I shouldn't try to drive
She unbuttoned my shirt and whispered just close your eyes
Let me take your boots off, you know sometimes when your luck's run out
It's the little things that count
It's the little things that count
It's the little things

Her dress rode lightly as she walked
Then she pulled the covers down

I was so dry, she held a water glass to my lips
Well the polish on her nail was chipped
She said she had a boyfriend I reminded her of
His hair was the same muddy brown, she stuck her tongue in my mouth

[Spoken outro:] You see the need for that disclaimer ???. I ain't crazy!

Info

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT is a song written by Bruce Springsteen. He performed it live in 1995-1997 during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour and off-tour in 2003. See the "Live History" section below for more details.

Writing

It seems that Bruce Springsteen wrote IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT, PILGRIM IN THE TEMPLE OF LOVE, SELL IT AND THEY WILL COME, and THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY OTHER FOR ME BUT YOU solely to bring some levity to the otherwise somber shows of The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour.

Studio Recording

According to Brucebase, IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was recorded for Devils & Dust and was almost issued on the album as the thirteenth track.

Live 27 Nov 1995 version

The above lyrics are for the live 27 Nov 1995 performance of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. This was the world debut of the song.

Ticket stub for the 27 Nov 1995 show at Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Ticket stub for the 27 Nov 1995 show at Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
(Taken from Brucebase)

Official Releases

Another version of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was officially released.

Bruce Springsteen -- King's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996
The live 19 Mar 1996 version of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was released on the King's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996 official live download in 2017.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Nice, France 1997
The live 18 May 1997 version of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was released on the Nice, France 1997 official live download in 2021.

Live History

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was performed 37 times during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour (128 dates, November 1995 to May 1997), most of them in 1995 U.S. leg and the 1996 European leg of the tour. On this tour, the song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. The live 19 Mar 1996 version of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was released on the King's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996 official live download in 2017. The live 18 May 1997 version of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was released on the Nice, France 1997 official live download in 2021.

List of The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour performances

  1. 27 Nov 1995 at Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
  2. 29 Nov 1995 at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
  3. 30 Nov 1995 at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
  4. 03 Dec 1995 at Rosemont Theatre, Theatre, IL
  5. 05 Dec 1995 at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
  6. 06 Dec 1995 at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
  7. 08 Dec 1995 at Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA
  8. 09 Dec 1995 at Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA
  9. 12 Dec 1995 at Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
  10. 13 Dec 1995 at Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
  11. 15 Dec 1995 at Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
  12. 16 Dec 1995 at Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
  13. 07 Jan 1996 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Montreal, Canada
  14. 08 Jan 1996 at Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada
  15. 12 Feb 1996 at Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
  16. 14 Feb 1996 at Kulturpalst, Dresden, Germany
  17. 15 Feb 1996 at Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich, Germany
  18. 21 Feb 1996 at Le Zénith De Paris, Paris, France
  19. 22 Feb 1996 at Le Zénith De Paris, Paris, France
  20. 26 Feb 1996 at Koninklijk Theater Carré, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  21. 29 Feb 1996 at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England
  22. 02 Mar 1996 at Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle, England
  23. 13 Mar 1996 at Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden
  24. 16 Mar 1996 at Falkoner Salen, Copenhagen, Denmark
  25. 19 Mar 1996 at King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  26. 20 Mar 1996 at Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
  27. 11 Apr 1996 at Teatro Smeraldo, Milan, Italy
  28. 13 Apr 1996 at Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, Italy
  29. 17 Apr 1996 at Royal Albert Hall, London, England
  30. 19 Apr 1996 at ICC Berlin Saal 1, Berlin, Germany
  31. 20 Apr 1996 at Koningin Elisabethzaal, Antwerp, Belgium
  32. 30 Apr 1996 at Salle Erasme, Strasbourg, France
  33. 25 Sep 1996 at E. J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH
  34. 05 Feb 1997 at QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, Australia
  35. 07 Feb 1997 at Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
  36. 18 May 1997 at Palais Des Congrès Acropolis, Nice, France

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT was performed off-tour on 19 and 20 Feb 2003 at Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA, during the DoubleTake Magazine benefit shows. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar.

List of off-tour performances

  1. 19 Feb 2003 at Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA
  2. 20 Feb 2003 at Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA

Covers

As far as it's known, no artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT.

Available Versions

List of available versions of IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT on this website:

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT [Live 27 Nov 1995 version]
IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT [Live 19 Mar 1996 version]
Page last updated: 02 Sep 2017