NEBRASKA

Album version



I saw her standing on her front lawn
Just twirling her baton
Me and her went for a ride, sir
And ten innocent people died

From the town of Lincoln, Nebraska
With a sawed off .410 on my lap
Through to the badlands of Wyoming
I killed everything in my path

I can't say that I'm sorry
For the things that we done
At least for a little while, sir
Me and her we had us some fun

Now the jury brought in a guilty verdict
And the judge he sentenced me to death
Midnight in a prison storeroom
With leather straps across my chest

Sheriff, when the man pulls that switch, sir
And snaps my poor head back
You make sure my pretty baby
Is sitting right there on my lap

They declared me unfit to live
Said into that great void my soul'd be hurled
They wanted to know why I did what I did
Well sir I guess there's just a meanness in this world


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Info

NEBRASKA is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1982 album Nebraska. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of NEBRASKA as released in 1982.


The album version of NEBRASKA was included on The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition) compilation album.

Studio Recording

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Nebraska

Following The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band were scheduled to start recording the next album in New York City in February 1982. Springsteen felt that the upcoming band studio sessions would progress faster than they had for his previous three albums if he first records finished demos and demonstrates them to the band. He decided to record multi-channel, professional sounding, finished demos of some songs he had written during the period.

To achieve his goal, Springsteen asked his guitar technician, Mike Batlan, in December 1981 to set up a recording facility in a spare room at his home in Colts Neck, NJ. Some modification work was done to the room making it more receptive to achieving a decent sound. Batlan purchased a Teac Tascom Series 144 4-track cassette recorder, two Shure SM57 microphones, and two microphone stands. The sound was mixed through an old Gibson Echoplex and an old Panasonic boom box acted as the mix-down deck.

The four-track cassette recorder that Bruce Springsteen used to record his famous Nebraska demo tape of January 1982
The four-track cassette recorder that Bruce Springsteen used to record his famous Nebraska demo tape of January 1982

Batlan told journalist David McGee, "Springsteen began organizing his work for Nebraska during the first week of December 1981 — that's when I was directed to buy the four-track... actual recording began on 17 or 18 December and ended around January 3." Some of the songs were recorded two or three times in slightly different arrangements. A cassette tape was compiled and edited at the end of the sessions, likely on 03 Jan 1982. It contained fourteen songs recorded during these late December 1981 / early January 1982 sessions plus what is almost certainly a live recording of a fifteenth song, JOHNNY BYE-BYE. It also included seven alternate takes and five alternate mixes. The first person to listen to the tape was Jon Landau. Two or three months later, Springsteen recorded two additional songs (MY FATHER'S HOUSE and THE BIG PAYBACK) at home on the same equipment — thus making a total of 17 different songs.

  1. NEBRASKA (released on Nebraska)
  2. ATLANTIC CITY (released on Nebraska)
  3. MANSION ON THE HILL (released on Nebraska)
  4. BORN IN THE U.S.A. (released on Tracks)
  5. JOHNNY 99 (released on Nebraska)
  6. DOWNBOUND TRAIN (unreleased)
  7. LOSIN' KIND (unreleased)
  8. STATE TROOPER (released on Nebraska)
  9. USED CARS (released on Nebraska)
  10. OPEN ALL NIGHT (released on Nebraska)
  11. PINK CADILLAC (unreleased)
  12. HIGHWAY PATROLMAN (released on Nebraska)
  13. REASON TO BELIEVE (released on Nebraska)
  14. CHILD BRIDE (unreleased)
  15. MY FATHER'S HOUSE (released on Nebraska)
  16. THE BIG PAYBACK (released as a B-side)
  17. JOHNNY BYE-BYE (unreleased live version)

The solo demo tape was never conceived to result in a commercially released album, as the songs were recorded by the E Street Band with multi-instrument arrangements, during what's known by fans as the "Electric Nebraska Sessions". It should be noted that most of the songs were not recorded in "rock" arrangements. Instead, Springsteen and Max Weinberg just added light percussion, or Roy Bittan added a synth pad.

During the E Street Band sessions it became apparent to Springsteen that a majority of these songs did not lend themselves well to a full band arrangement. He later wrote in his 1998 book Songs, "I went into the studio, brought in the band, rerecorded, remixed, and succeeded in making the whole thing worse." At one point he even went back into the studio with an acoustic guitar to try and re-record the songs solo, but the result lacked the atmosphere and feeling of isolation only found on the original home demos. According to Toby Scott, Springsteen handed him the original solo demo tape in April 1982 and asked him if it was possible to just master off the tape, with the intention to release some of the songs as a solo album. It took Scott a few weeks before eventually saying yes and in May a decision was taken to release a solo album ahead of the still-in-progress E Street Band album.

Most of the E Street Band arrangements of these songs were discarded and ten of the original solo demos from the tape were released on the Nebraska album. Max Weinberg revealed to Rolling Stone in June 2010 that the recording of the "Electric Nebraska Sessions" does exist. He said that "the E Street Band actually did record all of Nebraska and it was killing [...] It was all very hard-edged. As great as it was, it wasn't what Bruce wanted to release. There is a full band Nebraska album, all of those songs are in the can somewhere."

"Open All Night" and "January 3, 1982" were considered as titles for the album, but ultimately "Nebraska" was chosen. The album was produced by Bruce Springsteen and was commercially released on 20 Sep 1982 by Columbia Records.

Bruce Springsteen -- Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen -- Nebraska

Nebraska features 10 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 40:50.

The Essential Bruce Springsteen

The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released as part of Sony BMG'S (previously Sony Music Entertainment) series of "Essential" sets. According to Springsteen's liner notes comments, the collection was intended as an introduction to his music for new fans who attended shows on The Rising Tour.

The collection is fundamentally a 2-disc set (clocking at 153:37) compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Live In New York City release. A 3-disc limited edition (clocking at 201:04) was also released. It includes a bonus third disc comprising of a selection of rarities and previously unreleased recordings.

The Essential Bruce Springsteen was released on 11 Nov 2003 on Columbia Records. It debuted and peaked at #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart where it spent 13 weeks. It also reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was awarded certified gold and platinum records by the RIAA on 16 Dec 2003.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003 edition)

The Essential Bruce Springsteen was reissued on 16 Oct 2015, this time as a 2-disc set (clocking at 156:25) with an updated track list, compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Greatest Hits (1995 edition) collection. This 2015 reissue features remastered tracks not found in that form on other Springsteen releases.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition)
Bruce Springsteen -- The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2015 edition)

Other Official Releases

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Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost Of Tom Joad

CD EP - Columbia (663031 5) - Austria, 1995

Pressed in Austria for distribution in the UK.

01- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
02- MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER
03- ONE STEP UP
04- NEBRASKA
Bruce Springsteen -- Interview With Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen -- Interview With Bruce Springsteen

2xCD - Columbia (SAMPCD 3184 9) - Germany, 1996

Germany-only promotional 2-CD set featuring 16 Springsteen tracks interspersed with segments from an exclusive interview for German radio station "Radio Eins" conducted in Los Angeles in February 1996.

Disc 1:
01- Interview
02- IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY
03- Interview
04- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
05- Interview
06- THE RIVER
07- Interview
08- NEBRASKA
09- Interview
10- TOUGHER THAN THE REST
11- Interview
12- BORN IN THE U.S.A.
13- Interview
14- MY HOMETOWN
15- Interview
16- HIGHWAY 29
17- Interview
18- TUNNEL OF LOVE
19- Interview
20- SINALOA COWBOYS [Live 08 Dec 1995 version]

Disc 2:
01- Interview
02- HUNGRY HEART [Live 09 Jul 1995 version]
03- Interview
04- STRAIGHT TIME
05- Interview
06- HUMAN TOUCH
07- Interview
08- ACROSS THE BORDER
09- Interview
10- THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD
11- Interview
12- DEAD MAN WALKIN'

Other versions of NEBRASKA were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Live/1975-85
The live 06 Aug 1984 version of NEBRASKA was released on the Live/1975-85 box set in 1986.
Bruce Springsteen -- The Christic Shows, November 16 & 17, 1990
The live 16 Nov 1990 version of NEBRASKA was released on The Christic Shows, November 16 & 17, 1990 official live download in 2016.
Bruce Springsteen -- The Christic Shows, November 16 & 17, 1990
The live 17 Nov 1990 version of NEBRASKA was released on The Christic Shows, November 16 & 17, 1990 official live download in 2016.
Bruce Springsteen -- King's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996
The live 19 Mar 1996 version of NEBRASKA was released on the King's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996 official live download in 2017.

Live History

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Covers

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At least 23 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's NEBRASKA.

Steve Earle -- Johnny Come Lately
Steve Earle -- Johnny Come Lately

12" EP - MCA Records (MCAT 1301) - UK, 1988

NEBRASKA is a live version recorded in 1988.
Various artists -- For You: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
Various artists -- For You: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

CD - Totem Records (TTM 480499 2) - Italy, 1995

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. NEBRASKA is performed by Chicken Mambo.
Various artists -- Badlands - A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska
Various artists -- Badlands - A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska

CD - Sub Pop (SPCD 525) - USA, 2000
CD - Sub Pop (9878-70525-2) - Germany, 2000
CD - Sub Pop (WPCR-10845) - Japan, 2000

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. NEBRASKA is performed by Chrissie Hynde with Adam Seymour.
The Section -- Hometown: The String Quartet Tribute To Springsteen
The Section -- Hometown: The String Quartet Tribute To Springsteen

CD - Vitamin (CD 8678) - USA, 2002

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 Volume One
Various artists -- Born To Run 2003 Volume One

CD - Uncut (2003 04A) - UK, 2003

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It's a free CD (volume 1 of 2) issued exclusively with the April 2003 issue of Uncut magazine. NEBRASKA is performed by Dan Bern.
Luca Hawk -- Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Acoustic Solo Project
Luca Hawk -- Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Acoustic Solo Project

CD EP - no label (no catalog number) - Italy, 2007

This is a promotional Bruce Springsteen tribute EP.
The Bruceband -- Nebraska Electric
The Bruceband -- Nebraska Electric

CD - no label (88690-2) - Holland, 2008

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Le Voci Del Tempo -- Il Mio Nome È Joe Roberts
Le Voci Del Tempo -- Il Mio Nome È Joe Roberts

CD - Pubblico-08 (no catalog number) - Italy, 2010

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
George Mileson -- Leap of Faith: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen
George Mileson -- Leap of Faith: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen

CD - Growin' Up Records (8471812289631) - Spain, 2012

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Jon Bingham -- Deliver Me From Nowhere
Jon Bingham -- Deliver Me From Nowhere

Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2012

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Various artists -- Long Distance Salvation: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska
Various artists -- Long Distance Salvation: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska

LP - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2012
Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2012

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album, available in downloadable digital form and on limited edition colored vinyl. The digital version contains three tracks not found on the LP issue. NEBRASKA is performed by The Wooden Sky.
Various artists -- Return To Nebraska
Various artists -- Return To Nebraska

Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - Holland, 2012

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. NEBRASKA is performed by Tommy Ebben.
Various artists -- The Nebraska Sessions - A Tribute
Various artists -- The Nebraska Sessions - A Tribute

CD - Clubhouse Records (no catalog number) - UK, 2012
Digital album - Clubhouse Records (no catalog number) - UK, 2012

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album, available in downloadable digital form and on CD. The digital version contains two tracks not found on the CD issue. NEBRASKA is performed by Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou.
Pony Face -- Pony Face Presents Nebraska
Pony Face -- Pony Face Presents Nebraska

2xLP - Cobra Snake Necktie Records (unknown catalog number) - Australia, 2014
CD - Love & Theft Recording Co. (LNT022) - Australia, 2014

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. Includes two versions of NEBRASKA, the second version is a bonus track titled "Nebraska (Bearded)".
Various artists -- Tramps Like Us - My Music Factory's Bruce Springsteen Tribute
Various artists -- Tramps Like Us - My Music Factory's Bruce Springsteen Tribute

Digital album - no label (no catalog number) - unknown country, 2014

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. NEBRASKA is performed by Santa Cruz.
Alyssa Hankey -- Springsteen Covers
Alyssa Hankey -- Springsteen Covers

CD EP - no label (no catalog number) - USA, 2016

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute EP.
Jim DiBattista -- Nebraska - A Tribute
Jim DiBattista -- Nebraska - A Tribute

Digital album - Big Lump Records (no catalog number) - USA, 2019

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It can be streamed on YouTube and Soundcloud.
Stormy Mondays -- Nebraska
Stormy Mondays -- Nebraska

CD - Electric Satellite Records (ESR 002) - Spain, 2019
LP - Electric Satellite Records (ESR 002-LP) - Spain, 2021

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Aoife O'Donovan -- Aoife O'Donovan Plays Nebraska
Aoife O'Donovan -- Aoife O'Donovan Plays Nebraska

Digital album - Yep Roc Records (no catalog number) - USA, 2021

This is a download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album. It was recorded live on 09 May 2020 at Aoife’s home in New York City, NY.
Leonardo And Riccardo Sgavetti -- Nebraska Replayed
Leonardo And Riccardo Sgavetti -- Nebraska Replayed

CD - Esagono Dischi (ED 2021/01) - Italy, 2021

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Ryan Adams -- Nebraska
Ryan Adams -- Nebraska

Digital album - Pax Americana Record Company (no catalog number) - USA, 2022

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
The Operating Tracks -- State Trooper
The Operating Tracks -- State Trooper

Digital single - Cold School (no catalog number) - Sweden, 2022

This is a free download-only digital Bruce Springsteen tribute 2-track single.
Wagersfeld -- Nebraska
Wagersfeld -- Nebraska

CD - no label (no catalog number) - Austria, 2023

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album. Each song is preceded by a story related to the song, in German.

Available Versions

List of available versions of NEBRASKA on this website:

NEBRASKA [Album version]
NEBRASKA [Early home demo version 1]
NEBRASKA [Early home demo version 2]
NEBRASKA [Live 06 Aug 1984 version]

Page last updated: 17 Dec 2015