SOUL MAN

Live 15 Oct 1999 version


[Spoken intro (Bruce Springsteen):] Got a close friend of mine, lives here in, here in Phoenix. Gonna have him come up and sing a song with us. He's, uh, in my opinion, this is, uh, one of the greatest living soul singers of all time, Mr. Sam Moore, the original Soul Man. Come on, Sam! The teacher! The teacher!

Sam Moore:Coming to you on a dusty road
Good loving, I've got a truckload
And when you get it
You got something
Don't worry, 'cause I'm coming

Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man

Sam Moore:I got what I got the hard way
I'll make it better
Each and every day
So, honey, don't you fret
You ain't seen nothing yet

Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
What?
I'm a Soul Man
Play it, Bruce!
Moore and Springsteen:I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man

Sam Moore:I was brought up on a side street
Learned how to love, before, before
Oh
Bruce Springsteen:What Sam said
So hold on, Sam
'Cause I'm coming

Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man
I'm a Soul Man

Sam Moore:Grab the rope
And I'll pull you in
Give you hope
And be your only boyfriend, yeah (yeah)
Yeah (Yeah)

Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:I'm a Soul Man
Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:I'm a Soul Man
Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:I'm a Soul Man
Sam Moore:Oh!
Bruce Springsteen:I'm a Soul Man
Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:I'm a Soul Man
Sam Moore:I'm a Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man
Bruce Springsteen:Soul Man
Sam Moore:Soul Man

Bruce Springsteen (spoken):The great Sam Moore!

Bruce Springsteen:He's a Soul Man!

[Spoken outro (Bruce Springsteen):] Sam Moore! Whoa, that was fun!


Info

SOUL MAN is a 1967 song by Sam & Dave. See the original Sam & Dave version for more details.

Live 15 Oct 1999 Version

The above lyrics are for the live 15 Oct 1999 performance of SOUL MAN at America West Arena in Phoenix, AZ, during The Reunion Tour. The song featured a guest appearance by Sam Moore on vocals. As far as it's known, that was the first time that Bruce Springsteen performed SOUL MAN in full.

Ticket stub for the 15 Oct 1999 show at America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Ticket stub for the 15 Oct 1999 show at America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ

Official Releases

Other versions of SOUL MAN were also officially released.

Various artists -- The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts
The live 29 Oct 2009 version of SOUL MAN was released on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts home video in 2010.

Live History: on-tour

SOUL MAN was performed once during what is known as The Reunion Tour (132 dates, April 1999 to July 2000), on 15 Oct 1999 in Phoenix, AZ. The song featured a guest appearance by Sam Moore on vocals.

  1. 15 Oct 1999 at America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ

Steven Van Zandt occasionally played a snippet of SOUL MAN for his solo during TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT on The Reunion Tour. See the live 03 Jun 1999 version of TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT for an example.

Live History: off-tour

Between 2002 and 2011, Bruce Springsteen played private benefit shows for schools and colleges that his kids attended ─ Rumson Country Day School of Rumson, NJ, and Ranney School of Tinton Falls, NJ, and Boston College of Chestnut Hill, MA. SOUL MAN was performed at 4 of these fundraisers, always at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, and backed by Bobby Bandiera and his band. On these shows the song was played in a full-band arrangement. The song featured Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, and Lisa Lowell on 13 Apr 2002, Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell and Max Weinberg on drums on 14 Apr 2002, Patti Scialfa on 25 Apr 2004, and Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg, and a four-piece horn section on 22 Oct 2011. The latter performance also featured a guest appearance by J.T. Bowen on shared lead vocals.

  1. 13 Apr 2002 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (during a private fundraiser for Rumson Country Day School)
  2. 14 Apr 2002 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (during a private fundraiser for Rumson Country Day School)
  3. 25 Apr 2004 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (during a private fundraiser for Rumson Country Day School)
  4. 22 Oct 2011 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (during a private fundraiser for Boston College)

SOUL MAN was performed during all three 2003 Asbury Park holiday shows. These concerts were billed as "Bruce Springsteen with The Max Weinberg 7 and Friends", with The Max Weinberg 7 serving as the house band, and Springsteen bringing guests on and off the stage throughout the shows. On these shows the song featured a guest appearance by Sam Moore on vocals. See the live 08 Dec 2003 version for more details.

  1. 05 Dec 2003 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
  2. 07 Dec 2003 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
  3. 08 Dec 2003 at Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ

SOUL MAN was performed off-tour on 29 Oct 2009 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, during the first of the two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25th anniversary concerts. The song was played with Sam Moore on vocals, backed by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. This performance of SOUL MAN aired on HBO a month later and was officially released on The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts home video in 2010. See the live 29 Oct 2009 version for more details.

SOUL MAN was performed off-tour on 25 Feb 2012 at The Press Room in Asbury Park, NJ, during a surprise appearance at a gig with Boccigalupe and the Badboys. The song was The song was played in a full-band version. See the live 25 Feb 2012 version for more details.

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Available Versions

List of available versions of SOUL MAN on this website:

SOUL MAN [Live 15 Oct 1999 version]
SOUL MAN [Live 08 Dec 2003 version]
SOUL MAN [Live 29 Oct 2009 version]
SOUL MAN [Live 25 Feb 2012 version]
SOUL MAN [Original Sam & Dave version]

Page last updated: 20 Sep 2012