AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU)^©

Live 17 Dec 2000 version

They say there's a light
Through darkness shines
If two hands protect that light
Against the change of time
You can have your gold and silver
Build your kingdoms high
But it's just one of those things baby
That money can't buy
So I don't care where we go baby
I don't care what we do
As long as I (as long as I) can be with you

Now I've been lost
And I've been found
Been lifted up to the gates of heaven
And put back down
I've walked in chains baby
And I've walked free
But I never walk the way that I do
When you walk with me
So I don't care where we go baby
I don't care what we do
As long as I (as long as I) can be with you

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na na na

Well maybe I'm just that foolish girl
'Cause I always thought the right kiss
Could wash away the sins of the world, yeah
Wash away those sins baby and go walkin' free
'Cause that's just how I feel darlin'
When you walk with me
So I don't care where we go baby
I don't care what we do
As long as I (as long as I) can be with you
As long as I (as long as I) can be with you

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Sha na na na na (whoah)
Sha na na na na (whoah)
Sha na na na na na na (whoah)
Sha na na na na (whoah)
Sha na na na na (whoah)
Sha na na na na na na (whoah)
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na na na
Ah, a sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na na na

Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Oh, sha na na na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na
Sha na na na na na, oh

Page last updated: 09 Mar 2008

Written by Patti Scialfa, AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU) is from her 1993 album Rumble Doll. Check out Patti Scialfa's studio version for more details.

TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT was performed on each night during The Reunion Tour. In the middle of the song, Bruce introduces the band members one by one. He sings a snippet of RED HEADED WOMAN introducing Patti who in her turn sometimes sings a snippet AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU). This was the case on only a  few of the tour's dates (late May 1999) as it was RUMBLE DOLL that mostly took that spot.

The two nights of the 2000 Asbury Park holiday shows were billed as "Bruce Springsteen with The Max Weinberg 7 with Friends". The Max Weinberg 7 and the Redheaded Women (Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, and Lisa Lowell) served as the house band, with Bruce bringing others in and out the stage. Both nights, Patti Scialfa got a two-songs set in the spotlight: ROSE and AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU). She was backed by Bruce on the first songs, and Bruce and Bobby Bandiera on the second.

• 17 Dec 2000 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (the above lyrics are for this night's performance)
• 18 Dec 2000 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ

Bruce also joined Patti on 18 Apr 2004 at The Hit Factory, New York City, NY, playing guitar and sharing backup vocals on this song. That live performance of AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU) was later released on a limited edition 3-track bonus CD issued with initial copies of Patti's 2004 album 23rd Street Lullaby. Check out the live 18 Apr 2004 version for more details.

Bruce again joined Patti Scialfa and her band (featuring E Streeters Nils Lofgren and Soozie Tyrell), playing guitar and sharing backup vocals on AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU) and LOVE (STAND UP) during her five-city tour. He appeared onstage for the two songs on three dates:

• 15 Sep 2004 at the Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
• 21 Sep 2004 at Bowery Ballroom, New York City, NY
• 25 Sep 2004 at The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA

On the final night of Springsteen's Vote For Change tour, on 13 Oct 2004 at the Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ, Patti Scialfa and her band opened this homecoming show. Bruce once again joined Patti on AS LONG AS I (CAN BE WITH YOU) and LOVE (STAND UP).

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