LIVIN' ON A PRAYER^©

Live 31 Jan 1998 version

[Jon Bon Jovi:] We gotta hold on...
[JBJ:] To what we've got
[JBJ:] It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
[JBJ:] We've got each other and that's a lot for love
[JBJ:] We'll give it a shot
[JBJ and Richie Sambora:] And, oh, we're half way there
[Crowd:] Oh, oh, livin' on a prayer
[RS:] Take my hand
[JBJ and RS:] We'll make it I swear
[Crowd:] Oh, oh
[RS:] Livin' on a prayer
[JBJ (spoken):] You got it!

[JBJ:]
Tommy used to work on the docks
Union went on strike
He's down on his luck, it's tough, oh, it's tough
Oh, but Gina works the diner all day
She been working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love - oh, for love

She says we've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

Oh, we're half way there
Oh, oh, livin' on a prayer
Well, take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Oh, oh, livin' on a prayer

Tommy threw his six string in hock
His heart's holdin' in
What he's tried against the years to talk
Just like we did, so close
Well, Gina dreams of running away
When she cries every night
Tommy whispers, it's okay, someday

We've got to hold on to what we've got
Doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other, that's a lot
For love - so what?! (we'll give it a shot)

Whoah, we're half way there
Whoah, oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it - I swear
Whoah, oh, livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer

We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got

Oh, we're half way there
Whoah, oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand we'll make it - I swear
Whoah, oh, livin' on a prayer

Whoah, we're half way there
Whoah, oh, livin' on a prayer
You take my hand, we'll make it - I swear
Whoah, oh, livin' on a prayer

Whoah, oh
Whoah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoah, oh, oh
Whoah, oh, oh
Sing, whoah, oh
Whoah, oh, oh
Whoah, oh
That's all!

[JBJ (spoken):] Thank you all very much! Thank you for coming! Good night!

Page last updated: 12 Sep 2007

Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. Check out Bon Jovi's original version for more details.

The song was performed live with Bruce Springsteen once, on 31 Jan 1998 during the "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert held at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ, and the above lyrics are for that performance. Jon Bon Jovi was on lead vocals backed up by Richie Sambora, and Bruce Springsteen probably was playing guitar during this song (assuming he was on stage all night).

The "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert was organized by the Long Branch Police Department, The Asbury Park Press, and FPI Concerts, along with Jon Bon Jovi. The concert was to honor slain Long Branch police officer Sgt. Patrick King and raise money for the Sgt. Patrick King Memorial Fund to provide for his family. King, 45-year-old father of two young boys, was fatally shot on 20 Nov 1997 by a fugitive who had vowed to kill himself and a police officer rather than be captured and returned to jail.

20 musicians with ties to the Jersey shore music scene answered Jon Bon Jovi's call, including Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa and several members of the then-disbanded E Street Band (Clarence Clemons, Danni Frederici, Patti Scialfa, Little Steven, and Max Weinberg), Southside Johnny, Bobby Bandiera, and Richie Sambora among others. Actor Danny DeVito was the event's MC. Tickets, which were priced at $125, went on sale on 17 Jan 1998 noon, selling out in eight minutes. The concert that was organized in short order raised more than $112,000 for King's widow and his two sons.

"It was a chance to forget about it [the murder] a little bit," Long Branch police Sgt. Bruce Johantgen, one of about 50 city police officers who attended the show, told The Asbury Park Press. "The outpouring of love from the performers to the audience was unbelievable". Johantgen said he found it ironic that Bon Jovi and other performers thanked the audience for coming to the sold-out show. "From the police perspective, I kept thinking, 'We should be thanking you for giving your time'," Johantgen said.

This was a near-reunion of the fabled E Street Band and Bruce's first full-length electric gig following the acoustic The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. Springsteen spent much of (or maybe all) the night onstage, singing or playing guitar only. Soundboard recording for that concert is available among collectors.

The above lyrics are for the live 31 Jan 1998 performance at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ. Check out Bon Jovi's original version.

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

Request:
Was Bruce Springsteen playing guitar on all of the 31 Jan 1998 show's tracks on which he didn't sing? Info should be found on Backstreets magazine #58 [Spring 1998]. If you can assist, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.