NO SURRENDER^©

Album's version

(Ohhhh)
(Ohhhh)
(Ohhhh)
(Ohhhh)

Well we busted out of class
Had to get away from those fools
We learned more from a three-minute record
Baby, than we ever learned in school
Tonight I hear the neighbourhood drummer sound
I can feel my heart begin to pound
You say you're tired and you just wanna close your eyes
And follow your dreams down

Well we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter's night with a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender

Well now young faces grow sad and old
And hearts of fire grow cold
We swore blood brothers against the wind
I'm ready to grow young again
And hear your sister's voice calling us home
Across the open yards
Well maybe we could cut someplace of our own
With these drums and these guitars

'Cause we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Blood brothers in the stormy night with a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Hey!
(Lalala...)
(Lalala...)
(Lalala...)
(Lalala...)

Now on the street tonight the lights grow dim
The walls of my room are closing in
There's a war outside still raging
you say it ain't ours anymore to win
I wanna sleep beneath peaceful skies in my lover's bed
With a wide open country in my eyes
And these romantic dreams in my head

Because we made a promise we swore we'd always remember
No retreat, baby, no surrender
Blood brothers in the stormy night with a vow to defend
No retreat, baby, no surrender
No retreat, baby, no surrender
(Ohhhh)
(Ohhhh)
(Ohhhh)
(Ohhhh)

Last minute addition to the Born In The USA album, played 55 times during that tour. The first 2 performances of the song, 29 Jun 1984 (opening night of the tour and song debut) and 02 Jul 1984 at the Civic Centre, St. Paul, MN, were played in full band version, while it was played acoustic on the rest of the tour. The 06 Aug 1984 performance at Brendan Byrne Arena, Meadowlands, NJ, was included on the Live 1975-85 box set. Check out the Live 1975-85 version.

That live 06 Aug 1984 version was included on a European 12" EP in 1986 with FIRE (16 Dec 1978), FOR YOU (07 Jul 1978), BORN TO RUN (19 Aug 1985), and TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (20 Aug 1984). The album's version appeared on a rare Bolivian 7" in 1984 with BORN IN THE USA, DANCING IN THE DARK, and COVER ME.

The song reappeared during The Ghost Of Tom Joad tour, played 47 times starting 10 Jan 1996 at the Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI. Played off-tour on 27 Oct 1996 at the televised Anti-Proposition 209 Rally in Los Angeles, CA. Also performed on 10 Dec 1998 during a benefit show for the Amnesty International Foundation at the Omni Palace Bercy stadium, Paris, France.

Played 9 times during the Reunion tour, in the US only, in both acoustic and full band versions. Played full band 70 times during The Rising tour.

Played full band during the 7 Bruce shows of the Vote For Change tour in Oct 2004. Also rehearsed for that tour on 27 and 28 Sep 2004 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ. Used as the campaign theme for John Kerry's Fresh Start for America rallies, and played acoustic during the 4 Kerry rallies on which Bruce participated. Check out the live 01 Nov 2004 version.

Note that this song seems to be an evolution of BROTHERS UNDER THE BRIDGES ('83).

Check also the Live 1975-85 version and live 01 Nov 2004 version.