THE PROMISE

Live 01 Jul 2000 version

Johnny works in a factory, Billy works downtown
Terry works for a rock and roll band lookin' for that million-dollar sound
I got a job down in Darlington, hey but some nights I don't go
Some nights I go to the drive-in, some nights I stay home
But I followed that dream just like those guys do it up on the screen
I drove the Challenger down Route 9 through the dead ends and all the bad scenes
When the promise was broken, I cashed in a few of my own dreams

I built that Challenger by myself, but I needed money and so I sold it
I lived a secret I should'a kept to myself, but I got drunk one night and I told it
But all my life I fought that fight, a fight that you can never win
Every day it just gets harder to live that dream you're believing in
Well Thunder Road, ah baby you were so right
Thunder Road, there's something dyin' down on the highway tonight

Well now I won big once and I hit the coast, hey but somehow I paid the cost
Inside I felt like I was carryin' broken spirits of all the other ones who lost
When the promise is broken you go on living, but it steals something from down in your soul
Like when the truth is spoken and it don't make no difference, something in your heart goes cold
Well I followed that dream through the southwestern flats, the dead ends in a two-bit bars
When the promise was broken I was far away from home sleepin' in the back seat of a borrowed car
Thunder Road, for the lost lovers and all the fixed games
Thunder Road, for the tires rushing by in the rain
Thunder Road, remember when me and Billy we'd always say
Thunder Road, we were gonna take it all and throw it all away

Page last updated: 14 Aug 2010

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 01 Jul 2000 performance of THE PROMISE at Madison Square Garden in New York City, during The Reunion Tour.

Pass for the 01 Jul 2000 show at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

Handwritten setlist for the 01 Jul 2000 show at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

Ticket stub for the 01 Jul 2000 show at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY [Taken from Brucebase]

This live 01 Jul 2000 performance of THE PROMISE was not part of the 2001 HBO special (read below) and was not included on the Live In New York City album. However, it was included on the home video release.

Live In New York City

The Reunion Tour wrapped up with a ten-night stand at Madison Square Gardens in New York City, between 12 June and 01 July 2000. Footage from the last three nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000) was used in early 2001 for HBO's Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live In New York City TV special. Running at 90 minutes, the film consisted of a 14-song selection from the last two nights (29 Jun and 01 Jul 2000). It first aired on 07 Apr 2001 and was the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert.

In 2001, HBO received six Emmy Award nominations and won two for their acclaimed film.

• Nominee for "Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program"
• Winner of "Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multicamera) for VMC Programming"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special"
• Winner of "Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special"
• Nominee for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special"

The full HBO broadcast was released on Live In New York City, both the album (released on 03 Apr 2001) and the home video (released on 06 Nov 2001). The album includes 6 bonus tracks (20 in all) and the home video includes an additional 5 plus one audio track that plays over the end credits (26 in all). These bonus tracks are taken from all three filmed nights (27 Jun, 29 Jun, and 01 Jul 2000) and were not part of the HBO broadcast.

[Click thumbnail to enlarge/reduce artwork]

[Click thumbnail to enlarge/reduce artwork]

Live In New York City album disc 1 track listing (CD format):

1. MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN [01 Jul 2000]
2. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT [01 Jul 2000]
3. TWO HEARTS [01 Jul 2000]
4. ATLANTIC CITY [01 Jul 2000]
5. MANSION ON THE HILL [01 Jul 2000]
6. THE RIVER [01 Jul 2000]
7. YOUNGSTOWN [29 Jun 2000]
8. MURDER INCORPORATED [01 Jul 2000]
9. BADLANDS [29 Jun 2000]
10. OUT IN THE STREET [01 Jul 2000]
11. BORN TO RUN [01 Jul 2000]

Live In New York City album disc 2 track listing (CD format):

1. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT [29 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 mixed]
2. LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS [01 Jul 2000]
3. AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) [01 Jul 2000]
4. LOST IN THE FLOOD [01 Jul 2000]
5. BORN IN THE USA [01 Jul 2000]
6. DON'T LOOK BACK [29 Jun 2000]
7. JUNGLELAND [29 Jun 2000]
8. RAMROD [01 Jul 2000]
9. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 mixed]

Live In New York City DVD disc 1 / original HBO broadcast:

1. Crowd noise audio over program start
2. MY LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN [01 Jul 2000]
3. PROVE IT ALL NIGHT [01 Jul 2000]
4. TWO HEARTS [01 Jul 2000]
5. ATLANTIC CITY [01 Jul 2000]
6. MANSION ON THE HILL [01 Jul 2000]
7. THE RIVER [01 Jul 2000]
8. YOUNGSTOWN [29 Jun 2000]
9. MURDER INCORPORATED [01 Jul 2000]
10. BADLANDS [29 Jun 2000]
11. OUT IN THE STREET [01 Jul 2000]
12. TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT [29 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 mixed]
13. BORN TO RUN [01 Jul 2000]
14. LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS [01 Jul 2000]
15. AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) [01 Jul 2000]
    AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) audio snippet over closing credits [01 Jul 2000]

Live In New York City DVD disc 1 / New York City Serenade featurette:

• Interview with Bob Costas [unknown date]
• BADLANDS snippet [29 Jun 2000]
• PROVE IT ALL NIGHT snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• LIGHT OF DAY snippet [29 Jun 2000]
• TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD snippet [rehearsal]
• THE TIES THAT BIND snippet [29 Jun 2000]
• ADAM RAISED A CAIN snippet [27 Jun 2000]
• MURDER INCORPORATED snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• BACK IN YOUR ARMS snippet [27 Jun 2000]
• BORN TO RUN snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• THE PROMISED LAND snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• BLOOD BROTHERS snippet [01 Jul 2000]
• BLOOD BROTHERS audio snippet over closing credits [01 Jul 2000]

Live In New York City DVD disc 2 / bonus tracks:

1. Crowd noise audio over program start [unknown date]
2. BACKSTREETS [01 Jul 2000]
3. DON'T LOOK BACK [29 Jun 2000]
4. DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN [29 Jun 2000]
5. LOST IN THE FLOOD [01 Jul 2000]
6. BORN IN THE USA [01 Jul 2000]
7. JUNGLELAND [29 Jun 2000]
8. LIGHT OF DAY [29 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 mixed]
9. THE PROMISE [01 Jul 2000]
10. THUNDER ROAD [27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 mixed]
11. RAMROD [01 Jul 2000]
12. IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 mixed]
13. THE E STREET SHUFFLE (audio only playing over closing credits) [01 Jul 2000]

Live 2-track promo single:

1. MY HOMETOWN [29 Jun 2000]
2. THIS HARD LAND [29 Jun 2000]

The Essential Bruce Springsteen bonus disc:

• CODE OF SILENCE [29 Jun 2000]

The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000 DVD (disc 2):

• IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND [rehearsal]

Notes:

• The Live In New York City album was released on CD, Super Audio CD, and vinyl. The home video was released on DVD and VHS.
   
• Last three (not two) nights of The Reunion Tour (27 Jun 2000, 29 Jun 2000, and 01 Jul 2000) and a rehearsal were filmed.
   
• Jonathan Demme reportedly directed an unreleased video of AMERICAN SKIN during a pre-show rehearsal on 26 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden. Since he directed the IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND video from The Complete Video Anthology / 1978-2000 DVD, and since the band is wearing the same outfit on both this video and on the Live In New York City DVD, we can conclude that this video is most probably taken from this 26 Jun 2000 rehearsal.
   
• As a result, the rehearsal footage used in the Live In New York City DVD most probably took place on 26 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.
   
• THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD snippet on the featurette is definitely from the rehearsal since it was not played on any of the 3 nights (27 Jun 2000, 29 Jun 2000, and 01 Jul 2000). What also supports this is the lack of audience shots/noise and camera flashes on the footage.
   
• TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT is a mix of 29 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 (first part is from 29 Jun 2000, last part is from 01 Jul 2000).
   
• THUNDER ROAD is a mix of 27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 (first verse is from 27 Jun 2000, the rest is from 01 Jul 2000).
   
• IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND from the Live In New York City DVD is a mix from the 27 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000 shows, with most parts taken from the latter. Listed in chronological order,
  - Bruce Springsteen's part is from 27 Jun 2000
  - Steven Van Zandt's part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Nils Lofgren's part is from 27 Jun 2000
  - Patti Scialfa's part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Lofgren and Scialfa's duo part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Clarence Clemons' sax solo is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Clarence Clemons' part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Bruce Springsteen's part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Clarence Clemons' part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Patti Scialfa's part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Steven Van Zandt's part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Nils Lofgren's part is from 01 Jul 2000
  - Group's part is from 01 Jul 2000
   
• The credits at the end of disc 2 of the Live In New York City DVD state that footage from only the last two nights (29 Jun 2000 and 01 Jul 2000) was used. However, as mentioned above, THUNDER ROAD and IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND contain portions from the 27 Jun 2000 show.
   
• The audio playing over the New York City Serenade featurette closing credits is the beginning of BLOOD BROTHERS, looped on itself over and over again, with no vocals but with crowd noise added. The music is the same as the version of that song that appears earlier in the featurette, which was recorded on 01 Jul 2000, so the audio snippet is most probably taken from that version.

Available Versions

List of available versions of THE PROMISE on this website:

• Official 1977 studio version
• Official 1978 studio version
• Official 1999 studio version
• Unofficial Jun-Jul 1977 studio version
• Unofficial Aug 1977 studio version
• Unofficial Sep-Oct 1977 studio version
• Live 03 Aug 1976 version
• Live 29 Sep 1976 version
• Live 30 Oct 1976 version
• Live 19 May 1978 version
• Live 23 May 1978 version
• Live 01 Jul 2000 version
• Live 20 Jul 2005 version
• Live 07 Dec 2010 version
• Graziano Romani's cover version