YOUNGSTOWN [Album version]

Here in northeast Ohio, back in eighteen-o-three
James and Danny Heaton found the ore that was linin' Yellow Creek
They built a blast furnace here along the shore
And they made the cannon balls that helped the Union win the war

Here in Youngstown, here in Youngstown
My sweet Jenny I'm sinkin' down
Here darlin' in Youngstown

Well my daddy worked the furnaces, kept 'em hotter than hell
I come home from 'Nam worked my way to scarfer, a job that'd suit the devil as well
Well taconite coke and limestone fed my children and made my pay
Them smokestacks reachin' like the arms of God into a beautiful sky of soot and clay

Here in Youngstown, here in Youngstown
Sweet Jenny I'm sinkin' down
Here darlin' in Youngstown

Well my daddy come on the Ohio works when he come home from World War Two
Now the yard's just scrap and rubble, he said "Them big boys did what Hitler couldn't do."
Yeah these mills they built the tanks and bombs that won this country's wars
We sent our sons to Korea and Vietnam, now we're wondering what they were dyin' for

Here in Youngstown, here in Youngstown
My sweet Jenny I'm sinkin' down
Here darlin' in Youngstown

From the Monongahela valley to the Mesabi iron range
To the coal mines of Appalachia, the story's always the same
Seven hundred tons of metal a day, now sir you tell me the world's changed
Once I made you rich enough, rich enough to forget my name

And Youngstown, and Youngstown
My sweet Jenny I'm sinkin' down
Here darlin' in Youngstown

When I die I don't want no part of heaven, I would not do heaven's work well
I pray the devil comes and takes me to stand in the fiery furnaces of hell

Page last updated: 13 Jan 2012

Intro

Music and lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, YOUNGSTOWN was released in November 1995 on Springsteen's solo album The Ghost Of Tom Joad. The song is a bleak parable about the decay of industrialized America. It was played live acoustic on solo tours, and full-band on E Street Band tours.

The above lyrics are for Springsteen's studio version of YOUNGSTOWN as released on The Ghost Of Tom Joad.

The Story behind the Song

In 1985, author Dale Maharidge and photographer Michael Williamson published a book titled Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass. The book chronicles the new class of unemployed and dispossessed workers that had arisen in the early 80's in the US. Springsteen was one of 15,000 people who bought a copy when the book was first published. And then, he says, "I sort of put it away on the shelf."

Ten years later, on a sleepless night in his Beverly Hills home, Springsteen reached to the bookshelf and pulled Journey To Nowhere; this ultimately provided the catalyst for the completion of his new album, The Ghost Of Tom Joad. "I was downstairs one night and I pulled [Journey To Nowhere] out and started to read it," he told the Washington Post. "And I read the whole book straight through. It's very powerful and basically it was a source for me for 'Youngstown' and 'The New Timer'." He told Bob Costas in an interview that he was very frightened when he closed the book. "You never know what tomorrow brings. It strikes you straight some sort of real." He added, "What if you couldn't take care of your family? What if you had to leave them? What if you couldn't be home with your sons and your daughters? What if you couldn't pay for their health care, and couldn't provide them with the health care that they need?"

By the time Springsteen recorded The Ghost Of Tom Joad, the book had gone out of print. In an effort "to replay something that meant something to me," he talked about the book in concerts during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. When the publisher Hyperion Books decided to reprint it in March 1996, Springsteen wrote a new introduction for the book. In it, he mentions that he "had completed most of the Tom Joad record when one night, unable to sleep, I pulled this book down off my shelf. I read it in one sitting and I lay awake frightened by its implications. In the next week I wrote 'Youngstown' and 'The New Timer'." 15 years later, Springsteen introduced Maharidge and Williamson's work again, with his foreword to their 2011 book, Someplace Like America: Tales From the New Great Depression.

YOUNGSTOWN is a tribute to the family line of steel workers in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. It ponders the corporate bosses who built a steel plant in Youngstown, used up the local resources, and then walked away. The narrator's father says: "Them big boys did what Hitler couldn't do". That particular scenario is directly taken from Journey To Nowhere, in which laid off Youngstown steelworkers Joe Marshall Sr. and Jr. are poking through the rubble of the Campbell Works, whose six 10-story blast furnaces have been dynamited: "How could they shut us down?" The older man pauses. "What Hitler couldn't do, they did it for him."

Recording

YOUNGSTOWN was recorded sometime between April and June 1995 at Thrill Hill Recording (Springsteen's home studio) in Beverly Hills, CA. On this track, Springsteen handles guitar and vocals and is backed up by five musicians: Jim Hanson on bass, Gary Mallaber on drums and percussion, Chuck Plotkin on keyboard, Marty Rifkin on pedal steel guitar, and Soozie Tyrell on violin. The track, as well as the rest of the album, was produced by Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin and recorded and mixed by Toby Scott at Thrill Hill Recording.

People and Locations

Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Endowed with large deposits of coal and iron as well as "old growth" hardwood forests needed to produce charcoal, the Youngstown area eventually developed a thriving steel industry. The area's first blast furnace, the Hopewell Furnace, was established in 1803 by James and Daniel Heaton; it was built on the banks of Yellow Creek in what is now Struthers. It was the first blast furnace in Ohio and likely the first one west of the Allegheny Mountains. The song's lyrics were sometimes misheard as James and Dan "Eaton" rather than "Heaton", but Dan did change his name to "Eaton" later in life.

The Monongahela Valley is located in north-central west Virginia and south western Pennsylvania in the United States. It is the path of the Monongahela River. The Mesabi Iron Range is a vast deposit of iron ore in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. Discovered in 1866, it is the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. Appalachia is a region in the eastern United States that stretches from southern New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. The region is rich in coal deposits.

The Jeanette Blast Furnace (nicknamed Sweet Jenny in the song) once stood along the Mahoning River at the Brier Hill Plant of the Youngstown Sheet And Tube Company (YS&T). Built in 1917-1918 and lighted on 20 Sep 1918 by its namesake, Mary Jeanette Thomas, daughter of W.A. Thomas who was the President of Brier Hill Steel. The Jeanette furnace went out of blast in September 1977 when the Brier Hill Plant was shut down. It was one of the oldest blast furnaces in the United States, and the last of its kind in Youngstown. It was demolished on 29 Jan 1997.

The Ghost Of Tom Joad

Following the Jan-Feb 1995 studio reunion with the E Street Band and the release of Greatest Hits, Bruce Springsteen writing activity increased significantly. Between March and September 1995, Springsteen wrote and recorded about two-albums worth of new songs. From the scattered comments made by Springsteen and other session participants, it would seem that over an album's worth of solo material and over an album's worth of band material were recorded during these sessions. The Ghost Of Tom Joad album consist of 7 solo tracks and 5 band tracks. The songs Bruce recorded solo may have spanned the entire session period and the band sessions appear to have been split into 2 or 3 phases during the spring and summer of 1995.

The Ghost Of Tom Joad was released on Columbia Records on 21 Nov 1995. It was produced by Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin.

Other Official Releases

Besides it's release on The Ghost Of Tom Joad album, YOUNGSTOWN was released on two promotional CD singles in 1996.

Both the album's version and the live 09 Dec 1995 performance of YOUNGSTOWN were included on Columbia Records Radio Hour Part 1 & 2, a US-only promotional release issued on cassette and reel-to-reel tape. See the live 09 Dec 1995 version for more details.

The live 29 Jun 2000 version of YOUNGSTOWN was released on Live In New York City in 2001, both the album and home video. The live 28 Jun 2009 version of was released on the London Calling: Live In Hyde Park DVD in 2010.

Live History

In preparation for The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour, YOUNGSTOWN was performed during the tour's public warm-up rehearsal show that took place on 21 Nov 1995 at State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed 75 times during the 128-date-long The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. It was first performed at every single show during the tour's first five months, but then it started to get omitted from the setlist until it became more and more of a rarity as the tour progressed. In the 1997 part of the tour, which consisted the tour's last 27 shows, the song appeared only four times. Ten songs from the two December 1995 shows in Philadelphia, PA, including YOUNGSTOWN from 09 Dec 1995, were used on the 14 Dec 1995 edition of the Columbia Records Radio Hour radio show. See the live 09 Dec 1995 version for more details. Ten songs from the 19 Apr 1996 show in Berlin, Germany, including YOUNGSTOWN, were radio broadcast in various countries.

22 Nov 1995 at Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ
26 Nov 1995 at Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
27 Nov 1995 at Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
29 Nov 1995 at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
30 Nov 1995 at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
03 Dec 1995 at Rosemont Theatre, Theatre, IL
05 Dec 1995 at Constitutional Hall, Washington, DC
06 Dec 1995 at Constitutional Hall, Washington, DC
08 Dec 1995 at Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA
09 Dec 1995 at Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA
12 Dec 1995 at Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
13 Dec 1995 at Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
15 Dec 1995 at The Orpheum, Boston, MA
16 Dec 1995 at The Orpheum, Boston, MA
17 Dec 1995 at Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
07 Jan 1996 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Montreal, Canada
08 Jan 1996 at Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada
10 Jan 1996 at Fox Theater, Detroit, MI
11 Jan 1996 at Fox Theater, Detroit, MI
12 Jan 1996 at Stambaugh Auditorium, Youngstown, OH
16 Jan 1996 at Music Hall, Cleveland, OH
17 Jan 1996 at Music Hall, Cleveland, OH
18 Jan 1996 at Fox Theater, St. Louis, MO
22 Jan 1996 at The Sangor Theater, New Orleans, LA
23 Jan 1996 at Jesse H. Jones Hall For The Performing Arts, Houston, TX
25 Jan 1996 at Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX
26 Jan 1996 at Bronco Bowl, Dallas, TX
28 Jan 1996 at Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
12 Feb 1996 at Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
14 Feb 1996 at Kulturpalst, Dresden, Germany
15 Feb 1996 at Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich, Germany
17 Feb 1996 at Congress Centrum Hamburg Halle 1, Hamburg, Germany
18 Feb 1996 at Phillipshalle, Dusseldorf, Germany
21 Feb 1996 at Le Zenith De Paris, Paris, France
22 Feb 1996 at Le Zenith De Paris, Paris, France
25 Feb 1996 at De Doelen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
26 Feb 1996 at Koninklijk Theater Carre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
28 Feb 1996 at Apollo Theatre, Manchester, England
29 Feb 1996 at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England
02 Mar 1996 at Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle, England
03 Mar 1996 at Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
13 Mar 1996 at Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden
14 Mar 1996 at Oslo Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
16 Mar 1996 at Falkoner Salen, Copenhagen, Denmark
19 Mar 1996 at King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
20 Mar 1996 at Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
10 Apr 1996 at Auditorium Di Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
11 Apr 1996 at Teatro Smeraldo, Milan, Italy
13 Apr 1996 at Teatro Carlo Felice, Genova, Italy
16 Apr 1996 at Royal Albert Hall, London, England
17 Apr 1996 at Royal Albert Hall, London, England
19 Apr 1996 at ICC Berlin Saal 1, Berlin, Germany
20 Apr 1996 at Koningin Elisabethzall, Antwerp, Belgium
22 Apr 1996 at Royal Albert Hall, London, England
24 Apr 1996 at Brixton Academy, London, England
01 May 1996 at Palais Des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, Belgium
02 May 1996 at Kongresshaus Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
06 May 1996 at Teatro Tivoli, Barcelona, Spain
08 May 1996 at Palacio De Congresos Y Exposiciones, Madrid, Spain
16 Sep 1996 at Benedum Center, Pittsburgh, PA
18 Sep 1996 at Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT
24 Sep 1996 at James W. Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI
25 Sep 1996 at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron, OH
03 Oct 1996 at Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
15 Oct 1996 at Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City, UT
16 Oct 1996 at Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
19 Oct 1996 at Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM
21 Oct 1996 at Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, Tempe, AZ
26 Oct 1996 at The Event Center Arena, San Jose, CA
03 Dec 1996 at Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise, FL
11 Dec 1996 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH
31 Jan 1997 at International Forum, Tokyo, Japan
10 Feb 1997 at Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia
07 May 1997 at Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria
26 May 1997 at Palais Des Congres De Paris, Paris, France

On 14 Dec 1995, Springsteen made an off-tour appearance on The David Letterman Show where he performed YOUNGTOWN. The show was live broadcast.

In preparation for The Reunion Tour, YOUNGSTOWN was performed during both of the tour's two public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in March 1999 in Asbury Park. The song is also known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place in March 2009 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg, during the private rehearsal that took place in April 1999 in Barcelona the day before the tour kicked off in Spain, and during the private rehearsal that took place in February 2000 in University Park the day before the tour's final leg kicked off.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed 132 times during the 132-date-long The Reunion Tour; that is each and every one of the tour's regular dates. The song was played in a new raging rocking arrangement that soon became one of the highlights of the tour. The 29 Jun 2000 performance of YOUNGSTOWN was officially released in 2001 on the Live In New York City album and home video. See the live 29 Jun 2000 version for more details.

09 Apr 1999 at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
11 Apr 1999 at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
13 Apr 1999 at Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
15 Apr 1999 at Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany
17 Apr 1999 at Palasport, Bologna, Italy
19 Apr 1999 at Fila Forum, Milan, Italy
20 Apr 1999 at Fila Forum, Milan, Italy
23 Apr 1999 at Donau-Arena, Regensburg, Germany
24 Apr 1999 at Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
26 Apr 1999 at Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
28 Apr 1999 at Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
01 May 1999 at Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
02 May 1999 at Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
16 May 1999 at The NEC Arena, Birmingham, England
18 May 1999 at Earls Court, London, England
19 May 1999 at Earls Court, London, England
21 May 1999 at Earls Court, London, England
23 May 1999 at Earls Court, London, England
25 May 1999 at RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
27 May 1999 at Flanders Expo, Ghent, Belgium
29 May 1999 at Wuhlheide, Berlin, Germany
30 May 1999 at Wuhlheide, Berlin, Germany
02 Jun 1999 at Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
03 Jun 1999 at Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
05 Jun 1999 at Estadio De La Romareda, Zaragoza, Spain
07 Jun 1999 at Estadio De La Comunidad, Madrid, Spain
11 Jun 1999 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy
13 Jun 1999 at Bruno-Platche Stadion, Leipzig, Germany
15 Jun 1999 at Stadion Am Bieberer Berg, Offenbach, Germany
17 Jun 1999 at Weserstadion, Bremen, Germany
19 Jun 1999 at Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands
20 Jun 1999 at Gelredome, Arnhem, The Netherlands
23 Jun 1999 at Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
24 Jun 1999 at Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
26 Jun 1999 at Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
27 Jun 1999 at Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
15 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
18 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
20 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
24 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
26 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
27 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
29 Jul 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
01 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
02 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
04 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
06 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
07 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
09 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
11 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
12 Aug 1999 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
21 Aug 1999 at Fleet Center, Boston, MA
22 Aug 1999 at Fleet Center, Boston, MA
24 Aug 1999 at Fleet Center, Boston, MA
26 Aug 1999 at Fleet Center, Boston, MA
27 Aug 1999 at Fleet Center, Boston, MA
31 Aug 1999 at MCI Center, Washington, DC
01 Sep 1999 at MCI Center, WashinGTON, DC
03 Sep 1999 at MCI Center, Washington, DC
08 Sep 1999 at The Palace Of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI
09 Sep 1999 at The Palace Of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI
13 Sep 1999 at First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
15 Sep 1999 at First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
20 Sep 1999 at First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
21 Sep 1999 at First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
24 Sep 1999 at First Union Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
25 Sep 1999 at First Union Center, Philadelphia, PA
27 Sep 1999 at United Center, Chicago, IL
28 Sep 1999 at United Center, Chicago, IL
30 Sep 1999 at United Center, Chicago, IL
15 Oct 1999 at America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ
17 Oct 1999 at Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
18 Oct 1999 at Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
21 Oct 1999 at Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
23 Oct 1999 at Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
25 Oct 1999 at Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA
26 Oct 1999 at Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA
28 Oct 1999 at Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA
06 Nov 1999 at Fargodome, Fargo, ND
09 Nov 1999 at Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
10 Nov 1999 at Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
14 Nov 1999 at Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
15 Nov 1999 at Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
17 Nov 1999 at Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
19 Nov 1999 at Marine Midland Arena, Buffalo, NY
21 Nov 1999 at Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
28 Nov 1999 at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
29 Nov 1999 at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
28 Feb 2000 at Penn State University, University Park, PA
04 Mar 2000 at Orlando Arena, Orlando, FL
06 Mar 2000 at Ice Palace, Tampa, FL
09 Mar 2000 at National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL
10 Mar 2000 at National Car Rental Center, Sunrise, FL
13 Mar 2000 at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX
14 Mar 2000 at Alltel Arena, Little Rock, AR
18 Mar 2000 at Pyramid Arena, Memphis, TN
19 Mar 2000 at New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
30 Mar 2000 at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
31 Mar 2000 at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
03 Apr 2000 at Rose Garden, Portland, OR
04 Apr 2000 at Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
08 Apr 2000 at Kiel Center, St. Louis, MO
09 Apr 2000 at Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
12 Apr 2000 at Nashville Arena, Nashville, TN
15 Apr 2000 at Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY
17 Apr 2000 at Frank Erwin Center, University Of Texas, Austin, TX
18 Apr 2000 at Compaq Center, Houston, TX
21 Apr 2000 at Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
22 Apr 2000 at Raleigh Arena, Raleigh, NC
25 Apr 2000 at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
26 Apr 2000 at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
30 Apr 2000 at Firstar Center, Cincinnati, OH
03 May 2000 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
04 May 2000 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
07 May 2000 at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
08 May 2000 at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
21 May 2000 at Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
22 May 2000 at Arrowhead Pond Of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
27 May 2000 at Mgm Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
20 May 2000 at Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
03 Jun 2000 at Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
04 Jun 2000 at Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
12 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
15 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
17 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
20 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
22 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
23 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
26 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
27 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
29 Jun 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
01 Jul 2000 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

YOUNGSTOWN was performed once during the 120-date-long The Rising Tour. The song was played in an acoustic arrangement featuring Springsteen on acoustic guitar and vocals and Soozie Tyrell on violin.

In preparation for the Vote For Change Tour, YOUNGSTOWN is known to have been practiced during two of the tour's three private rehearsals that took place from 27 to 29 Sep 2004 in Asbury Park.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed 4 times during the Vote For Change Tour, most appropriately in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

In preparation for the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour, YOUNGSTOWN was performed during both of the tour's two public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in April 2005 in Asbury Park. The song is also known to have been practiced during at least 3 of the private rehearsals that took place in March and April 2005 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed 11 times during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour, mainly in the tour's first couple of weeks.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed 10 times during the 100-date-long Magic Tour, most of them toward the end of the tour. The song was played in a full-band rock arrangement. The 30 Aug 2008 performance was during Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary Celebration.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed on the second (05 Oct 2008 in Columbus, OH) and the last (02 Nov 2008 in Cleveland, OH) of the four Vote For Change events on which Bruce Springsteen appeared.

In preparation for the Working On A Dream Tour, YOUNGSTOWN is also known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place in March 2009 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed 16 times during the 83-date-long Working On A Dream Tour. The song was played in a full-band rock arrangement. The complete 28 Jun 2009 show was released on the London Calling: Live In Hyde Park DVD in 2010. See the live 28 Jun 2009 version for more details.

YOUNGSTOWN was performed on 18 Oct 2012 in Parma, OH, during the first of two election rallies for U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama on which Bruce Springsteen appeared that day. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar.

Covers

A few artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's YOUNGSTOWN, including:

Available Versions

Credits / References

Thanks riverdude2 (at Greasy Lake) for the higher resolution cover scan of the book Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass.

Some of the above info about the studio recording and the live performances is taken from Brucebase. Info for some of the above releases is taken from the Lost In The Flood website. Info for some of the above YOUNGSTOWN cover releases are taken from the Nebraska website.

Request

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