For every song that made it onto Born in the U.S.A., Bruce wrote five more that didn’t. We’ve listened to many of them here over the past four years, and we’ll listen to more before we bring this journey to a close.
“Don’t Back Down” is one of those coulda-been-a-contender songs, if only Bruce had finished it. Or maybe he did… studio records indicate he recorded a full-band version in June 1983 that remains unheard to this day.
The challenge is that we don’t know which “Don’t Back Down” he recorded.
Bruce actually had two different works-in progress by that name during the Born in the U.S.A. sessions, and an astonishing dozen different takes circulate on bootleg recordings. But here’s the interesting thing: eleven of those twelve songs use a common set of lyrics, but one of the twelve is completely unique in both words and music.
We’ll listen to the other eleven later this year. Today, we’re interested in the odd man out.
This version of “Don’t Back Down” is truly a separate song from the others, but it held just as much promise. Take a listen to the home demo below–it’s just Bruce accompanied by a drum machine, but the arrangement is complete enough for us to get a sense of what an E Street Band track might have sounded like.
Lyrically, this version of “Don’t Back Down” is still a work in progress–the third verse is just the first verse repeated and there are a few lines that sound at least lightly bluffed–but this is definitely a fully formed pop song with verses in the mold of “Two Hearts” and a refrain reminiscent of “No Surrender.”
If you’re out on your own and you ain’t got a home
And it feels like the whole world’s just gonna fall on you
You’re just running scared, look around, there’s nothing there
And you ain’t got the strength and your friends all just stall on you
Well, along comes a cloud, and you’re lost in the crowd
Once you thought you might make it, but babe, these days you doubt it
If you need a hand, honey, I understand
Just stand on up, yeah, stand up and shout it girl
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Now you see all the ones worn out and tired
There’s a fool all broken down by the wayside
Where two hearts call out for hire
Filled with hurt, defeated by their foolish pride
Girl, you hear the sound of one comin’ down
And you don’t think that these days you can make it, babe
Just step on up, I’ll give a hand
And if you ain’t got a problem, maybe we can shed it, baby
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Don’t back down, don’t back down
Don’t back down, don’t back down
These aren’t Bruce’s deepest lyrics, but with a hook like that and a beat that doesn’t let up for even a moment’s breath, “Don’t Back Down” didn’t need depth to be a hit.
Is there a killer pop song in the vault called “Don’t Back Down,” just waiting for Bruce to get around to issuing that Born in the U.S.A. anniversary box set? Only time will tell. But even if we do get an official release someday, the question remains: which “Don’t Back Down” will it be?
Don’t Back Down
Recorded: Early 1983
Never released
Never performed
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Ken – That’s an interesting listen… I used to have a lot of outtakes digitally–via the old Stone Pony site I think? Still in the relatively Wild West days of music sharing but long after AudioGalaxy was out of control. Now I have zero Brucelegs.
Back then I zeroed in on a specific version that I liked that sounded like the one here, but was one of the tragic love versions. Lyrics I couldn’t quite make out but included stuff like… hmm, from memory: “Now I stand on Black Mountain and look out to the sea…….. and the love we swore would last as long as the water rolls on, I awoke in the darkness, it was gone gone gone/Don’t back down on our love”.
Do you know if the recent Sony music sale likely included all of his unreleased material as well?
I’ve been listening to all the versions of “Don’t Back Down”/“Don’t Back Down On Our Love” that are basically “The Klansman” with entirely different lyrics. It is such a haunting tune along with his reverbed voice, I certainly hope he will release it in one form or another. I’d love to hear a full band treatment, but do really love the Nebraska-esque solo versions.