{"id":34327,"date":"1988-08-28T11:00:00","date_gmt":"1988-08-28T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/?p=34327"},"modified":"2026-02-23T21:15:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:15:10","slug":"matr-pete-seeger-and-bruce-springsteen-gods-counting-on-me-gods-counting-on-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/08\/28\/matr-pete-seeger-and-bruce-springsteen-gods-counting-on-me-gods-counting-on-you\/","title":{"rendered":"God&#8217;s Counting on Me&#8230; God&#8217;s Counting on You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, spilling more than 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in what would become one of the biggest environmental disasters in American history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XkGOukBrqgs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>Not long after, Pete Seeger and Lorre Wyatt wrote a song in response, referencing the disaster: &#8220;God&#8217;s Counting on Me&#8230; God&#8217;s Counting on You.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As serendipity would have it, just as they&#8217;d completed writing the song, Seeger received a call from rocker Richard Barone, asking him if he&#8217;d consider participating in a benefit concert in New York City. Seeger agreed, performing his new song for Barone on the spot over the phone.<\/p>\n<p>After the concert, Barone produced a recording of &#8220;God&#8217;s Counting on Me&#8230; God&#8217;s Counting on You&#8221; performed while sailing on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, with both Seeger and Wyatt on vocals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cvnsB_kVNYI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>(There&#8217;s a fascinating Tape Op interview with Barone in which he describes in much detail the recording process and experience&#8211;I highly recommend reading it if you&#8217;re interested.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-justify\">Seeger and Barone decided to release the track as a single through Appleseed records, but there was enough traffic on the label&#8217;s release runway to delay the song&#8217;s release until 2012. In the meantime, Appleseed had Bruce Springsteen contribute vocals to the track in January 2012, and he can be heard prominently singing lead on two verses of the final track below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/16ypMPQDJ2A?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>The track was finally released in September 2012 on a new album by Seeger and Wyatt called <em>A More Perfect Union<\/em>, and as a single on Election Day 2012.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;God&#8217;s Counting on Me&#8230; God&#8217;s Counting on You&#8221; became Seeger&#8217;s final single of his long and storied career, and his last collaboration with Bruce Springsteen.<\/p>\n<p><strong>God&#8217;s Counting on Me&#8230; God&#8217;s Counting on You<br \/>\nRecorded:<\/strong> January 2012<br \/>\n<strong>Released:\u00a0<\/strong><em>A More Perfect Union\u00a0<\/em>(2012)<br \/>\n<strong>Never performed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 April 30, 2022<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The final collaboration between Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen was a new protest song written by Seeger in response to the BP oil spill disaster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,3612,5],"tags":[3470,172],"class_list":["post-34327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-me","category-great","category-meeting-across-the-river","tag-gods-counting-on-me-gods-counting-on-you","tag-pete-seeger"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/seeger.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9w3Lk-8VF","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24580,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/24\/cover-me-silent-bear-tenth-avenue-freeze-out\/","url_meta":{"origin":34327,"position":0},"title":"Cover Me, Silent Bear: Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out","author":"Ken","date":"January 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Deep into his cover of \"Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,\" Silent Bear sense a new context for Bruce's classic song and took it in a daring new direction.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/silentbear.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/silentbear.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/silentbear.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/silentbear.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/silentbear.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11630,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/01\/matr-pete-seeger-and-bruce-springsteen-goodnight-irene\/","url_meta":{"origin":34327,"position":1},"title":"MatR: Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen &#8211; Goodnight, Irene","author":"Ken","date":"August 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By remarkable circumstance, Bruce covered \"Goodnight, Irene\" in concert twice, but almost no one in the venue heard him! You can, though--watch the great video inside.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/goodnight-irene.jpg?fit=734%2C734&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/goodnight-irene.jpg?fit=734%2C734&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/goodnight-irene.jpg?fit=734%2C734&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/goodnight-irene.jpg?fit=734%2C734&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27626,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/09\/09\/matr-bruce-springsteen-and-roger-mcguinn-turn-turn-turn\/","url_meta":{"origin":34327,"position":2},"title":"Turn! Turn! Turn!","author":"Ken","date":"September 9, 1988","format":false,"excerpt":"Pete Seeger's soothing Bible verse adaptation became a classic in both its folk and rock incarnations, and Bruce paid tribute to both of them.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/turnturnturn.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/turnturnturn.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/turnturnturn.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/turnturnturn.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/turnturnturn.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43824,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/04\/cover-me-this-land-is-your-land\/","url_meta":{"origin":34327,"position":3},"title":"Cover Me: This Land Is Your Land","author":"Ken","date":"July 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce Springsteen found the soul of Woody Guthrie's signature song and helped millions of Americans hear its true message for the first time.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cover Me&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cover Me","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/cover-me\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/thisland.jpg?fit=1200%2C892&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/thisland.jpg?fit=1200%2C892&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/thisland.jpg?fit=1200%2C892&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/thisland.jpg?fit=1200%2C892&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/thisland.jpg?fit=1200%2C892&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61268,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/02\/kingdom-of-days-november-2-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":34327,"position":4},"title":"Kingdom of Days: November 2","author":"Ken","date":"November 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On this date: \"Working on a Dream\" makes its debut, Bruce headlines a Hurricane Sandy telethon, and the first of several Seeger Sessions. More highlights inside.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Kingdom of Days&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Kingdom of Days","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/kingdom-of-days\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20121102_2_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1198&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20121102_2_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1198&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20121102_2_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1198&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20121102_2_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1198&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20121102_2_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1198&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15484,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2006\/01\/19\/roll-of-the-dice-american-land\/","url_meta":{"origin":34327,"position":5},"title":"American Land","author":"Ken","date":"January 19, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduced without fanfare on the Seeger Sessions Tour, Bruce's immigrant song grew into his summational statement and band tribute. Read the backstory and watch great performances inside.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/americanland-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1131&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/americanland-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1131&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/americanland-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1131&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/americanland-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1131&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/americanland-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C1131&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34327"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67988,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34327\/revisions\/67988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}