{"id":6323,"date":"1988-07-16T11:00:01","date_gmt":"1988-07-16T18:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/?p=6323"},"modified":"2026-02-22T14:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T22:39:10","slug":"matr-willie-nile-and-bruce-springsteen-heaven-help-the-lonely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/07\/16\/matr-willie-nile-and-bruce-springsteen-heaven-help-the-lonely\/","title":{"rendered":"Heaven Help the Lonely"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The fact that &#8220;Heaven Help the Lonely&#8221; didn&#8217;t become a Number One hit song is just one of the many crimes and indignities inflicted upon Willie Nile.<\/p>\n<p>Watch his official video for what should have been a heavy rotation single off his 1991 album,\u00a0<em>Places I Have Never Been\u00a0<\/em>(which itself should have been released a decade earlier, but Nile&#8217;s recording career was mired in legal troubles), and tell me that doesn&#8217;t sound like a hit record.<\/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\/PgD_gfrh7PM?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>Alas, &#8220;Heaven Help the Lonely&#8221; never got serious airplay, but catch Nile in concert and you&#8217;ll get the chance to hear him play it live.\u00a0And if you see him at his frequent Light of Day appearances, you might even get to see Bruce sing it with him.<\/p>\n<p>Bruce made back-to-back appearances with Willie Nile at the Light of Day Festival in 2010 and 2011, playing &#8220;Heaven Help the Lonely&#8221; with Willie each time, almost a year to the day apart.<\/p>\n<p>You can watch both performances below and judge for yourself which one is better. I can&#8217;t decide&#8211;they&#8217;re both fantastic, and Bruce is clearly having a great time at each.<\/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\/oVy_pqK4Rqc?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<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\/jDhzEAHjIYs?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><strong>Heaven Help the Lonely<br \/>\nFirst performed:<\/strong>\u00a0January 16, 2010 (Asbury Park, NJ)<br \/>\n<strong>Last performed:\u00a0<\/strong>January 15, 2011 (Asbury Park, NJ)<\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 December 29, 2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Heaven Help the Lonely&#8221; should have been a hit single for Willie Nile; Bruce clearly enjoyed playing it with Willie at back-to-back Light of Day appearances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67898,"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":[2057,56,55,64],"class_list":["post-6323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-me","category-great","category-meeting-across-the-river","tag-heaven-help-the-lonely","tag-joe-grushecky","tag-light-of-day","tag-willie-nile"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/admin-ajax-21.jpg?fit=1198%2C1188&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9w3Lk-1DZ","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":55589,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/15\/kingdom-of-days-january-15-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":6323,"position":0},"title":"January 15","author":"Ken","date":"January 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On this date in Springsteen history: Watch a full Light of Day performance, plus the premiere of the video for \"Tunnel of Love.\"","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\/2022\/01\/rs-1076-rectangle.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rs-1076-rectangle.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rs-1076-rectangle.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rs-1076-rectangle.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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Days","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/kingdom-of-days\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2016-01-16-pittsburgh-pa-bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band-1.webp?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2016-01-16-pittsburgh-pa-bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band-1.webp?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2016-01-16-pittsburgh-pa-bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band-1.webp?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2016-01-16-pittsburgh-pa-bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band-1.webp?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2016-01-16-pittsburgh-pa-bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band-1.webp?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2176,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/1988\/03\/27\/meeting-across-the-river-bruce-springsteen-and-willie-nile-one-guitar\/","url_meta":{"origin":6323,"position":2},"title":"One Guitar","author":"Ken","date":"March 27, 1988","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce and Willie Nile team up on Willie's rock anthem \"One Guitar\" at Light of Day 2015.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Little Help&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Little Help","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/little-help\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/oneguitar.jpg?fit=612%2C439&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/oneguitar.jpg?fit=612%2C439&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/oneguitar.jpg?fit=612%2C439&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55606,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/18\/kingdom-of-days-january-18-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":6323,"position":3},"title":"January 18","author":"Ken","date":"January 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce Springsteen performs at President Obama's inaugural concert, a truly all-star Hall of Fame jam, the debut performance of \"Frankie Fell in Love,\" and much more on this day in history.","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\/2021\/01\/inauguration.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/inauguration.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/inauguration.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/inauguration.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55588,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/14\/kingdom-of-days-january-14-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":6323,"position":4},"title":"January 14","author":"Ken","date":"January 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"On this day: the release of High Hopes, the one and only performance of \"Gov. Christie's Traffic Jam,\" and more.","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\/01\/high-hopes-album-bruce-springsteen-1389043820.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/high-hopes-album-bruce-springsteen-1389043820.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/high-hopes-album-bruce-springsteen-1389043820.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/high-hopes-album-bruce-springsteen-1389043820.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6258,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/17\/cover-me-jesse-malin-janey-dont-you-lose-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":6323,"position":5},"title":"Cover Me, Jesse Malin: Janey, Don&#8217;t You Lose Heart","author":"Ken","date":"December 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Jesse Malin and friends gave us a lovely cover of one Bruce's lighter tracks, from Light of Day 2017.","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\/2018\/12\/jesse-e1543638332310.jpg?fit=500%2C461&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6323","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=6323"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67900,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6323\/revisions\/67900"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}