The first single from Springsteen’s album Born In The U.S.A.
Producer Jon Landau thought the new album lacked a guaranteed hit and pushed Springsteen to write one more song.
Bruce wrote «Dancing in the Dark» about his «difficulty in writing a hit single and his frustration in trying to write crowd-pleasing songs.»
«Dancing In The Dark» became Springsteen’s highest charting single ever. The single is also Springsteen’s only single to be certified platinum.
Lyrics to the song «Dancing in the Dark»
I get up in the evening
And I ain’t got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain’t nothing but tired
Man, I’m just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help
You can’t start a fire
You can’t start a fire without a spark
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
Message keeps getting clearer
Radio’s on and I’m moving ‘round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain’t getting nowhere
I’m just living in a dump like this
There’s something happening somewhere
Baby, I just know that there is
You can’t start a fire
You can’t start a fire without a spark
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
You sit around getting older
There’s a joke here somewhere and it’s on me
I’ll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on, baby, the laugh’s on me
Stay on the streets of this town
And they’ll be carving you up all right
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey, baby, I’m just about starving tonight
I’m dying for some action
I’m sick of sitting ‘round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now, baby, gimme just one look
You can’t start a fire
Sitting ‘round crying over a broken heart
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
You can’t start a fire
Worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun’s for hire
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark
Hey, baby
Credits
Produced By: Little Steven, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin & Jon Landau
Written By: Bruce Springsteen
Record Label: Columbia Records
Recorded By: Toby Scott
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Design: Andrea Klein
Art Direction: Andrea Klein
Piano: Roy Bittan
Percussion: Clarence Clemons
Synthesizer: Roy Bittan
Saxophone: Clarence Clemons
Organ: Danny Federici
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen
Glockenspiel: Danny Federici
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen
Photography: Annie Leibovitz
Assistant Engineer: Zoë Yanakis, Billy Straus, Bruce Lampcov, Jeff Hendrickson & Otis Blackwell
Mixing Engineer: Bob Clearmountain
Harmony Vocals: Little Steven
Mandolin: Little Steven
Acoustic Guitar: Little Steven
Bass: Garry Tallent
Background Vocals: Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Clarence Clemons & Roy Bittan
Mixing: Bob Clearmountain
Recorded At: Power Station and The Hit Factory
Release Date: May 3, 1984
