It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (June 2023) |
"It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" | |
---|---|
Song by Bruce Springsteen | |
from the album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. | |
Released | January 5, 1973 |
Recorded | 1972 |
Studio | 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York |
Genre | Rock |
Length | 3:13 |
Label | Columbia |
Songwriter(s) | Bruce Springsteen |
Producer(s) |
|
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. track listing | |
9 tracks Side one
Side two
|
"It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen on his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. in 1973. The song talks about a young man growing up on the streets of a city trying to stay good and do what he believes is right. It has been covered by David Bowie.[1] John Sayles included this song in a high school lunchroom scene of his movie Baby It's You.[2]
Background
The song made
Live performances
A 1975 live version can be found on the DVD of the
David Bowie version
David Bowie recorded a version of "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" in late 1973 during the sessions for his album Diamond Dogs (1974). It remained unreleased until 1989, when it was included on the box set Sound + Vision. Bowie had previously taped renditions of Springsteen's other Greetings songs "Growin' Up" and "Spirit in the Night".[8][9] Bowie attempted another version of "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City" in November 1974 during the sessions for Young Americans (1975). Springsteen himself stopped by during the session at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. Bowie recalled that he struggled to relate to Springsteen due to his cocaine addiction at the time, and never played Springsteen his version because he was unhappy with it.[8][9]
Personnel
According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[10]
- Bruce Springsteen – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez – drums
- Garry Tallent – bass
- David Sancious – piano
References
- ^ "Allmusic It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
- ISBN 1-56025-101-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-275-98938-5.
- ^ a b "The Demo Sessions". Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ "Greetings from Asbury Park". Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ "Born to Run (30th Anniversary Edition)". Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75". Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-78565-365-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-78099-244-0.
- ISBN 978-1-78472-649-2.
External links