I'm Goin' Down
Encyclopedia
"I'm Goin' Down" is a 1984 song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen
. In 1985, it became the sixth single released from his massively successful album Born in the U.S.A.
" out of a place and into the B-side queue.
The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100
pop singles chart in fall 1985. It was the sixth of a record-tying seven Top 10 hit singles to be released from Born in the U.S.A.
There was some controversy surrounding the release of yet another single from the album, which had been out for well over a year at that point. Cliff Bernstein, manager of Def Leppard
and Dokken
, said "I think a sixth single is a little bit of overkill."
No music video
or remixes
were made for the song.
During a concert in 2008, Springsteen commented on the song: "This is a song that almost didn't make the Born in the U.S.A. record; it was this or 'Pink Cadillac'... We've played this a few times, it's good for a laugh, and probably one of my most insightful songs about men and women".
The B-side of the single, "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" is a mid-tempo outtake from the latter stages of the Born in the U.S.A. recording sessions. In 1985 E Street Band
newcomer Nils Lofgren
made his first recorded appearance with Springsteen, by overdubbing a backing vocal onto the 1983 track (and in doing so replacing those of Steven Van Zandt
on the recording. The Van Zandt version also ran nearly a minute longer, with a long instrumental coda on the end that was later scrubbed from the official release). Many years later "Janey" would surface on the box set Tracks.
, then played not at all for a long stretch, then revived during the final summer 1985 leg, usually alternating with "Darlington County" in the set list
.
After that tour, "I'm Goin' Down" disappeared from sight completely for almost two decades, until it made three appearances in 2003 during The Rising Tour
. Indeed "I'm Goin' Down" was largely forgotten not only by the general rock and pop audience but by the Bruce faithful as well, who have seen in preference several non-single tracks from Born in the U.S.A., such as "Working on the Highway
", "Bobby Jean
", and "No Surrender
", became standard parts of the Springsteen repertoire. The song has only been played 57 times live, as of the end of his Working on a Dream Tour
, making it the least performed song of the whole Born in the U.S.A. album. It was performed only three times outside the United States, in a concert in Barcelona in 2008 during the Magic Tour
and twice during the Working on a Dream Tour
.
By the mid-late 2000s, there was a modicum of renewed interest in the song, with Frank Black
recording it on the 2006 compilation Snake Oil and in early 2008 Kid Harpoon
and Florence and the Machine
doing a cover of the song. Most recently, Free Energy
has covered the song on a tour-only split 7". In late 2010, Vampire Weekend
performed a live version of the song in Vancouver. "I'm Goin' Down" is also included on their "iTunes session".
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
. In 1985, it became the sixth single released from his massively successful album Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A. is the seventh studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on June 4, 1984. A critical and commercial triumph, it found Springsteen marking a departure in his sound...
History
"I'm Goin' Down" was recorded in May 1982 during the first wave of Born in the U.S.A. sessions. The track went on and off and back on the short list to make the album, finally bumping "Pink CadillacPink Cadillac (song)
"Pink Cadillac" is a humorous song by Bruce Springsteen which though a minor item in his canon of recorded music was a prominent concert number during Springsteen's 1984-85 Born in the U.S.A. Tour...
" out of a place and into the B-side queue.
The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
pop singles chart in fall 1985. It was the sixth of a record-tying seven Top 10 hit singles to be released from Born in the U.S.A.
There was some controversy surrounding the release of yet another single from the album, which had been out for well over a year at that point. Cliff Bernstein, manager of Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
and Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
, said "I think a sixth single is a little bit of overkill."
No music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
or remixes
RemixeS
RemixeS is a compilation of French singer Mylène Farmer's singles by various famous DJ's, including JXL, Felix Da Housecat and Paul Oakenfold.-Brackground, writing and release:...
were made for the song.
During a concert in 2008, Springsteen commented on the song: "This is a song that almost didn't make the Born in the U.S.A. record; it was this or 'Pink Cadillac'... We've played this a few times, it's good for a laugh, and probably one of my most insightful songs about men and women".
Track listing
- I'm Goin' Down - 3:29
- Janey, Don't You Lose Heart - 3:23
The B-side of the single, "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" is a mid-tempo outtake from the latter stages of the Born in the U.S.A. recording sessions. In 1985 E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
newcomer Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
made his first recorded appearance with Springsteen, by overdubbing a backing vocal onto the 1983 track (and in doing so replacing those of Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an Italian-American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve...
on the recording. The Van Zandt version also ran nearly a minute longer, with a long instrumental coda on the end that was later scrubbed from the official release). Many years later "Janey" would surface on the box set Tracks.
Live performance history
One of the least-performed Springsteen songs, "I'm Goin' Down" was irregularly played in the 1984 first leg of the Born in the U.S.A. TourBorn in the U.S.A. Tour
The Born in the U.S.A. Tour was the supporting concert tour of Bruce Springsteen's massively popular Born in the U.S.A. album. It was his longest and most successful tour to date. It featured a physically transformed Springsteen. After two years of bodybuilding, Springsteen had bulked up...
, then played not at all for a long stretch, then revived during the final summer 1985 leg, usually alternating with "Darlington County" in the set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
.
After that tour, "I'm Goin' Down" disappeared from sight completely for almost two decades, until it made three appearances in 2003 during The Rising Tour
The Rising Tour
The Rising Tour was a lengthy, worldwide, top-grossing concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place in arenas and stadiums over 2002 and 2003...
. Indeed "I'm Goin' Down" was largely forgotten not only by the general rock and pop audience but by the Bruce faithful as well, who have seen in preference several non-single tracks from Born in the U.S.A., such as "Working on the Highway
Working on the Highway
"Working on the Highway" is a 1984 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. It was released on the album Born in the U.S.A. and has remained a popular concert song for Springsteen and the E Street Band....
", "Bobby Jean
Bobby Jean
"Bobby Jean" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, from his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A..-History:"Bobby Jean" was one of the last songs from the album to be recorded, and was considered a musical breakthrough for Springsteen during the recording, with its more accented rhythm and...
", and "No Surrender
No Surrender (song)
"No Surrender" is a song from Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A. A high-tempo rocker, it was only included on the album at the insistence of Steven Van Zandt, but has since become a concert staple for Springsteen, usually in a low-key, acoustic arrangement...
", became standard parts of the Springsteen repertoire. The song has only been played 57 times live, as of the end of his Working on a Dream Tour
Working on a Dream Tour
The Working on a Dream Tour was a concert tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which began in April 2009 and ended in November 2009...
, making it the least performed song of the whole Born in the U.S.A. album. It was performed only three times outside the United States, in a concert in Barcelona in 2008 during the Magic Tour
Magic Tour (Bruce Springsteen)
The Magic Tour was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2007–2008 concert tour of North America and Western Europe.The tour began October 2, 2007, in Hartford, Connecticut, and concluded August 30, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
and twice during the Working on a Dream Tour
Working on a Dream Tour
The Working on a Dream Tour was a concert tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which began in April 2009 and ended in November 2009...
.
By the mid-late 2000s, there was a modicum of renewed interest in the song, with Frank Black
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
recording it on the 2006 compilation Snake Oil and in early 2008 Kid Harpoon
Kid Harpoon
Kid Harpoon is an English singer-songwriter and musician.- Career :Originally hailing from Chatham, Kid Harpoon began to play live locally at venues such as The Tap & Tin and Command House...
and Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
doing a cover of the song. Most recently, Free Energy
Free Energy (band)
Free Energy is an American rock band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The members include Scott Wells, Paul Sprangers, Evan Wells, and Nicholas Shuminsky.-History:...
has covered the song on a tour-only split 7". In late 2010, Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
performed a live version of the song in Vancouver. "I'm Goin' Down" is also included on their "iTunes session".