Bruce Springsteen lyrics -- Bruce Springsteen shows -- Bruce Springsteen records

Song title: Held up without a gun


Held up without a gun

I was out driving, just taking it slow
Looked at my tank it was reading low
Pulled in an Exxon station out on Highway One
Look out!
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

Some dance fool with a guitar watch him on the street
Ain’t got nowhere to go and nothing to eat
man with a cigar said “sign here son”
Watch out!
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

Now it’s a sin and it oughta be a crime
You know it happens buddy all the time
Try to make a livin’ tryin’ to have a little fun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

Notes: Used as B-sides of Hungry Heart. A memorable performance was delivered 31-Dec-1980, waiting for midnight to come.

Held up without a gun - "Hungry boy" home demo

Hungry boy comes in off the street
Hungry boy comes in off the street
Ain't got nothing, nothing to eat
A man says "better sign her son"
Look out!
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

I was out driving, I was taking it slow
Looked at my tank it looked low
Pulled into an Texaco out on One oh One
Look out!
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

It's a sin, it's a crime
Man it happens all the time
Better keep looking out for number one
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

Notes: Homdel demo version

Statistics from the KILLING FLOOR (www.brucespringsteen.it) database

Published on the following official releases:

Very few performances of this songs are known (to me, at least!):
 - 31/12/1980 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale,NY ,USA during the The River Tour
 - 28/09/2004 Convention Hall, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA
 - 21/06/2008 HSH NordBank Arena, Hamburg ,Germany during the Magic tour
 - 28/07/2008 Giants Stadium, E.Rutherford,NJ ,USA during the Magic tour
 - 21/08/2008 Sommet Center, Nashville,TN ,USA during the Magic tour
 - 25/10/2012 XL Center, Hartford,CT ,USA during the Wrecking ball tour
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
First known live performance: 31/12/1980 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale,NY ,USA
Last known live performance: 25/10/2012 XL Center, Hartford,CT ,USA

Song 'history':


Studio recordings have surfaced from the THE RIVER sessions, but the song was not used for that album.
One only rendering for this song in the River tour (31/12/1980 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale,NY ,USA)
The song made its first official apparition being included, as inedit track, in the bonus CD of the ESSENTIAL compilation, released in 2003.
Just 3 shots during the Magic tour
One only rendering for this song in the Wrecking Ball tour (25/10/2012 XL Center, Hartford,CT ,USA)
The song was then included in the THE TIES THAT BIND Anniversary Box, released in 2015.

The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database