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Songs

It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City

This song was 181 x played live .

This songs has been heard live by 3181 users.

First time played on: 06/01/1974

Latest time played on: 03/04/2023

Podcast

Bruce Springsteen Sings the Alphabet

Episode: It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City

Source: www.alphabeticalspringsteen.com

From the albums:

Lyrics

I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra
I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernova
I could walk like Brando right into the sun
Then dance just like a Casanova
With my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet
Silver star studs on my duds like a Harley in heat
When I strut down the street I could hear its heartbeat
The sisters fell back and said "Don't that man look pretty"

The cripple on the corner cried out "Nickels for your pity"
Them gasoline boys downtown sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city

I was the king of the alley, mama, I could talk some trash
I was the prince of the paupers crowned downtown at the beggar's bash
I was the pimp's main prophet I kept everything cool
Just a backstreet gambler with the luck to lose
And when the heat came down it was left on the ground

The devil appeared like Jesus through the steam in the street
Showin' me a hand I knew even the cops couldn't beat
I felt his hot breath on my neck as I dove into the heat
It's so hard to be a saint when you're just a boy out on the street

And the sages of the subway sit just like the living dead
As the tracks clack out the rhythm their eyes fixed straight ahead
They ride the line of balance and hold on by just a thread
But it's too hot in these tunnels you can get hit up by the heat

You get up to get out at your next stop but they push you back down in your seat
Your heart starts beatin' faster as you struggle to your feet
Then you're outa that hole and back up on the street

And them South Side sisters sure look pretty
The cripple on the corner cries out "Nickels for your pity"
And them downtown boys sure talk gritty
It's so hard to be a saint in the city
Played in:
06/01/1974Joe\'s Place, Boston, MAUnited States
12/01/1974Joint In The Woods, Parsipanny, NJUnited States
03/03/1974Gaston Hall Georgetown University, Washington, DCUnited States
09/03/1974Liberty Hall, Houston, TXUnited States
10/03/1974Liberty Hall, Houston, TXUnited States
24/03/1974Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZUnited States
06/04/1974Burlington County College, Pemberton, NJUnited States
12/04/1974Charlies Place, Cambridge, MAUnited States
12/04/1974Charlies Place, Cambridge, MAUnited States
26/04/1974Brown University, Providence, RIUnited States
04/05/1974Montclair State College, Upper Montclair, NJUnited States
09/05/1974Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MAUnited States
09/05/1974Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MAUnited States
02/06/1974University of Toledo, Toledo, OHUnited States
13/07/1974The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
14/08/1974Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJUnited States
22/09/1974Kean University, Union, NJUnited States
04/10/1974David Geffen Hall, New York, NYUnited States
11/10/1974Shady Grove Music Fair, Gaithersburg, MDUnited States
12/10/1974Princeton University, Princeton, NJUnited States
18/10/1974Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJUnited States
19/10/1974Union College, Schenectady, NYUnited States
26/10/1974Paramount Theater, Springfield, MAUnited States
29/10/1974Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
01/11/1974Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PAUnited States
08/11/1974Ritz Music Hall, Corpus Christi, TXUnited States
16/11/1974American University, Washington, DCUnited States
23/11/1974Salem State College, Salem, MAUnited States
29/11/1974War Memorial, Trenton, NJUnited States
06/12/1974State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJUnited States
08/12/1974University of Vermont, Burlington, VTUnited States
05/02/1975The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PAUnited States
06/02/1975Widener College, Chester, PAUnited States
19/02/1975Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PAUnited States
23/02/1975NYCB Theatre at Westbury, Westbury, NYUnited States
20/07/1975Palace Theatre, Providence, RIUnited States
22/07/1975Geneva Theatre, Geneva, NYUnited States
23/07/1975Music Inn, Lenox, MAUnited States
25/07/1975Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PAUnited States
26/07/1975Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PAUnited States
28/07/1975Carter Barron Amphitheatre, Washington, DCUnited States
29/07/1975Carter Barron Amphitheatre, Washington, DCUnited States
01/08/1975Altria Theater, Richmond, VAUnited States
02/08/1975Chrysler Theatre, Norfolk, VAUnited States
08/08/1975Civic Theatre, Akron, OHUnited States
09/08/1975Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PAUnited States
10/08/1975Civic Theatre, Canton, OHUnited States
13/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
14/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
15/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
15/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
16/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
17/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
17/08/1975The Bottom Line, New York, NYUnited States
21/08/1975Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, GAUnited States
23/08/1975Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, GAUnited States
06/09/1975Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, New Orleans, LAUnited States
12/09/1975Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TXUnited States
13/09/1975Music Hall, Houston, TXUnited States
14/09/1975Music Hall, Houston, TXUnited States
16/09/1975Convention Centre, Dallas, TXUnited States
20/09/1975Grinnell College, Grinnell, IAUnited States
21/09/1975Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MNUnited States
23/09/1975University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIUnited States
26/09/1975University of Iowa, Iowa City, IAUnited States
27/09/1975Ambassador Theatre, St. Louis, MOUnited States
28/09/1975Memorial Hall, Kansas City, MOUnited States
02/10/1975Uptown Theatre, Milwaukee, WIUnited States
01/11/1975Robertson Gymnasium, Santa Barbara, CAUnited States
06/11/1975Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZUnited States
10/11/1975Jai Alai, Tampa, FLUnited States
18/11/1975Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, LondonGreat Britain
21/11/1975Konserthus, StockholmSweden
24/11/1975Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, LondonGreat Britain
02/12/1975Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
03/12/1975Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
05/12/1975Georgetown University, Washington, DCUnited States
06/12/1975Georgetown University, Washington, DCUnited States
11/12/1975Seton Hall, South Orange, NJUnited States
12/12/1975C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Greenvale, NYUnited States
16/12/1975State University, Oswego, NYUnited States
21/12/1975Seneca College, TorontoCanada
27/12/1975Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PAUnited States
28/12/1975Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PAUnited States
30/12/1975Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PAUnited States
31/12/1975Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PAUnited States
25/03/1976Township Auditorium, Columbia, SCUnited States
26/03/1976Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GAUnited States
04/04/1976Michigan State University, East Lansing, MIUnited States
05/04/1976Ohio Theatre, Columbus, OHUnited States
07/04/1976Allen Theatre, Cleveland, OHUnited States
08/04/1976Allen Theatre, Cleveland, OHUnited States
09/04/1976Colgate University, Hamilton, NYUnited States
10/04/1976Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CTUnited States
13/04/1976Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PAUnited States
15/04/1976Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PAUnited States
17/04/1976University of Rochester, Rochester, NYUnited States
22/04/1976Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksberg, VAUnited States
29/04/1976Ellis Auditorium, Memphis, TNUnited States
03/05/1976Robinson Center Auditorium, Little Rock, ARUnited States
10/05/1976Mobile Civic Center, Mobile, ALUnited States
11/05/1976Auburn University, Auburn, ALUnited States
13/05/1976Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, LAUnited States
27/05/1976United States Military Academy, West Point, NYUnited States
28/05/1976United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MDUnited States
24/03/1977Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
25/03/1977Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
26/05/1978The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PAUnited States
27/05/1978The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PAUnited States
29/05/1978Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
30/05/1978Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
31/05/1978Music Hall, Boston, MAUnited States
03/06/1978Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NYUnited States
07/07/1978The Roxy, Los Angeles, CAUnited States
21/07/1978Auditorium, Nashville, TNUnited States
23/08/1978Madison Square Garden, New York, NYUnited States
29/08/1978Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PAUnited States
10/09/1978Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OHUnited States
12/09/1978War Memorial, Syracuse, NYUnited States
13/09/1978MassMutual Center, Springfield, MAUnited States
15/09/1978Palladium, New York, NYUnited States
20/11/1978University of Illinois, Champaign, ILUnited States
01/12/1978University of Oklahoma, Norman, OKUnited States
08/12/1978The Summit, Houston, TXUnited States
09/12/1978Convention Centre, Dallas, TXUnited States
13/12/1978Tucson Community Center, Tucson, AZUnited States
16/12/1978Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CAUnited States
28/12/1978Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PAUnited States
01/01/1979Richfield Coliseum, Richfield Township, OHUnited States
11/09/1981Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, ILUnited States
14/09/1981Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OHUnited States
25/11/1996Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJUnited States
26/11/1996Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJUnited States
18/05/1997Acropolis, NiceFrance
19/05/1997Le Zenith-Omega, ToulonFrance
21/05/1997Teatro Verdi, FlorenceItaly
22/05/1997Teatro Augusteo, NaplesItaly
25/05/1997Palais des congrès de Paris, ParisFrance
29/05/2000Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UTUnited States
20/06/2000Madison Square Garden, New York, NYUnited States
21/11/2002TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FLUnited States
24/11/2002Ice Palace, Tampa, FLUnited States
07/03/2003Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJUnited States
27/07/2003Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJUnited States
11/08/2003Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PAUnited States
03/08/2005Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MIUnited States
21/11/2005Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJUnited States
22/11/2005Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJUnited States
04/11/2007Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OHUnited States
17/03/2008Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WIUnited States
28/04/2008Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NCUnited States
28/05/2008Old Trafford, ManchesterGreat Britain
28/07/2008Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJUnited States
08/04/2009Toyota Center, Houston, TXUnited States
23/08/2009Comcast Center, Mansfield, MAUnited States
08/10/2009Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJUnited States
19/10/2009Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PAUnited States
22/11/2009HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NYUnited States
02/05/2012Prudential Center, Newark, NJUnited States
28/07/2012Ullevi, GothenburgSweden
29/08/2012Vernon Downs Raceway , Vernon, NYUnited States
03/09/2012Citizens Bank Park , Philadelphia, PAUnited States
22/09/2012MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford, NJUnited States
01/11/2012Bryce Jordan Center, State College, PAUnited States
11/11/2012Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MNUnited States
18/06/2013Hampden Park, GlasgowGreat Britain
26/02/2014Brisbane Entertainment Centre, BrisbaneAustralia
25/02/2016KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NYUnited States
27/05/2016Croke Park, DublinIreland
29/05/2016Croke Park, DublinIreland
19/06/2016Olympia Stadion, BerlinGermany
30/08/2016MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford, NJUnited States
01/09/2016Nationals Park , Washington, DCUnited States
05/09/2016Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, Virginia Beach, VAUnited States
07/09/2016Citizens Bank Park , Philadelphia, PAUnited States
09/09/2016Citizens Bank Park , Philadelphia, PAUnited States
11/09/2016PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PAUnited States
14/09/2016Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MAUnited States
27/01/2017Perth Arena, PerthAustralia
21/02/2017AMI Stadium, ChristchurchNew Zealand
03/04/2023Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NYUnited States