| "No Surrender" | |
|---|---|
| Promotional single byBruce Springsteen | |
| from the albumBorn in the U.S.A. | |
| Released | June 4, 1984 |
| Recorded | October 25–27, 1983[1] |
| Studio | Hit Factory, New York City |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:02 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter | Bruce Springsteen |
| Producers |
|
"No Surrender" is a song fromBruce Springsteen's albumBorn in the U.S.A. It was only included on the album at the insistence ofSteven Van Zandt, but has since become a concert staple for Springsteen. Though it was not one of the seven top ten hits of the album, "No Surrender" nevertheless charted on the Mainstream Rock chart, peaking at No. 29.[4] It returned to prominence during the2004 United States presidential election whenJohn Kerry, the Democratic candidate and a fan of Springsteen, used the song as the main theme song for his campaign.
During theBorn in the U.S.A. Tour, Springsteen played a slower version of the song on acoustic guitar and harmonica. The song was played less and less towards the end of the tour. Springsteen wrote years later: "It was a song I was uncomfortable with. You don't hold out and triumph all the time in life. You compromise, you suffer defeat; you slip into life's gray areas."[5] An August 6, 1984 recording at theMeadowlands Arena is included on the box setLive 1975–85.
The song was performed at 41% of shows onThe River tour; 44% of shows on theHigh Hopes tour; 29% of the shows on theWrecking Ball tour; 48% of shows on theWorking On A Dream tour; 47% of shows on theMagic tour; 58% of shows onThe Rising tour; 7% of shows on theReunion Tour; 47% of shows on the solo acousticThe Ghost Of Tom Joad tour; and 33% of shows on theBorn In The U.S.A. tour. It did not feature at any shows on theDevils & Dust tour; the1992-93 World Tour, theHuman Rights Now! tour, or theTunnel of Love Express tour.[6]
As of 14 April 2024, the song has been performed at 71 of 74 shows (96%) on the 2023-2024 International Tour. It was played at each of the tour's initial 70 shows, being omitted for the first time at the 31 March 2024 show atChase Center inSan Francisco.[7]
According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[8]
In 2008,Hot Water Music recorded the song on their B-sides and rarities albumTil The Wheels Fall Off.[9]
In 2009,Jill Johnson from Sweden recorded the song on the cover albumMusic Row II.[10]
In 2009,Two Cow Garage recorded the song for the A side of Vol. 9 of Suburban Home Records' "Under the Influence" 7" covers series. Side B of the 7" features Jr. Juggernaut covering "Trouble" byCat Stevens.[11]
In 2010,Maeve O'Boyle recorded the song for her albumIntermission which was released in 2011.
In 2013,Mark Salling recorded a cover of the song for the TV showGlee as a tribute to cast memberCory Monteith who died suddenly earlier in the year. His version of the song was featured in the season 5 episode "The Quarterback", a tribute to Monteith, and his characterFinn Hudson, who had recently died.
In 2017, Australian country music singerJames Blundell recorded the song as a duet with Paul Costa on hisCampfire album
In 2017, at the No Surrender Festival inVilanova de Bellpuig, Catalonia, 1004 musicians and singers recorded a live version of the song.[12][13]
Hawthorne Heights recorded a cover of the song on their 2019 album 'Lost Frequencies'
In 2020The City Kids recorded a cover of this song on their album ‘ Sh*t That We Like’ that accompanied their debut album ‘Things That Never Were’
