KEEP THE FAITH^©

Live 31 Jan 1998 version

Mother, mother, tell your children
That their time has just begun
I have suffered for my anger
There's wars that can't be won

Father, father, please believe me
'Cause I'm laying down my guns
I am broken like an arrow
Forgive me
Forgive your wayward son

(Everybody needs somebody to love)
Mother, mother
(Everybody needs somebody to leave)
Please believe me
(Everybody's bitching
'Cause the times are tough)
It's hard to hold on
No one to lean on

Faith: know you're gonna live through the rain
You got to keep the faith
Faith: don't let your love turn to hate
We got to keep the faith
Keep the faith
Keep the faith
We got to keep the faith

Tell me baby when I hurt you
Do you keep it all inside
Do you tell me all's forgiven
Just hide behind your pride
Say yeah

(Everybody needs somebody to love)
Mother, father
(Everybody needs somebody to leave)
Don't leave me
(Everybody's bleeding
'Cause the times are tough)
It's hard to be strong
No one to dream on

Faith: you know you're gonna live through the rain
Come on, keep the faith
Faith: don't you let your love turn to hate
You better keep the faith
Faith: don't you know it's never too late
To keep the faith
Keep the faith
Keep the faith
Ah, you better keep the faith
Faith
Keep the faith
Just believe it
Keep the faith
Just believe it
We gotta keep the faith

Oh yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh!

I've been walking in the footsteps
Of society's lies
I don't like what I see no more
Sometimes I wish that I were blind
Sometimes I wait forever

I stand out in the rain
So no one sees me cryin'
Trying to wash away the pain
Mother, father
(Everybody needs somebody to love)
Things I've done I can't erase
(Everybody needs somebody to love)
Every night we'll fall from grace
(Everybody needs somebody to love)
It's hard with the world in yours face
(Everybody needs, everybody needs)
Trying to hold on, trying to hold on

Faith: don't you know they live through the rain
Come on, keep the faith
Faith: don't you let your love turn to hate
Keep the faith
Faith: (keep the faith)
Keep the faith
(Keep the faith)
Keep the faith
You better keep the faith

Faith: (keep the faith)
Keep the faith
(keep the faith)
Keep the faith
You better keep the faith

(Everybody needs somebody to love)
(Everybody needs somebody to leave)
(Everybody needs somebody to love)
(Everybody needs, everybody keep the faith)

Page last updated: 18 Sep 2007

Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. Check out Bon Jovi's original version for more details.

The song was performed live with Bruce Springsteen once, on 31 Jan 1998 during the "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert held at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ, and the above lyrics correspond to that performance. Jon Bon Jovi was on lead vocals, and Bruce Springsteen probably was playing guitar during this song (assuming he was on stage all night).

The "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert was organized by the Long Branch Police Department, The Asbury Park Press, and FPI Concerts, along with Jon Bon Jovi. The concert was to honor slain Long Branch police officer Sgt. Patrick King and raise money for the Sgt. Patrick King Memorial Fund to provide for his family. King, 45-year-old father of two young boys, was fatally shot on 20 Nov 1997 by a fugitive who had vowed to kill himself and a police officer rather than be captured and returned to jail.

20 musicians with ties to the Jersey shore music scene answered Jon Bon Jovi's call, including Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa and several members of the then-disbanded E Street Band (Clarence Clemons, Danni Frederici, Patti Scialfa, Little Steven, and Max Weinberg), Southside Johnny, Bobby Bandiera, and Richie Sambora among others. Actor Danny DeVito was the event's MC. Tickets, which were priced at $125, went on sale on 17 Jan 1998 noon, selling out in eight minutes. The concert that was organized in short order raised more than $112,000 for King's widow and his two sons.

"It was a chance to forget about it [the murder] a little bit," Long Branch police Sgt. Bruce Johantgen, one of about 50 city police officers who attended the show, told The Asbury Park Press. "The outpouring of love from the performers to the audience was unbelievable". Johantgen said he found it ironic that Bon Jovi and other performers thanked the audience for coming to the sold-out show. "From the police perspective, I kept thinking, 'We should be thanking you for giving your time'," Johantgen said.

This was a near-reunion of the fabled E Street Band and Bruce's first full-length electric gig following the acoustic The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. Springsteen spent much of (or maybe all) the night onstage, singing or playing guitar only. Soundboard recording for that concert is available among collectors.

The above lyrics are for the live 31 Jan 1998 performance at Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ. Check out Bon Jovi's original version.

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake from BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Request:
Was Bruce Springsteen playing guitar on all of the 31 Jan 1998 show's tracks on which he didn't sing? Info should be found on Backstreets magazine #58 [Spring 1998]. If you can assist, please contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.