ACROSS THE BORDERLINE

Live 27 Apr 1988 version



There's a land so I've been told
Where every street is paved with gold
And it's just across the borderline
When it's time to take your turn
There's a lesson that you must learn
You may lose more than you ever hoped to find

And when you reach the broken promised land
And every dream slips through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind
'Cause you paid the price to come this far
Just to wind up where you are
And you're still just across the borderline

Up and down The Rio Grande
A thousand foot prints in the sand
Reveal a secret that no one can define
The river rolls on like a breath
In between our life and death
Tell me who is the next to cross the borderline

And when you reach the broken promised land
And every dream slips through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind
'Cause you paid the price to come this far
Just to wind up where you are
You're still just across the borderline
More guitar!

And when you reach the broken promised land
And every dream slips through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind
'Cause you paid the price to come this far
Just to wind up where you are
You're still just across the borderline

Well there's a land so I've been told
Where every street is paved with gold


Info

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE is a 1982 song by Ry Cooder. See the original Ry Cooder version for more details.

Live 27 Apr 1988 version

The above lyrics are for live 27 Apr 1988 performance of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, CA, during the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour. The song was played in a slow full-band arrangement.

Promotional poster the April 1988 five-night stand at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Promotional poster the April 1988 five-night stand at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Ticket stub for the 27 Apr 1988 show at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Ticket stub for the 27 Apr 1988 show at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Pass for the 27 Apr 1988 show at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Pass for the 27 Apr 1988 show at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA

Other Official Releases

Other versions of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Los Angeles, April 1988
The live 28 Apr 1988 version of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was released on the Los Angeles, April 1988 official live download in 2021.
Bruce Springsteen -- The Christic Shows, November 16 & 17, 1990
The live 16 Nov 1990 version and the live 17 Nov 1990 version of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE were released on The Christic Shows November 16 & 17, 1990 official live download in 2016.

Live History: on-tour

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was sound-checked prior to the 14 Sep 1984 show in Philadelphia, PA, (as far as it's known) but it was not performed on any of the Born In the U.S.A. Tour's regular shows.

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was performed 4 times during the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour (67 dates, February to August 1988). On this tour, the song was played in a slow full-band arrangement. The live 28 Apr 1988 version of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was released on the Los Angeles, April 1988 official live download in 2021.

  1. 27 Apr 1988 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
  2. 28 Apr 1988 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
  3. 13 May 1988 at Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN
  4. 22 May 1988 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was performed 4 times during World Tour 1992-1993 (104 dates, June 1992 to June 1993); on four consecutive shows in May 1993 in Europe. On this tour, the song was played in a slow full-band arrangement. The three performances in Spain featured a final verse in Spanish. See the live 07 May 1993 version for an example.

  1. 07 May 1993 at Estadio Municipal El Molinón, Gijón, Spain
  2. 09 May 1993 at Auditorio Monte Do Gozo, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
  3. 11 May 1993 at Estadi Olímpic De Montjuic, Barcelona, Spain
  4. 14 May 1993 at Waldbuhne, Berlin, Germany

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was performed once during the Wrecking Ball Tour (133 dates, March 2012 to September 2013), on 19 Nov 2012 in Denver, CO. The song was played in a slow full-band arrangement and featured a verse in Spanish.

  1. 19 Nov 2012 at Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

Live History: off-tour

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE was performed off-tour on 16 Nov 1990 and 17 Nov 1990 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, during the benefit shows for the Christic Institute. The song featured Bruce Springsteen on vocals and guitar, Jackson Browne on vocals and piano, and Bonnie Raitt on backing vocals. The live 16 Nov 1990 version and the live 17 Nov 1990 version of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE were released on The Christic Shows November 16 & 17, 1990 official live download in 2016.

Available Versions

List of available versions of ACROSS THE BORDERLINE on this website:

ACROSS THE BORDERLINE [Live 27 Apr 1988 version]
ACROSS THE BORDERLINE [Live 16 Nov 1990 version]
ACROSS THE BORDERLINE [Live 17 Nov 1990 version]
ACROSS THE BORDERLINE [Live 07 May 1993 version]
ACROSS THE BORDERLINE [Original Ry Cooder version]

Page last updated: 07 Mar 2020