WALK LIKE A MAN

Album version



I remember how rough your hand felt on mine on my wedding day
And the tears cried on my shoulder I couldn't turn away
Well so much has happened to me that I don't understand
All I can think of is being five years old following behind you at the beach tracing your footprints in the sand
Trying to walk like a man

Well by Our Lady Of The Roses we lived in the shadow of the elms
I remember ma dragging me and my sister up the street to the church whenever she heard those wedding bells
Well would they ever look so happy again yeah the handsome groom and his bride
As they stepped into that long black limousine for their mystery ride
Well tonight you step away from me and alone at the alter I stand
As I watch my bride coming down the aisle I pray for the strength to walk like a man

Well now the years have gone and I've grown yeah from that seed you've sown
But I didn't think there'd been so many steps I'd have to learn on my own
Well I was young and I didn't know what to do when I saw your best steps stolen away from you
Now I'll do what I can, I'll walk like a man
And I'll keep on walking


Info

WALK LIKE A MAN is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1987 album Tunnel Of Love. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of WALK LIKE A MAN.


Writing and Recording

WALK LIKE A MAN was recorded during the Tunnel Of Love album's recording sessions, sometime between January and May 1987 at Thrill Hill Recording (Springsteen's home studio) in Colts Neck, NJ. Springsteen handles multi instruments on this track and is only backed by Max Weinberg on drums.

Tunnel Of Love

Tunnel Of Love is Bruce Springsteen's eighth studio album. It was released on 05 Oct 1987 on Columbia Records. It was recorded between January and July 1987 at Thrill Hill East, Springsteen's home studio in Colts Neck, NJ.

Bruce Springsteen -- Tunnel Of Love
Bruce Springsteen -- Tunnel Of Love

The album features 12 tracks and clocks at 46:25. It is produced by produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Chuck Plotkin.

Other Official Releases

The album version of WALK LIKE A MAN can also be found on one Bruce Springsteen promo-only sampler.

Bruce Springsteen -- The Future Of Rock'n'Roll / 70's To 80's
Bruce Springsteen -- The Future Of Rock'n'Roll / 70's To 80's

2xCD - CBS/Sony (XADP 90009~10) - Japan, 1988

Japan-only promotional 2-CD set sampler compiling 28 tracks from Bruce Springsteen's first nine albums plus two 1988 live B-sides.

Disc 1: (70's)
01- THUNDER ROAD [Live 18 Oct 1975 (early show) version]
02- BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
03- RACING IN THE STREET
04- KITTY'S BACK
05- BADLANDS
06- GROWIN' UP
07- PROVE IT ALL NIGHT
08- 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY)
09- BACKSTREETS [Live 07 Jul 1978 version]
10- FOR YOU
11- TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT
12- THE PROMISED LAND
13- ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) [Live 07 Jul 1978 version]
14- BORN TO RUN

Disc 2: (80's)
01- BORN IN THE U.S.A. [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]
02- BRILLIANT DISGUISE
03- DANCING IN THE DARK
04- CADILLAC RANCH [Live 06 Jul 1981 version]
05- WALK LIKE A MAN
06- WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]
07- JOHNNY 99
08- HUNGRY HEART [Live 28 Dec 1980 version]
09- I WANNA MARRY YOU
10- MY HOMETOWN [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]
11- THE RIVER
12- GLORY DAYS
13- OUT IN THE STREET
14- TOUGHER THAN THE REST [Live 27 Apr 1988 version]
15- SPARE PARTS [Live 09 Jul 1988 version]
16- THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND [Live 29 Dec 1980 version]

Other versions of WALK LIKE A MAN were also officially released.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band -- Joe Louis Arena, Detroit 1988
The live 28 Mar 1988 version of WALK LIKE A MAN was released on the Joe Louis Arena, Detroit 1988 official live download in 2020.
Bruce Springsteen -- Stockholm 2005
The live 25 Jun 2005 version of WALK LIKE A MAN was released on the Stockholm 2005 official live download in 2020.

Live History

WALK LIKE A MAN was performed 28 times during the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour (67 dates, February to August 1988), all in the tour's first leg. On this tour, the song was played in a full-band arrangement and featured a horn section. The live 28 Mar 1988 version of WALK LIKE A MAN was released on the Joe Louis Arena, Detroit 1988 official live download in 2020.

  1. 25 Feb 1988 at Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
  2. 28 Feb 1988 at Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
  3. 29 Feb 1988 at Centrum In Worcester, Worcester, MA
  4. 03 Mar 1988 at Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC
  5. 04 Mar 1988 at Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, Chapel Hill, NC
  6. 08 Mar 1988 at Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
  7. 09 Mar 1988 at Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
  8. 13 Mar 1988 at Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
  9. 14 Mar 1988 at Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, OH
  10. 16 Mar 1988 at Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
  11. 22 Mar 1988 at The Omni, Atlanta, GA
  12. 23 Mar 1988 at The Omni, Atlanta, GA
  13. 26 Mar 1988 at Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
  14. 28 Mar 1988 at Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
  15. 01 Apr 1988 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
  16. 02 Apr 1988 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
  17. 04 Apr 1988 at Capital Centre, Largo, MD
  18. 05 Apr 1988 at Capital Centre, Largo, MD
  19. 12 Apr 1988 at The Summit, Houston, TX
  20. 13 Apr 1988 at The Summit, Houston, TX
  21. 15 Apr 1988 at Frank Erwin Center, University Of Texas, Austin, TX
  22. 17 Apr 1988 at St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, MO
  23. 20 Apr 1988 at McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
  24. 22 Apr 1988 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
  25. 02 May 1988 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
  26. 05 May 1988 at Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
  27. 09 May 1988 at Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, MN
  28. 16 May 1988 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY

WALK LIKE A MAN was performed twice during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005). On this tour, the song was played solo on piano and electric piano. The live 25 Jun 2005 version of WALK LIKE A MAN was released on the Stockholm 2005 official live download in 2020.

Covers

At least 4 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's WALK LIKE A MAN.

Brent Parlane -- The Closest
Brent Parlane -- The Closest

CD - Shoestring Records (SR 45) - Australia, 1999
Graziano Romani -- Soul Crusader: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen
Graziano Romani -- Soul Crusader: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen

CD - Freedom Rain (FREED-001) - Italy, 2001

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Tom Brooksby -- Brooksby Does Bruce
Tom Brooksby -- Brooksby Does Bruce

CD - unknown label (unknown catalog number) - UK, 2009

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.
Martyn Joseph -- Tires Rushing By In The Rain
Martyn Joseph -- Tires Rushing By In The Rain

CD - Pipe Records (PRCD023) - UK, 2013

This is a Bruce Springsteen tribute album.

Available Versions

List of available versions of WALK LIKE A MAN on this website:

WALK LIKE A MAN [Album version]
WALK LIKE A MAN [Live 28 Mar 1988 version]
WALK LIKE A MAN [Live 25 Jun 2005 version]

Page last updated: 07 Mar 2020