Drifters ( The ) - Up on the roof

First performance: 30/07/1975

Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song 7 times:
 
All in 1975 during the initial Born To Run tour. Bruce reportedly would sing the song while sitting on the edge of the stage–not quite acoustically, but with a quiet and restrained E Street Band in full crooner mode. The song’s romantic, escapist cityscape fit perfectly into the BTR-centric setlist.
 
 
1975-07-30 - CARTER BARRON AMPHITHEATRE, WASHINGTON, DC
The first performance of The Drifters' "Up On The Roof", which Springsteen sung while sat at the lip of the stage. beautiful arrangement with a "Thunder Road-esque" piano introduction and understated accompaniment from the band.
 
1975-08-01 - MOSQUE THEATRE, RICHMOND, VA
1975-08-08 - AKRON CIVIC THEATRE, AKRON, OH
1975-08-09 - SYRIA MOSQUE, PITTSBURGH, PA
1975-08-10 - ALLEN THEATRE, CLEVELAND, OH
 
early
 
 
photo credit Cliff-Breining 
 

Songinfo

"Up on the Roof" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded in 1962 by The Drifters, with Rudy Lewis as the lead singer: released late that year, the disc became a major hit in early 1963. Gerry Goffin would cite "Up on the Roof" as his all-time favorite of the lyrics he'd written. After Carole King suggested that he write lyrics for the tune which had occurred to her while she was out driving, with King suggesting "My Secret Place" as the title, Goffin kept King's suggested focus of a haven, modifying it with his enthusiasm for the movie musical West Side Story which contained several striking scenes set on the rooftops of Upper West Side highrises.
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

2020-12-10 - ROCKEFELLER CENTER, GE BUILDING, STUDIO 6B, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Bruce appears on Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, discussing Letter To You, Christmas albums, his upcoming Saturday Night Live appearance, and more. During the interview he reveals what songs had an influence on writing ' letter to you' :
 
" I always liked music what where the singer sounded happy  and sad simultaneously, you know....and I wrote about this a little but in the memoir that I wrote, where I always loved the drifters' "saturday night at the movies", "up on the roof", "under the boardwalk", ...for some reason, the singer always sounded hopeful,... resigned. Like he had his spirit but sad at the same time. And I felt the whole world open to you. So those are the kind of songs that I like, ..you know...and I think hit the deepest. "  

Lyrics

(Up on the roof)
(Up on the roof)

When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face (Up on the roof)
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space (Up on the roof)

On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there, the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now

When I come home feeling tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (Up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street (Up on the roof)

On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let's go up on the roof (Up on the roof)

At night, the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me
I keep-a tellin' you

Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble-proof (Up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two up on the roof (Up on the roof)

Up on the roof (Up on the roof)
Oh, come on, baby (Up on the roof)
Oh, come on, honey (Up on the roof)
Everything is all right (Up on the roof)