One Step Up
Encyclopedia
"One Step Up" is a song by Bruce Springsteen
from his 1987 Tunnel of Love
album. It was released as the third single from the album, following "Brilliant Disguise
" and the title track
. It reached position #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. It also reached #2 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart. Since the previous two singles from the Tunnel of Love album went to #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, this gave Springsteen three straight top 2 tracks from that album. The song was only released as a single in America.
in Los Angeles
, California
. It was recorded between May and August 1987. Springsteen plays all instruments, and future wife Patti Scialfa
provided backing vocals. No other members of Springsteen's usual backing group, the E Street Band
, are present.
Like several other songs on the album, the song reflects the impending breakup of the marriage between Springsteen and then-wife Julianne Phillips
. The songs lyrics are poetic, understated, emotional and eloquent. The song begins by describing a house with a broken furnace and a car that doesn't start, which serve as metaphor
s for the couple's relationship. Similar metaphors in the song are a bird that won't sing and church bells that won't ring for a new bride-to-be. Although the couple has been together for some time, they haven't learned from their experiences and continue to fight and slam doors. The lyrics refer to the couple's relationship as their "dirty little war." Finally, the singer finds himself at a bar wondering whether to hook up with another woman there, while remembering a dream he had the night before about dancing with his wife. The singer is self-aware enough to recognize his share of responsibility for the couple's difficulties, as demonstrated in particular by the line: "When I look at myself I don't see/The man I wanted to be". Dave Marsh
describes the song as being "as miserable a cheating song as even Nashville ever knew."
The music for the song has a bare arrangement, reflecting how personal the song is. It is a quiet ballad with an ironically reassuring melody. The backing vocal provides a haunting echo to the Springsteen's lead vocal. Ironically, given the fact that this is a song about a marriage breaking up, these backing vocals were sung by the woman who would prove to be Springsteen's future wife, Patti Scialfa
.
. The video intersperses scenes of Springsteen singing the song with images reflecting the song's narrative. The video was later released on the VHS and DVD Video Anthology / 1978-88
.
that supported the initial release of the album through July 2005, the song received 48 live performances in concert.
and Christine Collister
for their album Love Is a Strange Hotel.
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Kenny Chesney
. It is track #11 on his album No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
album.
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Eddie Vedder
for a demo tape of Bad Radio
.
A Cover version of "One Step Up" was recorded by Martyn Joseph
for his 2010 album "Under Lemonade Skies" (track #7).
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Kurt Ostbahn on the Album Liagn & Lochn - 08 - A SCHRITT VIRE (ZWA SCHRITT ZRUCK)
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
from his 1987 Tunnel of Love
Tunnel of Love (album)
Tunnel of Love is the eighth studio album by Bruce Springsteen released in 1987.In 1998, Q magazine readers voted Tunnel of Love the 91st greatest album of all time....
album. It was released as the third single from the album, following "Brilliant Disguise
Brilliant Disguise
"Brilliant Disguise" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 album Tunnel of Love. It was released as the first single from the album, reaching the #5 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States...
" and the title track
Tunnel of Love (Bruce Springsteen song)
"Tunnel of Love" is the title song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as the second single from the album, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Like the first single from the album, "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" reached number one on...
. It reached position #13 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. It also reached #2 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart. Since the previous two singles from the Tunnel of Love album went to #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, this gave Springsteen three straight top 2 tracks from that album. The song was only released as a single in America.
History
Unlike much of the Tunnel of Love album, "One Step Up" was not recorded in Springsteen's home studio (Thrill Hill East). Rather, it was recorded at A&M StudiosHenson Recording Studios
Henson Recording Studios was established in 2000 at the former A&M Studios. The remake of We Are the World was recorded at Henson Recording Studios in February 2010 to benefit the Haiti earthquake victims....
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was recorded between May and August 1987. Springsteen plays all instruments, and future wife Patti Scialfa
Patti Scialfa
Vivienne Patricia "Patti" Scialfa is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She is married to Bruce Springsteen and they have three children.- Early life :...
provided backing vocals. No other members of Springsteen's usual backing group, the E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
, are present.
Like several other songs on the album, the song reflects the impending breakup of the marriage between Springsteen and then-wife Julianne Phillips
Julianne Phillips
Julianne Phillips is an American model and actress. She is the ex-wife of Bruce Springsteen.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Phillips was raised in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Oregon, the daughter of insurance broker, William Phillips, and wife, Ann Phillips. She was the youngest of...
. The songs lyrics are poetic, understated, emotional and eloquent. The song begins by describing a house with a broken furnace and a car that doesn't start, which serve as metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
s for the couple's relationship. Similar metaphors in the song are a bird that won't sing and church bells that won't ring for a new bride-to-be. Although the couple has been together for some time, they haven't learned from their experiences and continue to fight and slam doors. The lyrics refer to the couple's relationship as their "dirty little war." Finally, the singer finds himself at a bar wondering whether to hook up with another woman there, while remembering a dream he had the night before about dancing with his wife. The singer is self-aware enough to recognize his share of responsibility for the couple's difficulties, as demonstrated in particular by the line: "When I look at myself I don't see/The man I wanted to be". Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh is an American music critic, author, editor and radio talk show host. He was a formative editor of Creem magazine, has written for various publications such as Newsday, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone, and has published numerous books about music and musicians, mostly focused on...
describes the song as being "as miserable a cheating song as even Nashville ever knew."
The music for the song has a bare arrangement, reflecting how personal the song is. It is a quiet ballad with an ironically reassuring melody. The backing vocal provides a haunting echo to the Springsteen's lead vocal. Ironically, given the fact that this is a song about a marriage breaking up, these backing vocals were sung by the woman who would prove to be Springsteen's future wife, Patti Scialfa
Patti Scialfa
Vivienne Patricia "Patti" Scialfa is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She is married to Bruce Springsteen and they have three children.- Early life :...
.
Video
Like several other videos from the Tunnel of Love album, including "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" and "Tougher Than the Rest", the video for "One Step Up" was directed by Meiert AvisMeiert Avis
Meiert Avis is an Irish music video and commercial director. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, New Found Glory and Josh Groban amongst many others....
. The video intersperses scenes of Springsteen singing the song with images reflecting the song's narrative. The video was later released on the VHS and DVD Video Anthology / 1978-88
Video Anthology / 1978-88
Bruce Springsteen's Video Anthology / 1978–88 is a collection of 18 music videos made on his behalf, released in VHS format on January 31, 1989....
.
Live performance history
Perhaps due to the personal nature of the song, it has been performed live only infrequently. Between the Tunnel of Love Express TourTunnel of Love Express Tour
The Tunnel of Love Express was a concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place in 1988. It followed by four and a half months the release of Springsteen's 1987 album, Tunnel of Love.-Itinerary:...
that supported the initial release of the album through July 2005, the song received 48 live performances in concert.
Cover versions
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Clive GregsonClive Gregson
Clive Gregson is an English singer/songwriter, musician and record producer. He has toured in bands, provided backup for well-known musicians, and written songs that have been covered by Kim Carnes, Norma Waterson and Nanci Griffith.-Solo:At the end of 1984 Gregson released his first solo record,...
and Christine Collister
Christine Collister
Christine Collister is a Manx folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter. She was born and grew up on the Isle of Man and first came to public attention in 1986 as the singer of the theme song for the BBC's television adaptation of Fay Weldon's book The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.Prior to this, in...
for their album Love Is a Strange Hotel.
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
. It is track #11 on his album No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
- Album :- Singles :- Certifications :...
album.
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
for a demo tape of Bad Radio
Bad Radio
Bad Radio was a four piece, American progressive funk rock band that formed in San Diego, California in 1986. The band is most notable for having featured future Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder as its lead singer from 1988–1990...
.
A Cover version of "One Step Up" was recorded by Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph
Martyn Joseph is a Welsh singer-songwriter whose music exhibits primarily a brand of Celtic and folk, while his songwriting is often focused on social lament or protest...
for his 2010 album "Under Lemonade Skies" (track #7).
External links
A cover version of "One Step Up" was sung by Kurt Ostbahn on the Album Liagn & Lochn - 08 - A SCHRITT VIRE (ZWA SCHRITT ZRUCK)