Rocky Ground

"Rocky Ground" is a song written and recorded by American musician Bruce Springsteen. It is the second single from his album Wrecking Ball and was released exclusively in select stores as a limited-edition 7-inch 45-rpm vinyl single as a part of Record Store Day on April 21, 2012.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

The song made its live debut on March 9, 2012, during Springsteen and the E Street Band's performance at the Apollo Theatre.

A music video for the song was first teased on Facebook and Twitter on May 24, 2012, and released the following day on May 25, 2012. The music video features the lyrics being written down on paper in sync with the song, interchanging this with a series of urban and suburban imagery.

On June 15, 2012, a video for the "Modern Mix" of the song was released. The remixed version was produced by Ron Aniello and Matthew Koma.

Rolling Stone named the song the 7th best song of 2012.^[5]

Lyrics and music

The song is heavy with a religious theme and features a gospel choir backing Springsteen. Singer Michelle Moore provides backing vocals along with rapping, a first for a Springsteen album. Springsteen has stated he originally attempted to do the rapping himself but was not satisfied with the sound.^{[citation needed]}

"Rocky Ground" contains excerpts of "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord", a traditional gospel song performed by Congregation of the Church of God in Christ and recorded by Alan Lomax in 1942.^[6]

Track listing

"Rocky Ground: 4:40
"The Promise (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band live from the Carousel, Asbury Park)": 5:59^[7]

Personnel

Bruce Springsteen – lead vocal, guitars, percussion & loops
Ron Aniello – drums & loops
Art Baron – euphonium & tuba
Clark Gayton – trombone
Charlie Giordano – piano & organ
Stan Harrison – clarinet, alto saxophone & tenor saxophone
Dan Levine – alto horn & euphonium
Ed Manion – tenor saxophone & baritone saxophone
Michelle Moore – backing vocals & rapping
Curt Ramm – trumpet & cornet
Patti Scialfa – backing vocals
Victorious Gospel Choir – backing vocals

References

External links

Brucespringsteen.net

v t e Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Bruce Springsteen Roy Bittan Jake Clemons Nils Lofgren Patti Scialfa Garry Tallent Steven Van Zandt Max Weinberg Charles Giordano Soozie Tyrell Tom Morello Former members Ernest Carter Clarence Clemons Danny Federici Suki Lahav Vini Lopez David Sancious Former touring musicians The Miami Horns Jay Weinberg

Studio albums	Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973) Born to Run (1975) Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) The River (1980) Nebraska (1982) Born in the U.S.A. (1984) Tunnel of Love (1987) Human Touch (1992) Lucky Town (1992) The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995) The Rising (2002) Devils & Dust (2005) We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006) Magic (2007) Working on a Dream (2009) Wrecking Ball (2012) High Hopes (2014)

Live albums	Live/1975–85 (1986) Live Collection (EP) (1987) Chimes of Freedom (EP) (1988) In Concert/MTV Plugged (1993) Live in New York City (2001) Hammersmith Odeon London '75 (2006) Live in Dublin (2007) PBS Exclusive (EP) (2007) Magic Tour Highlights (EP) (2008) Live From the Carousel (2011)

Box sets	The Born in the U.S.A. 12" Single Collection (1985) Tracks (1998) The Collection (2004) Born to Run: 30th Anniversary Edition (2005) The Collection 1973-1984 (2010) The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story (2010)

Other albums	Greatest Hits (1995) Blood Brothers (EP) (1996) 18 Tracks (1999) The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003) Greatest Hits (2009) The Promise (2010) Collection: 1973-2012 (2013)

Singles	"Blinded by the Light" (1973) "Spirit in the Night" (1973) "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" (1974) "Born to Run" (1975) "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (1976) "Blinded by the Light" (re-release) (1977) "Prove It All Night" (1978) "Badlands" (1978) "The Promised Land" (1978) "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" (1979) "Hungry Heart" (1980) "Fade Away" (1981) "The River" (1981) "Cadillac Ranch" (1981) "Point Blank" (1981) "Atlantic City" (1982) "Open All Night" (1982) "Dancing in the Dark" (1984) "Cover Me" (1984) "Born in the U.S.A." (1984) "I'm on Fire" (1985) "Glory Days" (1985) "I'm Goin' Down" (1985) "My Hometown" (1985) "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1985) "War" (1986) "Fire" (1987) "Born to Run" (live) (1988) "Brilliant Disguise" (1987) "Tunnel of Love" (1987) "One Step Up" (1988) "Tougher Than the Rest" (1988) "Spare Parts" (1988) "Human Touch" (1992) "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" (1992) "Streets of Philadelphia" (1994) "Secret Garden" (1995) "Hungry Heart" (re-issue) (1995) "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (1996) "Secret Garden" (re-release) (1997) "Sad Eyes" (1999) "The Rising" (2002) "Lonesome Day" (2002) "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" (2003) "Devils & Dust" (2005) "Radio Nowhere" (2007) "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (re-release) (2007) "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" (2008) "Working on a Dream" (2008) "My Lucky Day" (2008) "The Wrestler" (2009) "We Take Care of Our Own" (2012) "Rocky Ground" (2012) "Death to My Hometown" (2012) "High Hopes" (2013) "Just Like Fire Would" (2014)

Promo singles/Other charted songs	"Be True" (1981) "Ramrod" (1981) "Johnny 99" (1982) "No Surrender" (1984) "Because the Night" (live) (1986) "Chimes of Freedom" (live) (1988) "Youngstown" (1995) "American Skin (41 Shots)" (2001) "Pay Me My Money Down" (2006) "My City of Ruins" (2011) "Rocky Ground" (2012)

Video releases	Video Anthology / 1978–88 (1989) In Concert/MTV Plugged (1992) Blood Brothers (1996) The Complete Video Anthology / 1978–2000 (2001) Live in New York City (2001) Live in Barcelona (2003) VH1 Storytellers (2005) Wings For Wheels (2005) Hammersmith Odeon London '75 (2005) Live in Dublin (2007) Magic Tour Highlights (2008) London Calling: Live in Hyde Park (2010) The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town (2010) Springsteen & I (2013) Born in the U.S.A. Live: London 2013 (2014)

Tours	Born to Run tours (1974–77) Darkness Tour (1978) River Tour (1980–81) Born in the U.S.A. Tour (1984–85) Tunnel of Love Express (1988) Human Rights Now! (1988) Bruce Springsteen 1992–1993 World Tour (1992–93) Ghost of Tom Joad Tour (1995–97) Reunion Tour (1999–2000) Rising Tour (2002–03) Vote for Change (2004) Devils & Dust Tour (2005) Seeger Sessions Band Tour (2006) Magic Tour (2007–08) Working on a Dream Tour (2009) Wrecking Ball Tour (2012-13) High Hopes Tour (2014)

Related articles	Discography E Street Band Steel Mill The Sessions Band The Miami Horns E Street Radio Little Steven's Underground Garage Mike Appel Jon Landau Brendan O'Brien The Max Weinberg 7 Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska

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