“A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh)” By Bruce Springsteen
“A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh)” is a lesser-known but deeply emotional track by Bruce Springsteen, originally recorded during the sessions for his Nebraska album in the early 1980s. The song showcases Springsteen’s storytelling ability, with sparse instrumentation and haunting vocals that reflect the raw, stripped-down style of Nebraska. Lyrically, it captures themes of loss, regret, and the longing for redemption, as the narrator reflects on personal failures and the difficulty of finding genuine goodness in a troubled world.
The atmosphere of the song is somber and introspective. Its minimal arrangement—mostly acoustic guitar and voice—allows the weight of the lyrics to take center stage. Springsteen paints a bleak picture of relationships strained by violence, betrayal, and disappointment. The setting of Pittsburgh in the title adds to the gritty, working-class vibe of the story, highlighting the tough environment that shapes the characters’ lives and choices.
Although not as famous as some of his other work, “A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh)” is appreciated by fans for its raw honesty and emotional depth. It exemplifies Springsteen’s ability to give a voice to those struggling with moral conflict and broken dreams. The song stands as a quiet but powerful piece in his extensive catalog, demonstrating his talent for creating vivid, human portraits through music.
Technical Details of “A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh)”
- Artist: Bruce Springsteen
- Song Title: A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh)
- Album: Tracks (Box Set)
- Recording Period: Spring 1982
- Recording Location: Home studio in Colts Neck, New Jersey
- Released Date: November 10, 1998 (as part of Tracks)
- Genre: Folk / Acoustic Rock
- Length: 3:18
Lyrics
“It’s cloudy out in Pittsburgh
It’s raining in Saigon
Snow’s fallin’ all across the Michigan line
Well she sits by the lights of the Christmas tree
With the radio softly on
Thinkin’ how a good man is so hard to find
Well once she had a fella
Once she was somebody’s girl
And she gave all she had that one last time
Now there’s a little girl asleep in the back room
She’s gonna have to tell about the meanness in this world
And how a good man is so hard to find
Well there’s pictures on the table by her bed
him in his dress greens and her in her wedding white
She remembers how the world was the day he left
And nw how that world is dead
And a good man is so hard to find
She got time now for Casanovas
Yeah those days are gone
She don’t want that anymore, she’s made up het minde
just somebody told her
As the nights get on
When a good man is so hard to find
Well she shuts off the TV
And without a word
Into bed she climbs
Well she thinks how it was all so wasted
And how expendable their dreams all were
When a good man was so hard to find
Well it’s cloudy out in Pittsburgh”
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