Every Bob Dylan Song Bruce Springsteen Has Covered, From Early Years to Now

In 1988, at the third annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Bruce Springsteen delivered a heartfelt tribute to Bob Dylan. "Dylan was a revolutionary – the way that Elvis freed your body, Bob freed your mind," Springsteen declared. "He showed us that just because the music was innately physical, it did not mean that it was anti-intellect. He broke through the limitations of what a recording artist could achieve."

By then, Springsteen had been performing Dylan's songs live for over 15 years. Later that same year, he would play "Chimes of Freedom" and "Blowin' in the Wind." More recently, Springsteen performed "I Shall Be Released" for the first time in his career at the "Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us" concert in New Jersey.

Across his career, Springsteen has covered 13 Bob Dylan songs in concert, with the earliest dating back to the early 1970s. Many of these performances are available through bootlegs and online archives.

"It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (1971)

In May 1971, during shows with his band Dr. Zoom & the Sonic Boom, Springsteen performed a spirited, bluesy rendition of "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry." This early performance, recorded at Newark State College, featured Springsteen impressively handling the guitar parts. It remains the only known time he has performed this track.

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (1972)

Later in 1971, Springsteen formed the Bruce Springsteen Band, a precursor to the E Street Band. During their sets, which included many covers, they performed a slow, Van Morrison-inspired version of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" at least five times between October 1971 and March 1972. A notable recording from this period comes from the Back Door in Richmond, Virginia.

"I Want You" (1975)

As Springsteen's career with CBS began in 1972, the number of covers in his sets decreased, but "I Want You" remained a highlight. The song reached new emotional depths after violinist Suki Lahav joined the E Street Band. The definitive live version is from a legendary 1975 concert at Philadelphia's Main Point. Tragically, the song disappeared from his repertoire after Lahav left the band shortly after.

"Chimes of Freedom" (1978)

Midway through the 1978 "Darkness on the Edge of Town" tour, Springsteen debuted his rendition of "Chimes of Freedom" in Detroit, reading the lyrics from a stand. This unique version, featuring a Clarence Clemons saxophone solo, was revived during the 1988 Tunnel of Love Express tour, becoming a nightly highlight. A recording from a 1988 show in Stockholm was released on the "Chimes of Freedom" EP. The song later became a nightly closer on the "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour.

"Blowin' in the Wind" (1988)

During a break on the Tunnel of Love Express tour, Springsteen and Clemons made a guest appearance at the televised S.O.S. Racism Concert. Their set included Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind." He performed it again later that year with Joan Baez during the Amnesty International Human Rights Now! tour in Oakland, California. These are the only two known instances of Springsteen performing this folk standard.

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (1995)

While it might seem like a song Springsteen would have played often, he has only performed "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" twice. The first was a 1995 concert in Berlin, where he also covered "Highway 61 Revisited." His second performance was at a 2015 MusiCares tribute to Bob Dylan in Los Angeles, with an all-star band.

"Forever Young" (1995)

Bruce Springsteen performed "Forever Young" at John Hammond's funeral in 1987. In 1995, he shared the stage with Bob Dylan for the first time (excluding a chaotic Hall of Fame jam) at a concert celebrating the opening of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performing the song together.

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" (1997)

In 1997, Springsteen honored Bob Dylan at the Kennedy Center Honors with a solo acoustic performance of "The Times They Are A-Changin'." Dylan watched from the audience. Springsteen also sang a brief snippet of the song on Howard Stern's show in 2022, marking the only other known performance.

"Highway 61 Revisited" (2003)

Springsteen first played "Highway 61 Revisited" at benefit shows in 1990 and again in 1995. The most memorable performance occurred on October 4, 2003, when Bob Dylan himself surprised the crowd by joining the E Street Band at Shea Stadium. Despite some lyrical uncertainty from both artists, the moment was electric, celebrating two of America's greatest songwriters.

"All Along the Watchtower" (2004)

In 2004, during the Vote for Change tour, Springsteen, Neil Young, and the E Street Band delivered powerful renditions of songs including Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." While a staple for many artists, this is the only known time Springsteen performed it as a headliner, though he did play it with other bands in earlier years.

"Mr. Tambourine Man" (2008)

While it's possible Springsteen played Dylan covers in his early, undocumented bands, the first confirmed performance of "Mr. Tambourine Man" was at Tom Petty's private 40th birthday celebration. Years later, in 2008, Roger McGuinn joined the E Street Band on stage in Orlando, Florida, to perform the Byrds' version of the song, offering a moment of comfort after the death of keyboardist Danny Federici.

"Like a Rolling Stone" (2009)

Springsteen famously cited the opening snare hit of "Like a Rolling Stone" as a life-changing moment. After a 1988 guest appearance with John Mellencamp, he didn't take the lead on the song until a 2009 show in Pittsburgh. The 1988 Hall of Fame jam was largely chaotic, making this later performance more significant.

"I Shall Be Released" (2026)

To celebrate the opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music and America's semiquincentennial, a special concert featured Springsteen and Sheryl Crow covering "I Shall Be Released." This marked the first time Springsteen performed the song. Coincidentally, Bob Dylan had recently resurrected deep cuts from "The Basement Tapes" on his own tour.

Bonus: Bob Dylan Plays "Dancing in the Dark" (1990)

While Springsteen has covered Dylan extensively since 1971, Dylan's reciprocal covers are rare. One instance was an infamous, unrehearsed, and sloppy rendition of "Dancing in the Dark" at Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut.

Double Bonus: "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" by the Traveling Wilburys (1988)

This song, co-written by Dylan and Tom Petty, prominently features references to Springsteen and his work, particularly his New Jersey roots. Petty explained that the references were intended as praise. While Springsteen hasn't performed it live, it remains a beloved song for fans, embodying a unique cross-pollination of artists.