Cover Me (3:27)

“Cover Me” is an 1984 song, written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the second single released from his massively successful album Born in the U.S.A.

“Cover Me” was one of the first songs recorded for the lengthy set of sessions that produced the album, and in fact was recorded as a demo, as the song was to be given to disco queen Donna Summer. However, Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau heard the result and decided the combination of Springsteen’s rock impulse, fierce guitar solo, and a strong (if unsubtle) dance beat had hit potential, and so kept the song for the upcoming Springsteen album, not even bothering to re-record it. Donna Summer was given “Protection” instead. Springsteen even recorded a duet with Summer, but it was never released. Springsteen was still unsure about “Cover Me”, and Landau had to constantly argue to keep it included on the album.

The song peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in late summer 1984. It was the second of a record-tying seven Top 10 hit singles to be released from Born in the U.S.A.

No music video was made for the song.

Continuing the club play goal started with “Dancing in the Dark”, Arthur Baker created the 12-inch “Undercover Mix” of “Cover Me”. This was a large-scale transformation: a new bass line was cut, an unused backing vocal by industry legend Jocelyn Brown was restored, and reggae and dub elements were introduced. It was released on October 15, 1984.