Darlington County (4:44)

“Darlington County” is a 1984 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. It was released on the album Born in the U.S.A. and has remained a popular concert song for Springsteen and the E Street Band.

The version of the song that was released on the album was recorded in April or May of 1982 at the Power Station in one of the early Born in the U.S.A. recording sessions.

The actual Darlington County is in South Carolina.

Darlington County was played in every leg of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, it began with Springsteen’s solo on guitar and then getting Nils Lofgren to come up next to him and perform it with him; along with I’m Goin’ Down. The song did not emerge again until four days after the breakup with the Other Band, it was performed at Meadowlands Arena during this. During the Reunion Tour, the song came back frequently, given a warm welcome back.

However, after the Attacks of September 11, the song (whose lyrics mention the World Trade Center) was not played until the third leg of The Rising Tour. It was played throughout the remainder of the tour and the song reappeared on the Magic Tour. The song has been played about 260 times through 2008.