Ain't Got You

Album: Tunnel of Love (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Running just a little over two minutes, "Ain't Got You" has a 1950s Buddy Holly sound, with lots of echo and big vocal inflections. It's a fun song that balances out some of the heavier stuff on Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love album.
  • The song has a "money can't buy love" theme, a common one in the annals of rock. Springsteen sings from the perspective of a man with endless riches who doesn't have the one thing he wants: the girl.

    It's a lighthearted song, but is does have some personal meaning to Bruce, whose marriage to first wife Julianne Phillips was in trouble. They divorced in 1989 and he took up with Patti Scialfa, whom he married in 1991.

    Springsteen offered a bit of insight on the song when he introduced it at a 2005 show in Philadelphia. "When I'm approached out on the streets, I'm often asked the same question," he said. "I'm often asked, 'What is it like to be the Boss?' I have a standard bulls--t humble answer that I always give, it goes something like, 'It's no big deal, somebody's gotta do it, it's just like anything else.' Lies, lies, all lies. I don't want to lord it over anybody - I like to do that in private. But I did write about it once."
  • This is the opening track on Tunnel Of Love, an album Springsteen recorded by himself in his home studio. He played all the instruments on the track.

    The album was his follow-up to Born In The U.S.A. and his last one before breaking up the E Street Band in 1989 (he reunited them in 1999).

Comments: 4

  • John from Tucson, AzThe live version he did on the 1988 tour linking this song and She's The One together was awesome. Definitely one of Bruce's lost little gems.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThat sneaky Bruce, the first time I put the Tunnel Of Love cassette in my player and hit the 'Play' button I thought that the left channel of my stereo was suddenly defective, there was no sound coming from the left speaker. But 28 seconds into the song here came Bruce's harmonica. Of course I was greatly relieved!!!
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaRight On Pat...The excess of the 80's...
  • Pat from Las Vegas, NvSummary: money can't buy happiness, even if you're Bruce Springsteen. He knew it, too.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."