Johnny 99 - Live at Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, NJ - August 1985

This is about a man who loses his job at an auto plant, gets drunk, kills a store clerk, and is sentenced to 99 years in jail, earning him the nickname "Johnny 99."

At a New Jersey campaign stop in 1984, Ronald Reagan mentioned Springsteen's music as a symbol of American pride. Springsteen responded that Reagan was not actually listening to songs like this one about a laid-off worker who turns to murder.

Springsteen recorded this as a 4-track demo in his home. He put his vocals and guitar on the first two tracks, and used the remaining two for overdubs.