If I Should Fall Behind (song)

"If I Should Fall Behind"
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Lucky Town
B-side
Released1992
GenreRock
Length2:55
LabelColumbia
SongwriterBruce Springsteen
Producers
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"
(1992)
"If I Should Fall Behind"
(1992)
"Streets of Philadelphia"
(1994)

"If I Should Fall Behind" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen from his tenth album, Lucky Town (1992). It was released by Columbia Records as a single in Europe and Australia, in both 7" and CD format, and either as a single-sided or maxi single.[1]

The song is dedicated to Bruce Springsteen's second wife and bandmate Patti Scialfa; Springsteen himself considers it as one of his best songs about love.[2]

Reception

Despite not being a hit on the charts, "If I Should Fall Behind" is a fan-favorite and well-received. Rolling Stone ranks the song #41 among Springsteen's greatest songs, and describes it as "hushed and solemn as a hymn".[3]

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 196

Other releases

"If I Should Fall Behind" was released also as the B-side of Springsteen's hit single "Streets of Philadelphia";[5] live versions were released on the albums In Concert/MTV Plugged,[6] Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live in New York City[7] and even the live album with the Seeger Sessions Band Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin.[8] All three versions have music videos, and the song was also re-recorded for another music video with the same arrangement as the NYC live version, featuring Van Zandt, Scialfa and Clemons on vocals.[9] The song was also featured on the 2015 version of the compilation The Essential Bruce Springsteen.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Bruce Springsteen - If I Should Fall Behind". Discogs. May 18, 1992.
  2. ^ "If I Should Fall Behind by Bruce Springsteen". Songfacts.
  3. ^ Hiatt, Brian; Browne, David; Fricke, David; Dolan, Jon; Walsh, Thomas; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Doyle, Patrick; Greene, Andy; Hermes, Will; Sheffield, Rob (December 11, 2018). "100 Greatest Bruce Springsteen Songs". Rolling Stone.
  4. ^ "Bubbling Down Under: Week commencing 19 April 1993". Bubblingdownunder.com. April 19, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  5. ^ "If I Should Fall Behind by Bruce Springsteen - Track Info | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  6. ^ "Bruce Springsteen - In Concert/MTV Plugged Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  7. ^ "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen - Live in NYC Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  8. ^ "Bruce Springsteen, The Sessions Band - Live in Dublin Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. ^ "Bruce Springsteen - If I Should Fall Behind (Official HD Video)". 28 February 2014 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ "The Essential Bruce Springsteen [Deluxe] - Bruce Springsteen | Release Info". AllMusic.