Jon Stewart and Bruce Springsteen on the “Stand Up for Heroes” benefit.
Bruce Springsteen performed his first live versions of the Letter for You songs “House of a Thousand Guitars” and “I’ll See You in My Dreams” on the “Stand Up for Heroes” benefit webcast, Nov. 18. You can watch his performances, below.
Singing and playing acoustic guitars with Patti Scialfa in front of a bar at their Colts Neck property, he delivered a solemn, almost prayerful version of “House of a Thousand Guitars,” which features lines such as “wake and shake off your troubles, my friend/We’ll go where the music never ends/From the stadiums to the small town bars/We’ll light up the house of a thousand guitars.”
At the end of the hour-long show, he and Scialfa performed “I’ll See You in My Dreams” together in a more upbeat, rousing manner.
Springsteen also performed a solo acoustic version of “Long Walk Home.” And he joked around a little with Jon Stewart at the start of the show, after the two were shown driving together, with Springsteen on a motorcycle and Stewart in the sidecar.
The event, co-presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival, was intended to raise awareness and funds for the Woodruff Foundation, which assists veterans and military families. There was no charge to watch, but donations were encouraged.
Previous editions of “Stand Up for Heroes” have taken place in New York, and Springsteen and Stewart have been frequent participants.
“We’re so excited to be with you again this year,” said Stewart. “Obviously we don’t get to be in Madison Square Garden. No audience. It’s tough. You miss it?”
“We get to be in New Jersey,” Springsteen deadpanned.
“Say that with some enthusiasm!” said Stewart.
Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley and Mickey Guyton also performed one song apiece on the show: “Everything Is Broken,” “This Is Country Music” and “To Make You Feel My Love,” respectively. Other participants included Bob Woodruff, Tiffany Haddish, Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Prince Harry, Ray Romano, Iliza Shlesinger, Brian Regan, Jeannie Gaffigan (with a cameo by her husband, Jim Gaffigan) and football player Derrick Brown.
Springsteen performed at 12 of the 13 previous Stand Up for Heroes benefits, skipping only the 2017 event because it conflicted with his “Springsteen on Broadway” show.”
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