If I Should Fall Behind

Album: Lucky Town (1992)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Springsteen wrote this as a love song to his second wife, Patti Scialfa, whom he married in 1991. He called it, "One of my best songs about the dedication to one another that comes with love."
  • "If I Should Fall Behind" is part of Springsteen's Lucky Town album, which he released in 1992 on the same day he released Human Touch. These albums were the first without the E Street Band, which got E Street Disbanded in 1989 so Springsteen could downsize. Many of the songs reflect his transition to family life; he had two of his three children with Patti by the time the albums were released.
  • This is one of just a handful of Springsteen's '90s songs that he often played after reuniting the E Street Band. It was a staple of their 1999 reunion tour, in an arrangement where Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, Clarence Clemons, and Patti Scialfa took turns singing.
  • Ten days after Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, Springsteen dedicated this song to him at a concert in Syracuse. Said Springsteen: "Back in '85, I used to say 'Nobody wins till everybody wins.' But that's not true. There's people out there winning but a lot of others are losing real big. The election is over and this is for Bill. Gotta wish him the best."
  • Dion DiMucci covered this on his 2000 album Deja Nu. Springsteen is a big Dion fan and contributed to the liner notes.
  • This was used as the B-side to Springsteen's 1993 "Streets Of Philadelphia" single.
  • "If I Should Fall Behind" got a lot of airplay after the 2001 terrorist attacks on America as radio stations added songs of compassion and togetherness to their playlists and removed songs with references to planes and fire.
  • Faith Hill cover this song on her 1999 album Breathe; Paul Carrack included it on his 2012 album Good Feeling.

Comments: 9

  • Phil from IndianaTry listening to Robin and Linda Williams version of this song. Very nice.
  • Dianne Battaglia from Big EasyFavorite love song and dedication to each other, thanks Bruce. Beautiful lyrics.
  • Molly from Perth WaPaul Carrack also does a great version of this song.
  • Jigs from New JerseyI've had the honor of performing this song at several weddings.
  • Brad from Austin, TxThe song was written by Bruce Springsteen. DION and the BELMONTS covered it.
  • Dr. Robert H. Moss from Brooklyn, NjThis song was ORIGINALLY done by DION and THE BELMONTS
  • Matthew from Milford, MaJust heard it on YouTube... simply fantastic... absolutely fantastic... True love simply can't come without dedication, and this song does a great job of capturing what dedication's all about.
  • Rick from ManchesterThe only version I've heard of this is the one on his Live In New York City album, and that one's fantastic.
  • Philippa from Rotterdam, Netherlands, United StatesThis song was used in a British tv serie called '2000 Acres of Sky'. When the main character died, his soulmate friend was singing 'If I should fall behind', with piano, in a cave, in his subconsious mind.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.