Crickets ( The ) - I fought the law

First performance: 20/06/1978

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 34 times 
 
1974-04-09 - RADIO STATION WBCN-FM, BOSTON
A brief chorus was first heard on an acoustic radio session Bruce did back in 1974-04-09 - Radio Station WBCN-FM, Boston 
 
  • Darkness on the edge of town Tour   
1978-06-20 - RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE, MORRISON, CO
1978-06-25 - PARAMOUNT NORTHWEST THEATRE, SEATTLE
1978-07-09 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA, SAN DIEGO
1978-07-28 - JAI ALAI FRONTON, MIAMI
1978-08-01 - GAILLARD MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, CHARLESTON, SC
1978-09-15 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY
1978-12-03 - SIU ARENA, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE, IL
1979-01-01 - RICHFIELD COLISEUM, RICHFIELD, OH
 
  • The River Tour  
1980-12-04 - BUFFALO MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, BUFFALO
1980-12-06 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA
1980-12-16 - BOSTON GARDEN, BOSTON
1980-12-18 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY
1981-01-24 - OTTAWA CIVIC CENTRE, OTTAWA
1981-01-26 - ATHLETIC & CONVOCATION CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, SOUTH BEND, IN
1981-02-02 - DANE COUNTY MEMORIAL COLISEUM, MADISON, WI
1981-02-04 - SIU ARENA, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE, IL
1981-02-05 - KEMPER ARENA, KANSAS CITY
1981-06-02 - WEMBLEY ARENA, LONDON, ENGLAND
1981-06-05 - WEMBLEY ARENA, LONDON, ENGLAND
1981-07-19 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA
1981-07-30 - RICHFIELD COLISEUM, RICHFIELD
1981-08-28 - LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL SPORTS ARENA, LA
1981-09-02 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA, SAN DIEGO
1981-09-10 - ROSEMONT HORIZON, ROSEMONT, IL
 
  • Born in the USA tour  
1984-10-31 - LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL SPORTS ARENA, LA
 
  • The Rising Tour 
Performed together with Don Henley, the song's only tour performance.
 
  • Magic Tour  
2008-08-21 - SOMMET CENTER, NASHVILLE
 
  • Working on a dream Tour   
2009-07-30 - ESTADIO MUNICIPAL DE FOIETES, BENIDORM, SPAIN
2009-11-03 - TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA, CHARLOTTE, NC
 
  • Wrecking Ball Tour   
Notably, Bruce used it at Dublin on 17 July 2012 to make a point about "the law" following the infamous plug-pulling incident at the previous show at Hyde Park in London. 
 
 
 
  • Summer Tour 2017  
 
  • Off-Tour   
2008-05-17 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK
In between leg 3 and 4 of the "Magic" tour,  Bruce joins Mike Ness onstage for four songs.  

 
 

Songinfo

"I fought the law was written in 1958 by Sonny Curtis, and recorded in 1959 when he joined the Crickets, taking the place of the late Buddy Holly on guitar. The song was on their 1960 LP, In Style with the Crickets, and the following year appeared as the b-side of their single, "A Sweet Love". The song never received any airplay.
 
  

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

I'm breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

I left my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
But she's the best girl I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

Robbin' people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

I miss my baby and the good fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won

I left my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
But she's the best girl I've ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won