One Step up - wikipedia One Step up `` One Step Up '' Single by Bruce Springsteen from the album Tunnel of Love B - side `` Roulette '' Released February 27, 1988 Format 7 '' single Recorded Between May and August 1987 Studio A&M Studios in Los Angeles Genre Rock Length 4 : 22 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Bruce Springsteen Producer ( s ) Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin Bruce Springsteen singles chronology `` Tunnel of Love '' ( 1987 ) `` One Step Up '' ( 1988 ) `` Tougher Than the Rest '' ( 1988 ) `` Tunnel of Love '' ( 1987 ) `` One Step Up '' ( 1988 ) `` Tougher Than the Rest '' ( 1988 ) `` One Step Up '' is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his eighth studio album, Tunnel of Love ( 1987 ). It was released as the third single from the album, following `` Brilliant Disguise '' and the title track. It reached position # 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and # 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. It also reached # 2 on the U.S. Album Rock Tracks chart, giving Springsteen three straight top two tracks from the album. The song was only released as a single in America. Contents 1 History 2 Music video 3 Live performances 4 Cover versions 5 References 6 External links History Unlike much of the Tunnel of Love album, `` One Step Up '' was not recorded in Springsteen 's home studio ( Thrill Hill East ). Rather, it was recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was recorded between May and August 1987. Springsteen plays all instruments, and future wife Patti Scialfa provided backing vocals. No other members of Springsteen 's usual backing group, the E Street Band, are present. Like several other songs on the album, the song reflects the impending breakup of the marriage between Springsteen and then - wife Julianne Phillips. The song 's lyrics are poetic, understated, emotional and eloquent. The song begins by describing a house with a broken furnace and a car that does n't start, which serve as metaphors for the couple 's relationship. Similar metaphors in the song are a bird that wo n't sing and church bells that wo n't ring for a new bride - to - be. Although the couple has been together for some time, they have n't learned from their experiences and continue to fight and slam doors. The lyrics refer to the couple 's relationship as their `` dirty little war. '' Finally, the singer finds himself at a bar wondering whether to hook up with another woman there, while remembering a dream he had the night before about dancing with his wife, with the dance poignantly echoing the song 's title ( one step up and two steps back ). The singer is self - aware enough to recognize his share of responsibility for the couple 's difficulties, as demonstrated in particular by the line : `` When I look at myself I do n't see / The man I wanted to be ''. Dave Marsh describes the song as being `` as miserable a cheating song as even Nashville ever knew. '' The music for the song has a bare arrangement, reflecting how personal the song is. It is a quiet ballad with a reassuring melody. The backing vocal provides a haunting echo to the Springsteen 's lead vocal. Although this is a song about a marriage breaking up, the backing vocals were sung by the woman became Springsteen 's wife, Patti Scialfa. Music video Like several other videos from the Tunnel of Love album, including `` Brilliant Disguise '', `` Tunnel of Love '' and `` Tougher Than the Rest '', the video for `` One Step Up '' was directed by Meiert Avis. The video intersperses scenes of Springsteen singing the song with images reflecting the song 's narrative. The video was later released on the VHS and DVD Video Anthology / 1978 - 88. Live performances Perhaps due to the personal nature of the song, it has rarely been performed live. The song was a staple on the 1988 Tunnel of Love Express Tour, however, it vanished from the setlists until Springsteen briefly revived the song for some performances on the 2005 Devils & Dust Tour. On May 6, 2014, the song was performed for the first time in 26 years with the E Street Band on their 2014 High Hopes Tour stop in Houston, Texas. Cover versions Cover versions of `` One Step Up '' have been recorded by Clive Gregson and Christine Collister, Kenny Chesney, Bad Radio, Martyn Joseph, The Seldom Scene, Paul Cebar and Eddie Vedder, among others. References ^ Jump up to : `` Bruce Springsteen Chart History ''. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 16. ^ Jump up to : Patrick Humphries ( 1996 ). Bruce Springsteen. p. 81. ISBN 0 - 7119 - 5304 - X. ^ Jump up to : `` Brucebase, On The Tracks : Tunnel of Love ''. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` Allmusic One Step Up ''. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 16. ^ Jump up to : June Skinner Sawyers ( 2006 ). Tougher Than the Rest 100 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs. pp. 117 -- 118. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8256 - 3470 - 3. Jump up ^ Dave Marsh ( 1996 ). Glory Days. p. xxvii. ISBN 1 - 56025 - 101 - 8. Jump up ^ `` Meiert Avis ''. imdb. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Internet Movie Database - Bruce Springsteen : Video Anthology 1978 - 1988 ''. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Bruce Springsteen Set List Page One Step Up ''. Archived from the original on 2008 - 09 - 05. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Allmusic Love is a Strange Hotel ''. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 16. External links Lyrics & Audio clips from Brucespringsteen.net Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Bruce Springsteen Garry Tallent Roy Bittan Max Weinberg Steven Van Zandt Nils Lofgren Patti Scialfa Jake Clemons Charles Giordano Soozie Tyrell Former members Ernest Carter Clarence Clemons Danny Federici Vini Lopez David Sancious Former touring musicians Everett Bradley Barry Danielian Clark Gayton Curtis King Suki Lahav Ed Manion The Miami Horns Cindy Mizelle Michelle Moore Tom Morello Curt Ramm Jay Weinberg Studio albums Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. ( 1973 ) The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle ( 1973 ) Born to Run ( 1975 ) Darkness on the Edge of Town ( 1978 ) The River ( 1980 ) Nebraska ( 1982 ) Born in the U.S.A. ( 1984 ) Tunnel of Love ( 1987 ) Human Touch ( 1992 ) Lucky Town ( 1992 ) The Ghost of Tom Joad ( 1995 ) The Rising ( 2002 ) Devils & Dust ( 2005 ) We Shall Overcome : The Seeger Sessions ( 2006 ) Magic ( 2007 ) Working on a Dream ( 2009 ) Wrecking Ball ( 2012 ) High Hopes ( 2014 ) Live albums & Bruce Springsteen Archives Live 1975 -- 85 ( 1986 ) In Concert / MTV Plugged ( 1993 ) Live in New York City ( 2001 ) Hammersmith Odeon London ' 75 ( 2006 ) Live in Dublin ( 2007 ) Live from the Carousel ( 2011 ) Apollo Theater 3 / 09 / 12 ( 2014 ) The Agora, Cleveland 1978 ( 2015 ) Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975 ( 2015 ) Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980 ( 2015 ) Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984 ( 2015 ) LA Sports Arena, California 1988 ( 2015 ) Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 ( 2015 ) Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome 2013 ( 2015 ) Arizona State University, Tempe 1980 ( 2015 ) The Christic Shows 1990 ( 2016 ) HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY, 11 / 22 / 09 ( 2016 ) Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO, 8 / 23 / 08 ( 2017 ) Olympiastadion, Helsinki, July 31, 2012 ( 2017 ) Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 10 / 20 / 09 ( 2017 ) Palace Theatre, Albany 1977 ( 2017 ) Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977 ( 2017 ) King 's Hall, Belfast March 19, 1996 ( 2017 ) The Summit, Houston, TX December 8, 1978 ( 2017 ) Compilations Greatest Hits ( 1995 ) 18 Tracks ( 1999 ) The Essential Bruce Springsteen ( 2003 ) Greatest Hits ( 2009 ) The Promise ( 2010 ) Collection : 1973 -- 2012 ( 2013 ) Chapter and Verse ( 2016 ) Box sets The Born in the U.S.A. 12 '' Single Collection ( 1985 ) Tracks ( 1998 ) The Collection ( 2004 ) Born to Run : 30th Anniversary Edition ( 2005 ) The Collection 1973 -- 1984 ( 2010 ) The Promise : The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story ( 2010 ) The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973 -- 1984 ( 2014 ) The Ties That Bind : The River Collection ( 2015 ) EPs Live Collection ( 1987 ) Chimes of Freedom ( 1988 ) Blood Brothers ( 1996 ) PBS Exclusive ( 2007 ) Magic Tour Highlights ( 2008 ) American Beauty ( 2014 ) Singles `` Blinded by the Light '' ( 1973 ) `` Spirit in the Night '' ( 1973 ) `` 4th of July, Asbury Park ( Sandy ) '' ( 1974 ) `` Born to Run '' ( 1975 ) `` Tenth Avenue Freeze - Out '' ( 1976 ) `` Prove It All Night '' ( 1978 ) `` Badlands '' ( 1978 ) `` The Promised Land '' ( 1978 ) `` Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight ) '' ( 1979 ) `` Hungry Heart '' ( 1980 ) `` Fade Away '' ( 1981 ) `` Sherry Darling '' ( 1981 ) `` The River '' ( 1981 ) `` Cadillac Ranch '' ( 1981 ) `` Point Blank '' ( 1981 ) `` Atlantic City '' ( 1982 ) `` Open All Night '' ( 1982 ) `` Dancing in the Dark '' ( 1984 ) `` Cover Me '' ( 1984 ) `` Born in the U.S.A. '' ( 1984 ) `` I 'm on Fire '' ( 1985 ) `` Glory Days '' ( 1985 ) `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' ( 1985 ) `` My Hometown '' ( 1985 ) `` Santa Claus Is Comin ' to Town '' ( 1985 ) `` War '' ( 1986 ) `` Fire '' ( 1987 ) `` Brilliant Disguise '' ( 1987 ) `` Tunnel of Love '' ( 1987 ) `` One Step Up '' ( 1988 ) `` Tougher Than the Rest '' ( 1988 ) `` Spare Parts '' ( 1988 ) `` Human Touch '' ( 1992 ) `` 57 Channels ( And Nothin ' On ) '' ( 1992 ) `` Better Days '' ( 1992 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' ( 1994 ) `` Secret Garden '' ( 1995 ) `` The Ghost of Tom Joad '' ( 1996 ) `` Sad Eyes '' ( 1999 ) `` The Rising '' ( 2002 ) `` Lonesome Day '' ( 2002 ) `` Waitin ' on a Sunny Day '' ( 2003 ) `` Devils & Dust '' ( 2005 ) `` All The Way Home '' ( 2005 ) `` Radio Nowhere '' ( 2007 ) `` Girls in Their Summer Clothes '' ( 2008 ) `` Working on a Dream '' ( 2008 ) `` My Lucky Day '' ( 2008 ) `` The Wrestler '' ( 2009 ) `` We Take Care of Our Own '' ( 2012 ) `` Death to My Hometown '' ( 2012 ) `` High Hopes '' ( 2013 ) `` Just Like Fire Would '' ( 2014 ) Charting songs `` Be True '' ( 1981 ) `` Ramrod '' ( 1981 ) `` Nebraska '' ( 1982 ) `` Johnny 99 '' ( 1982 ) `` No Surrender '' ( 1984 ) `` Stand on It '' ( 1985 ) `` Trapped '' ( live ) ( 1985 ) `` Because the Night '' ( live ) ( 1986 ) `` Chimes of Freedom '' ( live ) ( 1988 ) `` Youngstown '' ( 1995 ) `` American Skin ( 41 Shots ) '' ( 2001 ) `` Pay Me My Money Down '' ( 2006 ) `` Long Walk Home '' ( 2006 ) `` My City of Ruins '' ( 2011 ) `` Rocky Ground '' ( 2012 ) Other notable songs `` Growin ' Up '' ( 1973 ) `` For You '' ( 1973 ) `` Incident on 57th Street '' ( 1973 ) `` The Fever '' ( 1973 ) `` Thunder Road '' ( 1975 ) `` Night '' ( 1975 ) `` Backstreets '' ( 1975 ) `` She 's the One '' ( 1975 ) `` Meeting Across the River '' ( 1975 ) `` Jungleland '' ( 1975 ) `` Adam Raised a Cain '' ( 1978 ) `` Racing in the Street '' ( 1978 ) `` Darkness on the Edge of Town '' ( 1978 ) `` Stay '' ( 1979 ) `` The Ties That Bind '' ( 1980 ) `` Independence Day '' ( 1980 ) `` Out in the Street '' ( 1980 ) `` Stolen Car '' ( 1980 ) `` Wreck on the Highway '' ( 1980 ) `` Highway Patrolman '' ( 1982 ) `` Darlington County '' ( 1984 ) `` Working on the Highway '' ( 1984 ) `` Downbound Train '' ( 1984 ) `` Bobby Jean '' ( 1984 ) `` Pink Cadillac '' ( 1984 ) `` Jersey Girl '' ( 1986 ) `` Light of Day '' ( 1993 ) `` The New Timer '' ( 1995 ) `` Land of Hope and Dreams '' ( 2012 ) `` Hunter of Invisible Game '' ( 2014 ) Video releases Video Anthology / 1978 -- 88 ( 1989 ) In Concert / MTV Plugged ( 1992 ) Blood Brothers ( 1996 ) The Complete Video Anthology / 1978 -- 2000 ( 2001 ) Live in New York City ( 2001 ) Live in Barcelona ( 2003 ) VH1 Storytellers ( 2005 ) Wings For Wheels ( 2005 ) Hammersmith Odeon London ' 75 ( 2005 ) Live in Dublin ( 2007 ) Magic Tour Highlights ( 2008 ) London Calling : Live in Hyde Park ( 2010 ) The Promise : The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town ( 2010 ) Springsteen & I ( 2013 ) Born in the U.S.A. Live : London 2013 ( 2014 ) A MusiCares Tribute to Bruce Springsteen ( 2014 ) Bruce Springsteen 's High Hopes ( 2014 ) High Hopes in South Africa ( 2014 ) Hunter of Invisible Game ( 2014 ) Concerts Born to Run tours ( 1974 -- 77 ) Darkness Tour ( 1978 ) The River Tour ( 1980 -- 81 ) Born in the U.S.A. Tour ( 1984 -- 85 ) Tunnel of Love Express ( 1988 ) Human Rights Now ! ( 1988 ) Bruce Springsteen 1992 -- 1993 World Tour ( 1992 -- 93 ) Ghost of Tom Joad Tour ( 1995 -- 97 ) Reunion Tour ( 1999 -- 2000 ) Rising Tour ( 2002 -- 03 ) Vote for Change ( 2004 ) Devils & Dust Tour ( 2005 ) Seeger Sessions Band Tour ( 2006 ) Magic Tour ( 2007 -- 08 ) Working on a Dream Tour ( 2009 ) Wrecking Ball Tour ( 2012 - 13 ) High Hopes Tour ( 2014 ) The River Tour 2016 ( 2016 ) Summer ' 17 ( 2017 ) Springsteen on Broadway ( 2017 - 18 ) Related Discography E Street Band Steel Mill The Sessions Band The Miami Horns Born to Run autobiography E Street Radio Little Steven 's Underground Garage Outlaw Pete Mike Appel Jon Landau Brendan O'Brien Bob Clearmountain The Max Weinberg 7 Southside Johnny Joe Grushecky Badlands : A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen 's Nebraska Greetings from E Street Book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=One_Step_Up&oldid=839067157 '' Categories : 1987 songs 1988 singles Bruce Springsteen songs Songs written by Bruce Springsteen Music videos directed by Meiert Avis Song recordings produced by Jon Landau Rock ballads Columbia Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Hrvatski Italiano Edit links This page was last edited on 1 May 2018, at 01 : 42. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who sings one step up and two steps back
Answer: Bruce Springsteen