America, as seen through the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, has consistently incorporated political themes - this tendency intensifying with his advancing years.
Renowned singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, known for his voice as a balladeer of the working class, has frequently found himself weighing in on political matters. Most notably, he was a regular presence during Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
Recently, however, Springsteen's music and public statements have sparked pointed and contentious conversations. During a concert in Manchester, England, Springsteen disparaged U.S. President Donald Trump's politics, denouncing him as an "unfit president" leading a "rogue government" filled with individuals indifferent to the essence of American values.
Reflecting these sentiments in his music, Springsteen released a digital EP featuring the poignant words he had spoken at the concert, along with another track titled "No Surrender." Shortly after, Trump lashed back, labeling Springsteen as highly overrated and lacking in talent, claiming him to be a pushy and obnoxious individual.
Throughout his career, Springsteen's songs have incorporated social and political commentary. His musical idol, activist folk singer Woody Guthrie, famously adorned his guitar with the words "This machine kills fascists."
Below is a selection of Springsteen's lyrics that broach current events and the struggles of individuals ensnared in them.
'Born in the USA'
LYRIC: In the shadow of a penitentiary, by the fires of a refinery - I've been burning for ten years, with nowhere to run, nowhere to go.
YEAR/ALBUM: 1984, "Born in the USA"
BACKSTORY: Despite popular misconceptions, this song tells the tale of a Vietnam veteran who returns home to find no prospects and a dismal future. Inadvertently, the catchy chorus misled many into viewing it as a patriotic anthem instead of a bitter description of veterans' circumstances.
'My Hometown'
LYRIC: Now Main Street's surroundings are whitewashed, with vacant stores left unused - it seems no one wishes to visit there anymore.
YEAR/ALBUM: 1984, "Born in the USA"
BACKSTORY: As his fame grew, Springsteen began to touch upon themes of economic hardship. 'My Hometown' recounts a 35-year-old man's memories of riding proudly around his once-loved town with his father, only to lament the closure of the local textile mill and the dissolution of hope.
'American Skin (41 Shots)'
LYRIC: No mystery - you can be killed just for living in your American skin.
YEAR/ALBUM: 2001, "Live in New York City"
BACKSTORY: Written in response to the police killing of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant, this song echoed the division and captivation New York City experienced during the case. Its release alienated Springsteen from some of his fan base, including law enforcement officers.
'The Ghost of Tom Joad'
LYRIC: Shelters are lined up, eagerly awaiting the new world order – families rest uneasily in their vehicles in the southwest, without homes, jobs, or peace.
YEAR/ALBUM: 1995, "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
BACKSTORY: Drawing inspiration from John Steinbeck's classic novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," Springsteen portrays modern-day individuals on society's fringes, struggling to survive.
'The Line'
LYRIC: At night, they cross the levy in the dusty searchlight – we apprehended them and forced them back to the river below.
YEAR/ALBUM: 1995, "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
BACKSTORY: This poignant tale follows a lonely, widowed border patrol agent who falls for an undocumented immigrant he encounters. As a result, he confronts his hypocrisy and ultimately resigns, searching for the woman he met briefly. Its companion song, "Across the Border," offers a Mexican man's dream of America.
'The Rising'
LYRIC: I've lost track of how far I've come – how high I've climbed, with a sixty-pound stone on my back, and a half-mile line on my shoulder.
YEAR/ALBUM: 2002, "The Rising"
BACKSTORY: In the wake of 9/11, Springsteen celebrated the heroism of first responders in this song, discussing a firefighter who ascends the steps of the Twin Towers to save people, and presumably perishes in the process.
'Jack of All Trades'
LYRIC: The banker grows rich, while the working man grows thin – it's happened before, and it'll happen again.
YEAR/ALBUM: 2012, "Wrecking Ball"
BACKSTORY: A downhearted account of an underemployed American man struggling to find stable work post-economic crisis, this song highlights his growing sense of hopelessness and loss of dignity.
'Death to My Hometown'
LYRIC: Send the robber barons straight to hell, the greedy thieves who stole the land – they walk these streets free, unpunished now.
YEAR/ALBUM: 2012, "Wrecking Ball"
BACKSTORY: A confrontational protest song and rallying cry against greed, this track addresses the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and its damaging impacts on communities.
'Galveston Bay'
LYRIC: A Vietnam veteran sits before his television as the South fell and the communists advanced into Saigon – he and his friends watched as the refugees arrived, settling on their coastline.
YEAR/ALBUM: 1995, "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
BACKSTORY: This parable recounts a bitter encounter between a veteran in Galveston Bay and a Vietnamese shrimper, culminating in an unexpected outcome and faint hope.
'57 Channels (and Nothin' On)'
LYRIC: Having bought a .44 Magnum, I let it blast, until my television lay in pieces at my feet – and I was arrested for disturbing the peace.
YEAR/ALBUM: 1992, "Human Touch"
BACKSTORY: An expression of rage at the emptiness and hopelessness permeating the world due to the ceaseless feed of cable television, this song stands out as less political and more social.
'Livin' in the Future'
LYRIC: My ship Liberty sailed away, leaving me on a bloody red horizon – the groundskeeper opened the gates, and the wild dogs ran.
YEAR/ALBUM: 2007, "Magic"
BACKSTORY: A forecast of a dystopian future in post-9/11 America, this song, with its haunting melody reminiscent of Springsteen's early work, hints at the possibility for change.
Ted Anthony, The Associated Press' director of new storytelling and newsroom innovation, has chronicled American culture since 1990.
Ted Anthony, The Associated Press
- Bruce Springsteen's music, particularly 'My Hometown' and 'The Ghost of Tom Jod', reflect his concern about socio-economic issues, often addressing the struggles of working-class Americans.
- The controversial statement made by President Donald Trump about Bruce Springsteen stirred up the news realm, with Springsteen's anti-Trump sentiments in his music and public discourse becoming a hot topic in political discussions and entertainment news.
