a countdown from 60 by springsteen and bsn fan iain muir

8/2/2019 A countdown from 60 by Springsteen and BSN fan Iain Muir

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You put him in front of the piano and you realize how heartbreaking this song really is. But

alas, it gains intimacy. Absolutely outstanding song. Lyrically it is amazing. Its up there

with his best written songs. My heart breaks every time I listen to it and I think of the malecharacter in the song.

It sounds like its about a guy who is in love with a girl, and shes tried to kill herself. Andthat hell always be there for her. But, like a lot of his songs, it is open to interpretation.

55) Born In The USA

BORRRRRRRRRRRRN IN THE USAAAAAAAAAAA

Its 1985. You have reached the ultimate height of superstardom and this is the song (andalbum) thats got you there.

Im not going to bore you with all the Regan stuff because weve all heard it a million

times and it doesnt get any more interesting. Or the meaning of the song.

This is stadium rock at its best. From the opening where Max is bashing his snare like hehas a point to prove, Danny on the synths, Roy on keyboards, it has you fist pumping like

no tomorrow. Then throw in 40,000 odd people screaming at the top of their lungs and

youre getting the best possible experience for Born In The USA. Its not great lyrically,but what it is, is LOUD. This is the song you turn up if you want to piss off your neigbours

because it is that damn loud. The fact it is easy to sing along to, is probably why it is so

popular, and for the fact that a lot of Americans have probably misinterpreted the lyrics,

like Regan. Nonetheless though, it gets the crowd going. Obviously not my most favouriteof Bruce songs but its catchyness gets it in there.

Youre doing it now arent you.

BORN IN THE USA!

The crowd here is great. Italians going nuts, brilliant.

54) Youngstown

I pray the devil comes and takes me, To stand in the fiery furnaces of hell

My first choice from Nebraska.

When I first heard Youngstown on the Live In N.Y.C. DVD I did not like it. At all. I dont

know what it was, I think it was that it was a little too heavy for me at that stage and I wasstill pretty much into mainstream Bruce and was still delving into his catalogue yet to

discover his true potential.


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But the years wore on and I thought Id give it a go. Then it started to grow on me.

Basically its about a steelworker who works in Youngstown, Ohio.

And it revisits a common theme in Bruces song the division between the poor and

wealthy.

Once I made you rich enough, rich enough to forget my name

Bruce sounds really throaty when he sings this. Having said that though, I think he deliversa great vocal performance. We are treated to Danny, or Charlie, now, on the accordion.

And The Professor on keyboards. The highlight is obviously Nils solo. Probably his most

famous one. Its blistering. He is such an underrated guitarist it isnt funny. Max delivers

yet another more than convincing performance behind his drum kit too.

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53) Lonesome Day

Better ask questions before you shoot, deceit and betrayal's bitter fruit

Number 53 presents us with the most recent selection in terms of age of songs so far.

Straight out of the blocks, this one doesnt leave anyone left standing still. The opening

track off the 2002 album The Rising, is yet another foot tapper. It will have you screaming

YEAH! whether youre in the confides of your car or living room or at a concert. One to

really get the crowd going. I think its best place was second song into the set straight afterThe Rising.

I have read in a few different places that it was a little overplayed, which is probably a faircall considering it made 313 straight appearances in set lists stretching back from July 2002

to November 18, 2009, the third last show of the WOAD tour. Bruce must love it.

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52) Atlantic City

Everything dies, baby, that's a fact, but maybe everything that dies someday comes back

The original version, which appears on Nebraska, is of course an acoustic. Fast forward tothe Reunion Tour and we see a full band version, to which I prefer. The acoustic is okay,

but I think the band version owns this song. There is the Sessions Band version too, but I

am just not a fan of anything of that album (sorry).

Max with a commanding beat grabbing our full attention to open the song.

Snare/bass/snare/bass and so on. Then when we hit the chorus, the rest of the band comes


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in and we are in for a real treat. This song is meant to be angry and thats exactly what you

get.

Random fact: The Chicken Man mentioned in the first line was about a Mafia Boss who

was killed back in 1981 after a nail bomb exploded on his porch after he walked out there.

51)Devils Arcade

They said heroes are needed, so heroes get made

This is the first of four songs from Magic to appear on my list. And boy is it a ripper. The

swirling of Dannys organ draws us in then Soozies violin carries us further.

This is not a song that will have you smiling for joy by any means. However, it will make

you smile due to the sheer fact it is that damn great of a song. I cant really find any flaws

in it. Musically I find it to be very haunting; the notes on the organ are perfect. Combined

with the guitar, and violin, along with Maxs little flurries, it all fits so well together tocombine a song so good I am not sure why I have not polled it higher.

Sounds like a soldier who has gone to war and possibly died, or dying. What Devils

Arcade is exactly, remains unknown.

50) Seaside Bar Song

The radio man finally plays something you can move to

With song number 50 we see another addition from Tracks make its way onto my list.

I didnt know this even existed until a little over a year ago when I stumbled across it onYouTube after he played it in Philly.

Its catchy, it bops along, it gets you smiling. Its a song thats appropriate if youre drivingalong the coast, or if youre just chilling at the beach. Or if youre sitting outside on a

summers day. It works anywhere. Most importantly its fun. Got to love the addition of

horns too. The breakdown towards the end too is great with the drums.

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49) Because The Night

Love is a banquet upon which we feed

Personally, this song has seen inconsistent views with me. When I first heard it, I thought it

was okay, nothing special. It would sit in my playlist and not really garner many plays. I

think its because the only version I had was 75-85 version. And for me, I prefer Bruces

voice more as he got older.


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Then the Darkness Box Set came out and the original was on there. I listened to it the

whole way through and discovered it really is a great song. I know this completelycontradicts what I said about Bruces voice. I have just never been that big on his 75-85

voice, even though many think its when he sounded best.

I managed to find a bootleg version from the WOAD Tour and it achieves some plays here

and there.

Love the piano intro. You know what I am working my way to. Nils shines yet again. An

absolutely electric solo. There is a version floating around on YouTube where he spins

around eight times and then does a sommersault. While playing the solo. Such a talented

guitarist.

I am surprised Bruce gave this to Patti Smith to be honest. Another song that would have

been at home on Darkness.

48) Take Em As They Come

Little girl, gone are the days, faded away into a clear blue night

The only reason I know about this song is because I was downloading a bootleg from atorrent for some tracks I wanted better quality of and I thought Id give this a go anyway.

How this is on Tracks I do not know. It is a testament to how good his albums are if this

does not make it on. (And the fact that Tracks has four discs). For those playing at home, itdidnt make the cut on The River. And to add that theyre still better than most of the

garbage released today. Mind boggling. Only been played nine times live too. An

extremely rare gem.

Sounds like this guy is going to do whatever he can to protect his girl too.

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47) My Love Will Not Let You Down

I got a time bomb tickin deep inside of me, I wanna tell you what I wanna say

The first song that opens on the Live In N.Y.C. DVD. I must admit, I had not heard it untilI purchased it. But I know as soon as it started, I really liked it.

Max gets the beat rolling then everyone else is involved before you know it. This is intense.Its got a quick beat. The piano adds a nice element. Its a great show opener in my

opinion. It picks them up and takes them for a ride and has the heart beating and more

importantly, the fist pumping. Exactly what you want to start a show.


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The message is fairly straightforward and the lyrics arent really too complex. Yet another

song that should have been on The River but didnt make the cut. Speaks volumes.

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46) The Fuse

Your kiss and I'm alive

What is unique about this song is that Bruce uses a 12 string, and Max uses a drum

machine. Not something we hear often in Springsteen songs, and especially together. (I

think in the live version he uses a double kicker. I am not 100% sure on that though).

I think its one of the best tracks off The Rising. Severely underrated by a lot of Bruce fans

and it is played nowhere near enough. Its got that haunting feel about it too. The drums are

what do it for me in this song. Just something about that beat makes me want more. The

image I have when I listen to it, is a country town, on a very hot summers day.

Absolutely love the bridge on this track.

Tires on the highway hissin' something's coming

You can feel the wires in the tree tops hummin'Devil's on the horizon line

Your kiss and I'm alive

It feels almost climatic to an extent, it pulls up short though, which I think is what makes itgreat.

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45) The E-Street Shuffle

Everybody form a line!

Bruce Springsteen: "I wanted to invent a dance with no exact steps. It was just the dance

you did every day and every night to get by."

And thats how it started. The real E-Street is in Belmar, New Jersey. It is where former

piano player in the band, David Sancious mother lived.

The first song in the countdown to appear from the 1973 album, The Wild, The Innocent &

The E-Street Shuffle. Its a fun song; you can see Bruce, as well as the band enjoyperforming it. And its one I have a smile on my face when I listen to it. Just evokes a

whole heap of joy.


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Power Thirteen, what a name for a character in a song too. Very unique. E-Street Shuffle

involves heavy horn use too and the opening guitar work by Bruce is catchy as hell. Piano

work is phenomenal too. And lets not forget the Ye-ah, yeah, yeah!

What amazes me though is that this is on the end credits of the live in N.Y.C. DVD. I have

no idea why they would not include it. Puzzling to say the very least.

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44) Darkness On The Edge Of Town

Till some day they just cut it loose, cut it loose or let it drag 'em down

Firstly, Ill start by saying this is one Hell of an album. It might be dark, it might be angry,

but oh boy, this is one ripper of an album.

The song itself closes the album. Jon Landau has always said you need to start and finishthe album with strong songs. (Adam Raised A Cain opens Darkness).

The first time I remember hearing this was on the Live in Barcelona DVD. What impressed

me most about it was that massive note that Bruce holds towards the end. I thought it was

amazing. I remember counting how long it went for, I think it was 10 seconds.

Like most characters in Darkness, this guy is down in a real rut. Hes lost the love of his

life, however, by the third verse; it seems he does not care too much for that.

Bruce has stated this song is best performed live so the audience can generate its intensity.

I can see why.

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43) Bobby Jean

Good luck, goodbye, Bobby Jean

The second song to appear off B.I.T. USA.

Despite having a (somewhat) joyous sound, if you listen to the lyrics, they are kind of

depressing, not majorly, but a little. For those who dont know, this is about Stevie leavingthe band to pursue a solo career.

Bobby Jean is another of those songs that I dont hate nor love. It is in the rotation, but Idont play it consistently. Not to say it is a bad song though. I didnt discover it until quite

a few years after I got into Bruce. Which is strange considering BIT USA is his most

commercially popular album. Clarences solo is great.


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Springsteen: "A good song about youthful friendship."

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42) American Skin

Is it a gun, is it a knife, is it a wallet, this is your life

The story of 41 shots is pretty grim. It was written after NYPD officers shot a black mandead after they thought he was reaching for a gun after they asked him for I.D. Yeah, thats

pretty bad, but it gets worse. They proceeded to shoot him 41 times. The six officers were

cleared of murder.

Now, being the person Springteen is. He decided to write a song about it. It caused a lot of

backlash, and when he was playing at MSG during the Reunion Tour, they refused to

provide security in protest.

Its a fairly dark song. The lyrics are powerful and provocative, the music builds as the

song progresses and Bruce pulls out a great solo while wielding that famous ButterscotchTelecaster.

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41) Working On A Dream

The sun rises up, I climb the ladder, A new day breaks and Im working on a dream

The album which inspired the most recent tour. As for the song itself, its got that pop

sound, that in turn making it catchy.

Ive mentioned simple earlier in the countdown, and Ill do it again. There is nothing fancy

about, it is just straightforward. No fancy tricks here, just sounds like simple pop music.And Im pretty sure its the only song to have a whistling solo!

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40) Shes The One

But if she wants to break you, she's gonna find out that ain't so easy to do

And so we have hit number 40, another track from Born To Run. In my opinion, Max and

Roy really drive this. The drum beat is so commanding, it reminds me of Backstreets. It isfurious, its thumping and its fast. Boom, boom, boom, boom-boom. The floor toms really

get a work out. If you notice in the clip I paste, during the first verse, there is a towel over

the floor tom, to give it a more a of a heartbeat sound.


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Roys work on the piano is nothing short of brilliant either. Its fast and it helps drives the

song with Maxs beat. The two combine so well, which is ultimately thanks to Bruce. But

you have to give credit to Max and Roy. Then there is that ripping solo from the Big Manabout 3/4s of the way through, again a ripper. You can hear that hes really going for it.

And just to finish it off, Bruce decides to rip out the harmonica. Theres a lot going on inShes The One. And all of it is great.

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39) Youll Be Comin Down

Easy street, a quick buck and true lies

Probably a bit of curve ball with this entry. As far as I know, Bruce has only played it once

live. Im not quite sure why this is the case. Maybe it didnt work well live, who knows?

Having said that though, I do have the live version that they played and it sounds fine tome. I couldnt pick out a fault with it; I thought it worked quite well.

Its one of those songs that just takes a back seat on Magic. You know its there, but it

never rears its head. It just sits back and enjoys the ride. Again, its not overly complex and

we get treated to a solo from Clarence.

Various things I have read about this song differ. Some say its about Bush, others say a

girl. All I know is that when I listen to it, it makes me feel happy. Its got that cheery vibe

about it.

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38) Dancing In The Dark

Stay on the streets of this town, and they'll be carving you up alright

This is weird for me. Its weird I have it so low considering its the song that got me in to

Bruce, but at the same time, there probably other songs below this that I like more than it. Iguess I will have to settle with it here.

The song that really shot Bruce to superstardom in the 80s. Also gave Courtney Cox herbig break. Whats interesting about Dancing In The Dark is that, when played live, it

sounds nothing like the original. The original has 80s written all over it. But when you hear

it live, its got a more rockier feel, you dont hear the keyboards/synths as much. Maxssnare is not as pronounced and the guitars are more prominent.

As for the song itself, its received a few plaudits. It was Bruces firs song to receive

regular play time on MTV, it also won him his first Grammy. And I am pretty sure it was


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played at every show during the WOAD tour. Also played at every show during the BIT

USA tour. Definitely a set list staple and you would expect nothing less for the biggest

song off BIT USA.

The lyrics may be lost in the music, but that just means youll have more fun.

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And Bruces sister is hot.

37) Candys Room

But to get to Candys Room, you got to walk the darkness of Candys hall

Another song from Darkness. Strangely enough, I only really started loving this when they

started releasing little snippets from the box set. I remember seeing the Paramount Theatre

performance, turning my volume all the way up and listening to it on repeat.

Something about it grabbed my attention and didnt let it go. Its a furious song. Its fastpaced. Its unrelenting. Its intense. Three minutes of pure explosiveness. Three minutes of

dynamite. The drum beat is fast and in turn Max really drives this song forward. Roy

bashes away at his piano energetically. Bruces guitar solo is kickass.

The lyrics are kind of perverted. Then again it is about meeting up with a hooker.

Not much else to be said, really.

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And when you can generate that much intensity/passion, in front of an empty room, you

know youre doing something right.

36) No Surrender

We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school

That line is definitely one of my favourite Springsteen lines. From the way it is sung, to its

simplicity.

Basically its about the inspiration rock music can provide. It also later became a

representation of his friendship with the E-Street Band.

Doesnt get enough plays at Bruce concerts really. A real hidden gem from BITUSA. Was

the last song to make the album too, thanks to Stevie.

Dont give up, and follow your dreams, this is what this song is all about to me.


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Couldn't decide which version to put, so I went with these three :D

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35)Dont Look Back

So put your foot to the floor and darling don't look back

Im kind of funny when I listen to songs. Some songs I will only listen to when the suns

out, others only when its raining. But with Dont Look Back, its one of those songs forme, which I can listen to at any time.

Its another song in the countdown to appear off Tracks, and another song which didnt

make the cut on The River.

I was introduced to it on the Live In NYC album. Disc 2 never really got much attentionfrom me until I bought Live in Barcelona, ironically. I thought Id give it a go. This was

one of the songs that grabbed my attention.

Sounds like a love song to me, whatever happens, the male and female character wont

regret their decisions.

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34) Spirit In The Night

I think I really dug her 'cause I was too loose to fake

The funny thing about Spirit In The Night is that I dont really like the full band version. Iwill probably get slated for it, but I just feel there is too much going on. Maybe I dont like

the beat, I dont know. However.

The solo version of Spirit from Bruce in Barcelona, is awesome. The melody sits betterwith me, and the whole tempo of the song just flows better in my opinion. And you would

think with just the piano, it would seem more intimate and take the fun away from the

song. But no, the fun remains front row, center.

You feel compelled to sing because of the Spanish crowd (bless those Europeans), and it

adds to the fun of the performance. For a song that is solely on the piano, it just doesnt feellike it because of the crowd. They get involved and make you feel like youre there with

them.

What is also unique about Spirit is the large list of characters


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- Crazy Janey

- Wild Billy

- G-Man- Hazy Davy

- Killer Joe

Wild Billy may well be Bruce, with Crazy Janey being a love interest when he was

younger.

And we danced all night to a soul fairy band

and she kissed me just right like only a lonely angel can

---

Me and Crazy Janey was makin' love in the dirt singin' our birthday songs

Love his head movements when he hits those opening chords.

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33) Meeting Across The River

Here, stuff this in your pocket, itll look like youre carrying a friend.

If there ever was a song to precede Jungleland, this is perfect.

Im pretty sure I heard this the same day I discovered Jungleland, which I think was March

2008. I could be wrong though. I was sitting on YouTube cycling through Bruce clips and I

stumbled across the Passaic version of this song.

I thought it was amazing. The song screams desperation. The protagonist is really down on

luck. Hes in big strife, with what would seem to be somebody in the mob.

It is a very haunting track. Bruce is only accompanied by a piano and a trumpet, but thats

all he needs and he makes it work. The trumpet adds that element of something different,

and I think it really helps the song. For some reason, when I hear the trumpet, I think of the60s night scene.

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32) Your Own Worst Enemy

Your own worst enemy has come to town

Another curve ball, and another song from Magic. A really underrated song in Bruces

catalogue. I dont really remember much about upon the first few listens with Magic, but I


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think some point through last year, I started listening to it on my playlist. And it really

grew on me.

The violin adds a great element. None of the instruments are too overpowering either,

Bruce sounds like he is kind of crooning (I think), and the song sounds like it is sung in a

key. It also sounds a tad churchy, but in a good way.

Apparently the song is about Bush. But listening to the lines

Theres a face you know

Staring back in the shop window

The condition youre in

You just cant get out of this skin

you could kind of get the impression that Bruce is singing about someone being their own

worst enemy.

A song that is not played nearly enough, which is a real shame considering its quality. The

violin adds a great element. None of the instruments are too overpowering either

Definitely one of the best songs off Magic.

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31) The Promised Land

Blow away, the dreams that tear you apart

And another song from Darkness chimes in to say hello. When I got the Barcelona DVD,

this was one of the songs I skipped (shameful looking back on it I know). Then the Hyde

Park DVD came out and I gave it a shot. How wrong I was to have skipped it whenver Iwould watch the Barcelona DVD.

Its got that same, broken dream theme that most of the songs on Darkness have in

common. Typical blue collar guy going absolutely nowhere in life but he dreams of a betterlife The Promised Land.

Working all day in my daddy's garage

Driving all night chasing some mirage

Pretty soon, little girl, I'm gonna take charge

It sounds happy, but you can hear the despair in the lyrics. Props to Bruce for the use of

harmonica in this too. The intro is great, not Thunder Road great, but it adds something

different to a generally depressing album. And you cant forget the Blow away part when


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its done live. It is spine tingling and at the same time, somewhat breaking. Clarences solo

tries to lift you up, but at the same time it reminds you that youre not going to get all the

way up with its melody/tone.

The last verse sums it up, if he could have anything, it will be that better life he dreams

about.

Well the dogs on Main Street howl, cause they understand

If I could take one moment into my handsMister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man

And I believe in a promised land

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30) Loose Ends

Well how could something so bad, darling, come from something that was so good

To be honest, I have never listened to Tracks in its entirety, I have only previewed it onAmazon, once, and this track never stood out when I listened to it. So I never really went

out of my way to listen to it again. Then one day I was sitting on YouTube and this was in

related videos. It was a version from the Reunion Tour. As soon as I heard Max poundingon his drums in the intro, I was hooked. I ripped it off YouTube straight away and listened

to it several times that day.

I dont know what else to say about it really. To sum the song up, its a relationship gonewrong. Again, like a lot of things off Tracks, it doesnt get played too often. Big shame, its

a ripper track.

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29) Human Touch

We're all riders on this train

For all the great things Bruce has brought us, you cant really name too many positivereasons for breaking up the ESB. However, it didnt completely back fire.

And thats what leads us to entry 29, Human Touch.

From the 1992 album of the same name, it is probably the best song he wrote when he went

solo (Joad fans will be cursing, but live with it).

This song really sets the stage alight when its done live. Bruce and Patti play it like a duet,

sort of. Bruce of course commanding the stage as always, but Patti is just a little to his left.

You can really see the chemistry between them when they hit the bridge and again toward


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the end of the song when they are sharing Bruces mic. Whats even better is how well this

works with the ESB.

My favourite part of Human Touch is probably the outro. The band is rocking in full force

and Bruce is wielding that Telecaster like a chainsaw, its brilliant.

In regards to the video clip, here is a funny story about it from another site;

So then a few years pass, and Meiert hired me to shoot a band called the Rituals and were

shooting all the view on materials, its always like rituals like ancient African rituals, and

were shooting in this cave and we got this moving camera. Theres lightning-strikesmachine, and were shooting weddings and all first strange ritualistic behavior. And then

when shoot material with this girl in like a 30s or 40s apartment. Well, were shooting the

girl and theres lightning flashing, and they told me were going to New Orleans, andtheres going to a street car and a spark when it goes over the joint. And so Im playing

with that in this shoot as well, and there are interior lights coming through the windows.

In between takes, I look, and Springsteen comes walking into the studio. So I go, Oh,

f*ck. What the f*ck is he doing here? Im thinkin hes probably coming out to a meetingwith Meiert to talk about either whats he going to be doing in the future, or look at some

video Meiert made for him. So I just keep my eye here on the camera, thinking Ill just stay

with the camera and hell leave eventually. I wont to have to deal with this guy. Im notgoing to talk to him. So were shooting another take and as we finished the take, I get

tapped on the shoulder by Springsteen, and he goes, Daniel, the circle becomes complete.

He says, You were right on how you wanted to light me. I was wrong. This [video you are

on right now] is my song. Were shooting here now, and this is the only way we could getyou to do it. I want to apologize because you were right. And that turned out to be the

video for Human Touch, which I think, is a great video in a lot of ways.

You can see the full background story here:http://goldenageofmusicvideo.com/?p=436

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28) Wrecking Ball

And all our little victories and glories, have turned into parking lotsIf Wrecking Ball is anything to go by, we are in for one Hell of an album if the rumours are

true about a new album being in the works.

This shows he hasnt lost it. This song is amazing. I cant express my love for it enough. It

really is a brilliant I have absolutely no affiliation with New Jersey, or the Giants Stadium

at all and this brings tears to my eyes at times.

The song starts with just Bruce quickly strumming his guitar, in front of a sold out Giants

Stadium. The lyrics are awesome, gives you a real feeling of nostalgia, and you can hear
http://goldenageofmusicvideo.com/?p=436http://goldenageofmusicvideo.com/?p=436


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the passion in Bruces voice as the tempo slowly builds. Max comes in, and eventually the

full band is introduced. Curt Ramm delivers a fine performance on the trumpet, and it adds

something different to this song. It really has you moving during the chorus.

Bruce has always been good at writing lyrics that supply the listener with great imagery, I

mean,

Now my home was here in the Meadowlands, where mosquitoes grow big as airplanes

Here where the blood is spilled, the arena's filled, and Giants play the game

You can imagine the players giving it the all for their team, putting their lives on the line

and doing whatever they can to get the win for their side.

And then there are these three lines;

And your game has been decided, and you're burning the clock down

And all our little victories and glories, have turned into parking lotsWhen your best hopes and desires, are scattered through the wind

I have this image in my head of an American Football team keeping the ball because the

score is close and they want to desperately win, people cheering like crazy when the final

whistle is blown and celebrating like no tomorrow. Then youve got that final line, whichsignifies the end. The stadium is gone, its reduced to dirt.

Fucking brilliant song.

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27) Adam Raised A Cain

You're born into this life paying for the sins of somebody else's past

I think I started it earlier, but I was never really a fan of 80s Bruces voice. Not sure why, I

have always liked it from the Reunion Tour onwards. The drum mix from the Live 75-85

CDs seems too out there for me and I generally dont like any of the versions of songs from

that album, which is why I never really got into Adam Raised A Cain.

But as we all know, in November last year the Darkness Box Set was released and on that

came, in what my opinion is the best thing on the discs, the Paramount Theatreperformance. And on that of course, is Darkness played in its entirety.

So that gave me another chance to form an opinion on Adam Raised A Cain. The songopens with Bruce raging war against his guitar. The sound is raw and powerful, really

shows no mercy to anyone. The bassline is absolutely kickass. It really carries the song

from start to finish. Garry Talent does an amazing job, and is not praised often enough. I

dont think hes actually written a more angry song. That guitar solo is really something


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else. You can hear him raging through each note, leaving everyone for dead in his path and

not letting up.

Hard to believe you can generate this much passion - when youre playing in front of

nobody.

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The solo in this clip is the best solo I have seen him play.

27) Radio Nowhere

I want a thousand guitars, I want pounding drums

IS THERE ANYBODY ALIVE OUT THERE?

The question asked at the start of pretty much every Magic show, before Bruce and theband would power into Radio Nowhere like no tomorrow.

Its loud, its powerful. The opening intro is a killer, its unrelenting, leaving nobody tospare. A great song to tap your foot to. One of those songs that is even better when its full

blast. When Bruce released this earlier before Magic came out, I was rapt at how good the

song was. I knew we were in for a great album if the songs were going to stay at this level.

Personally, the song for me really pumps me up. I used to listen to it when I went on runs,

itd really spurn me on.

Heres a quote from Bruce about the song: "It's an end-of-the-world scenario - he's seeing

the apocalypse. All communications are down. That's my business, that's what it's all about

- trying to connect to you. It comes down to trying to make people happy, feel less lonely,but also being a conduit for a dialogue about the events of the day, the issues that impact

people's lives, personal and social and political and religious. That's how I always saw the

job of our band."

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26) Night

Hell all day they're busting you up on the outside

This is brutal from the get go. Its in your face from the start, begging to be played at full

blast while you play air drums or tap your feet to it. Then theres the air guitar bit during

the intro too.


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I never really liked Night on the Barcelona DVD, Im not sure why, it just never grabbed

me. As for Live in Hyde Park though, wow! I was hooked and reeled in to a front row,

centre seat when I heard it for the first time. It really grabbed my attention and shook meinternally. It made me want to play it again, and even louder than the first time.

I was really obsessed with it back in April. Id just play it over and over. The drum beat isfast, and merciless. You cant help but love Clarences sax through Night either.

Would have to be one of the most intense songs when Bruce plays it live too, theres noletting up!

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25) Secret Garden

She'll look at you and smile

I remember back in 2006 I was watching Cold Case with my mum and this song was at the

end of the episode. I fell instantly in love with it.

To this day, it is still one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Everything is just

so soft throughout the song, nothing is in your face. Everything sits on the same level andyou cant help but just soak it all in. The melody from Roys piano is perfect, Maxs work

on his kit with the brushes add a nice, subtle beat. The notes on the keyboard are repetitive

but not boring. Bruces vocal work is perfect, the backing vocals from just enhance

Bruces. Clarences solo is probably his most beautiful solo. Its beyond beautiful. Thatsolo can bring tears to my eyes at times. Absolutely amazing.

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24) Tenth Avenue Freeze Out

Tear drops on the city

The fourth song to appear from BToR. The story of how Bruce met Clarence on that day

back in the 70s in Jersey while playing at the Stone Pony

Bruce of course being Scooter and Clarence The Big Man

When the change was made uptown

And the Big Man joined the band

When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half

With a Tenth Avenue freeze-out, Tenth Avenue freeze-out


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What a Tenth Avenue Freeze Out exactly remains to be seen, but this is one catchy track..

You just cant help but get up and dance.

Theres a lot of different versions of 10th Avenue. My favourite used to be the Reunion

Tour version, but then I heard normal versions from the WOAD Tour, and thanks to the

Jungleland site. I found an acoustic version, which is my favourite of the song.

And this is how you own a stage!

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Its so much more intimate, I LOVE it.

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23) Drive All Night

I get shivers down my spine girl and all I wanna do is hold you tight

Another rare addition from The River.

A near 10 minute ballad when performed live. Clarences sax solo takes us to a great heightlike most of his solos do.

Its sung with great emotion, you can really feel that the character would drive all night for

his girl. Remember, this was written before computers and everything we find soconvenient was around today.

I swear Ill drive all night just to buy you some shoes

The character Bruce has written about really loves his girl. Hed do anything for her, the

line above tells us so. This is true love at its finest.

Ill let the music do the rest of the talking

Love the bit at the very end. I wont spoil it!

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22) Its Hard To Be A Saint In The City

I was the king of the alley, mama I could talk some trash

Oh my God. The power of Saint is unreal. Its very fast paced, doesnt really let you catch

your breath, its not very long either and before you know it, its finished.


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You know when a sang makes a Marlon Brando reference, you know its going to be good,

and Saint definitely delivers. The lyrics are like something out of a rap song but with good

music.

A lot of Greetings was written with a rhyming dictionary, and you can tell during this song

especially.

I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra

I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernovaI could walk like Brando right into the sun

Then dance just like a Casanova

With my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet

Silver star studs on my duds like a Harley in heatWhen I strut down the street I could hear its heartbeat

Brilliant writing considering how young Bruce was too when he wrote this. Then there is

the musical side of it, that guitar duel with Steve is nothing short of shit hot. Love Maxswork on the cymbals during the bridge too.

Absolutely blistering performance, again from Philly

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21) Girls In Their Summer Clothes

She went away, she cut me like a knife

Probably the best song to come off the Magic album. Its got that happy feel about it, puts a

smile on your face when it comes on and you feel better after listening to it. A good songtoo when youre driving down a highway too, sunnies on, and the wind rushing through

your hair.

Again Bruce does well with imagery throughout the song. The start of the song sounds like

an outsider looking in, during a summer evening, everyone is happy, really enjoying

themselves. As the song progresses, we reach the line

She went away

She cut me like a knife

Hello beautiful thingMaybe you could save my life

Sounds like the character in the song has lbeen dumped by his long time partner, but hasfound a new girl which has given him a new lease on life.

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22/38

20) Thunder Road

Roll down the window, and let the wind blow back your hair

As soon as you start playing Born To Run you are greeted with that lovely harmonica intro.

The sound of youth, the sound of freedom, the sound of. Brilliance.

And then youre treated to the spectacle that is Thunder Road. Considered by many Bruce

fans as his greatest song, and you cant really argue much why it wouldnt be (ironic Iknow it being at number 19), but it is really an amazing song.

I first remember hearing it on the Barcelona DVD (it closes that concert), it grabbed me

straight away. Everything about it was great, I really couldnt fault it. Then over the years itgrew more and more on me and I cant help but wonder how does someone at the age of 24

come up with something like this? Many artists of today would be honoured to have

written anything half as good, but to Bruce, its just another amazing song in a long list of

songs that have lyrics that only a few could match.

The lyrics, the music, the Roy Orbison reference, the live versions where the crowd singthe end of the first verse, the piano to carry it along, the sax solo. Where does Thunder

Road fail to deliver? It doesnt. I feel terrible having it so low, but its just personal taste

and I just happen to like other songs more. Not taking away anything from Thunder Road,it is the perfect song to open or end an encore.

Thunder Road, ladies and gentlemen, is Bruce Springsteen near his absolute best.

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19) Badlands

It aint no sin to be glad youre alive

Two album openers following each other. This time, its Badlands, the song that opens

Darkness On The Edge Of Town

Its in your face from the word go. Max bashing away with his bass drum and on his snare,Roy serving up his usual great work on the piano. Then Bruce comes in

And its 6 minutes of music that will leave you full of energy, only wanting more. This isanother one of those songs you pump your fist to like youre a teenager at a club, and then

shout the lyrics at the top of your lungs without a care in the world. This is what Badlands

is. Its a stadium rocker, its an anthem to Bruce fans, its a staple on setlists, its a showopener, its a first set closer, it can be in the middle of the set, it can be in the encore, it can

be anywhere and youre let loose like no tomorrow.


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That guitar solo is kick ass, you can hear Bruce is really torturing the guitar, but in a good

way. Clarences solo drives the song forward even more, the pounding of Maxs drum

forces you to tap your foot. The woah-oh-oh-oh bit. If this song doesnt get you pumpedup, nothing ever will.

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18) The Rising

A dream of life comes to me, like a catfish dancin' on the end of the line

The song I criminally forgot. I dont know how, but luckily I realized.

The only positive thing to come out of 9/11 was The Rising. Had that not happened, we

probably wouldnt have been treated to arguably Bruces finest album of recent times.

I remember when this CD was released my uncle gave it to my dad, and my dad absolutelyraved about it. He kept pestering me to listen to it, and I brushed it off because he said that

about a lot of other CDs which I never liked, so I didnt see why I should view this oneany differently. Anyway, from memory, I gave in one day because I was bored and I

whacked it in my CD player in my room. I was 14 at the time, then the love for Bruce

really started growing. I would listen to the album on repeat because I couldnt get enoughof it.

Then the Barcelona DVD came out and this was the opening track for the majority of The

Rising Tour shows. The violin gives us something different to start off the song. Lyrically,it sounds like a firefighter responding to the events of 9/11. The song is intense and

powerful, you cant help but picture the character in the song.

Heres the Barcelona version

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17) Downbound Train

I dropped to my knees, I hung my head and cried

Entry 17 may come as a bit of a surprise. It never really receives that much recognition off

BIT USA, but my word, it is a crackerjack of a song.

Let me just say, that intro for Downbound Train is awesome. I cant describe how much I

like it. The unique thing about Downbound Train is that it doesnt have a bridge. Sure themusic disappears, but the tempo remains the same. The song doesnt really follow any sort

of structure, well to me anyway. Its pretty much five verses with three of them mentioning

the title at the end of them.


24/38

Downbound Train is about a guy who is in a really terrible place. Lost his job, lost his girl

and it just seems nothing is going for him. You can hear the anguish in Bruces voice when

he performs this, its heartbreaking. And as I said, that opening riff is awesome!

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16) Land of Hope and Dreams

Big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams

The new song released on the NYC DVD. What a spectacle it is. Nearly 10 minutes ofBruce and The E-Street Band at their cohesive best.

Its a song that doesnt get played enough in my opinion. Really should see more of a

regular slot in the encore as opposed to the likes of Hungry Heart and stuff. That riff Bruceplays during the intro is great, Steves work on the banjo is something different, Clarence

has a solo, but when this song reaches its climax musically is Maxs solo towards the end.Its about 30 seconds of him showcasing his talent, or rather what Bruce has written, but

nonetheless its great. You cant help but drum away to yourself and pretend youre Mighty

Max and you are driving the beat of this magnificent song.

This is about leaving all the bad behind and getting to enjoy the good parts of life.

Forgetting about the negatives, and going to a place that is full of positives.

So, Ill see you all, in the Land Of Hope and Dreams.

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15) Roll Of The Dice

Im a thief in the house of love and I cant be trusted

Cuuurrrrrrvvvvvvvveeeeeeee baaaaallllllllll!

A lot of you are probably wondering why this is so high. Listen to it, and youll see why. It

is really a great song that receives nowhere near the recognition it deserves. The piano

work is top notch, Max shows no remorse on his drum kit, and the outro, where Clarencesshines really takes the song to a whole new level. The trade offs between Steve and Bruce

are also a highlight. If youre ever feeling down, whack this on, and I guarantee you, five

seconds in, youll have a smile from ear to ear that nobody will be able to wipe off yourface. Nobody.


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As mentioned some time ago, not many positives were brought about when Bruce broke up

the ESB and formed a new band to record new music. Again, this is an exception to that,

just like Human Touch.

Plenty of gambling references about throwing sixes and nines, rolling snake eyes and we

cant forget the title of the song. Lady luck gets a mention too.

The music was actually written by Roy, and it was the first song Springsteen had not

written by himself.

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14) Racing In The Street

She just sits on the porch of her daddys house where all her pretty dreams have been torn

Darkness is by no means a joyous album, and Racing In The Street shows this. A 7 minuteballad, and nearly 10 minutes when its done live, comes in at number 14.

The song sounds heartbreaking. You can hear the pain in Bruces voice, the depressive

manner in which the piano chords were written, but it only adds to the song. The

Professors piano work throughout the entire song is amazing. It is definitely up there withthe best work hes ever done with the ESB, or possibly the best. So delicate, yet played to

perfection, and you really would expect no less. What he plays in the outro is nothing short

of brilliant. Masterful flurries just one after the other, it blows your mind, especially when

you see how he does it. Its just amazing to watch.

Danny Federecis work on the organ cant go unnoticed either, just after the end of the final

verse, then Max chimes in. Eventually, the whole band is jamming and you see theirexperience show. Everyone shines, it really is masterful writing by Bruce. But the outro on

Racing is nothing short of spectacular.

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13) New York City Serenade

Hey vibes man, hey jazz man, play me your serenade

Unlucky 13 sees the first entry from The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle, since

entry 45 brought us The E-Street Shuffle.

A 10 minute+ epic that honestly doesnt get enough plays. I only discovered this song a

few years ago, but when I found it, I immediately loved it.

The long piano intro that teases you, but captivates you the longer it goes on, a rarity with

Bruce on acoustic guitar and for 10 minutes he gives us his all and controls that stage like

water off a ducks back. The song sort of has a bit of a jazz influence to it as well. The lyrics


26/38

are amazing, we are introduced to characters such as Billy, Diamond Jackie and the Fish

Lady. A lot of references to Manhattan too, I could imagine walking the streets of NYC

one night and listening to this, I think it would be a pretty amazing feeling.

Whats even more amazing he was 23 when he wrote this. Brilliant.

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12) Born To Run

The highways jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive

One, two!

Your hear is racing, you are filled with euphoria, your fist is already pumping in

excitement, youre jumping up and down like an uncontrollable maniac, youve got a smile

from ear to ear then nobody will wipe off your face and thats because Bruce has justlaunched into BToR with the band.

From that opening drum roll, followed by the bending of those notes on Bruce and Steves

Fenders, you know youre in for an amazing song. The hit that shot Bruce to fame, one of

the greatest albums of all time. Everything affiliated with Born To Run is phenomenal.

The music, the lyrics, the excitement it generates, the images, the fun, the liberation, the

sax solo, the anthem-like nature of it, the moments it leaves you breathless because of how

amazing it is, the woah-oh-oh-ohs you sing at the top of your lungs no matter where youare because you just dont give a damn when this is on. Born To Run has it all. If youre

going to have a song that everybody is going to remember you by, Born To Run is the song

to have.

Dont ask me why this is number 12. I love it, and I mean really love it, it would probably

be higher any other time I make a countdown, but the songs ahead of it I listen to more, notto say they are better by any means though.

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11) Im Goin Down

My kisses used to turn you inside out

Probably surprising for a lot of you that this is so high, but the first time I heard this, I

loved it immediately. Since that guitar opening, it grabbed me straight away and it stillhasnt let me go. This is the third song I have listened to every morning for probably the

past year and a half.


27/38

Like Dancing In The Dark, the upbeat music hides it somewhat depressing lyrics. Its not

to say the lyrics are great by any means, just your simple pop/rock 80s love song, but it is

really, really catchy.

You can see how much fun Bruce has on stage with it, good one for the crowd to belt out

the chorus too as well.

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10) The Ties That Bind

You walk cool, but darling, can you walk the line, to face the ties that bind

Again another song I discovered only about a year or so ago. Trawling through YouTube I

was seeing the most recent uploaded Bruce vids, and he had just completed his two nightstint at Madison Square Garden playing through albums in their entirety, The River of

course was one of those albums. Now I dont know if youve noticed or not, but Im notthat big of a fan of The River. Sure its got some good songs, but as a whole, it doesnt

really do it for me. But, like everything in life, there are exceptions, and Ties is one of the

exceptions in this case.

Ties opens The River with crashing snare drums and an energetic guitar riff. Its another

real foot tapper, you cant help yourself. The chorus is catchy as Hell with the bai-ai-ai-ai-

ai-ai-ind bit and Bruce has done a great job at creating a catchy hook. Clarence beams onthe sax solo with the support of Max showing no mercy once again behind his drum kit.

All in all, Ties is a really underrated song in my opinion. It needs more plays, and it wouldopen a show perfectly, just like it does with The River. The energy the song exerts is bound

to get everybody going for the rest of the show.

Just look at the passion in this clip below, it brings tears to my eyes .

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9) Lost In The Flood

And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, they're shootin' up the street

One of the Springsteen epics. And it certainly doesnt fail in delivering a knockout punch.Coming from Bruces 1972 debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park makes it even more

remarkable.


28/38

Only 23 when this was written, probably younger actually come to think of it. The song is

haunting, depressing, powerful and raw with Springsteen near his best. Its hard to believe

it is off his first album. Something so great, so epic, was written by a person in their early20s. Its almost beyond comprehension, then you realize its Springsteen.

This is definitely up there in terms of lyrics and music with Incident and Jungleland. Thepiano to lead us through the first quarter of the song, then the drums come crashing in, the

tempo rises and everybody is jamming and Bruce takes it up a notch with his vocal work.

You can imagine the fire hes got in his veins as he is pounding through this second half ofthe song.

Lost provides many great images due to the lyrics. In particular Hey man, did you see

that, his body hit the street with such a beautiful thud. Its almost too good to be true that alyric such as that has been penned. That whole last verse sounds almost like a gangland

battle, kind of similar to Jungleland in parts.

Intensity near its highest point.

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8) Something In The Night

You can ride this road till dawn without another human being in sight

Yet another entry from Darkness. And another song where you can feel the pain in Bruces

voice throughout the entire track.

I have loved this for a very long time, and I have always been very envious of those who

have been at a concert on the rare occasion he plays it live. Those moans throughout theintro, with Maxs work on the drums beginning to rumble louder and louder is something

really special. Then the band makes itself known following Maxs climax.The music in it is

not overly complicated, much like the lyrics, so they work well off each other.

By far the best bit the combination of Bruces guitar work and Max doing his thing on the

drums at the end of the final verse. The bass drum to replicate a heartbeat and to back

Bruces vocal, Bruce letting off that little rip on that Telecaster and Max bashing that tomfollowed by the floor tom.

Those moans to close the song out are amazing too. Such a painfully sad song, but it leavesyou marveling in its greatness.

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What is even more astonishing as how you can generate that much emotion in front of

nobody.


29/38

7) Streets of Fire

I walk with angels that have no place

This completes the entries from Darkness, so for those hanging for Prove It All Night or

Factory, sorry to disappoint.

Streets of Fire is a dark, emotional song that is full of raw power. An absolutely electric

song. That telecaster is near breaking point by the time Bruce is done with the song. Theway he makes it wail are incredible. Absolutely incredible.

As mentioned in the Something In The Night entry, it is hard to believe in (all of ) the

Paramount Theatre performances he can generate so much emotion in front of an emptyroom. The sign of an amazing musician. The best performance for my mind too. The

intensity he shows throughout the song, and the absolute power that beams out of that

telecaster is phenomenal. Im not going to lie, the solo is one of my favourite to play air

guitar too as well.

Absolutely kick ass song.

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6) Incident On 57Th Street

Upstairs the band was playing and the singer was singing something about going home

Im starting to sound like a bit of a broken record, but how a song like Incident came off

Bruces second album, before he made it big, and when he was only 24 is astonishing.

From the opening chords on Roys piano, to Bruces bending on his Telecaster straight

after, followed by those amazing lyrics, Incident is so good its almost hard to believe. And

we cant forget that outro either. Wow. Then for another 7-10 minutes we hear the story ofSpanish Johnny.

I have had a version from the Reunion Tour in Philly I thought was the best version I heard

for a very long time. Upon first listen on the Barcelona DVD, I was never really a fan, butit grew on me after a while, but I just appreciated the full band one so much more. I heard

various versions through the Magic tour and it still didnt match up to the Reunion Tour,

because it sounded like it was being played too fast, then, on the WOAD tour, the Phillyversion was surpassed. The band sounded even tighter, Bruces vocals were better and

everything was running like clock work. Then not so long I heard the version at Main Point

and I was absolutely gob smacked at how something so intimate was produced. The violinin the intro was a superb addition; you could hear the emotion pouring out of it, just

incredible. Bruce sounded so vulnerable with just the piano; it truly is an incredible

rendition of an amazing song.


30/38

And talk about great lyrics

Well like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fineLike a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind

Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home

She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight but just don't leave me alone"

Definitely one of my favourite Springsteen verses/lyrics, and one of my favourite of all

time.

I honestly cannot fathom how amazing this would be to see live, and I envy those who

have.

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And if you havent heard the Main Point version, listen to it NOW

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Then there is this, which is from Friday. It is the ONLY acoustic guitar version I have

heard of this song. Just when you thought he didnt have another surprise left in the bag he

ripped this out in Pittsburgh.

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5) Rosalita

I know your mama she dont like me cos I play in a rock n roll band

What I only noticed yesterday is that Incident and Rosalita appear on my countdown

straight after each other as pure chance, just like they do on WIAESS.

Still to this day, I have not seen anyone have more fun with any other song than Bruce

Springsteen with Rosalita.

This song just spells out F-U-N. It is impossible to listen to this song and not feel a rush ofhuge happiness shooting through your veins with a smile from ear to ear plastered on your

face. It is the ultimate feel good Springsteen song.

He just feeds off the crowd so effortlessly when he plays it live. The crowd are more than

willing to complete lines, and can you hardly blame them? It just flows so easily when

Bruce throws it over. You can see how much fun he has when he plays it. Bruce turns intoa kid on stage and he doesnt give a damn, and nor should he. It is the ultimate crowd

pleaser, and the ultimate show closer. To be honest, Rosie could be played anywhere in a

show and it would fit in perfectly. Thats how good it is.


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Oh, and that opening guitar riff, amazing.

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Thirty years later, and you would still think hes playing it in 1978.

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4) Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street

She said man the dopes that theres still hope

From one fun song, straight on to another. Entry number 4 sees the fifth entry from theGreetings From Asbury Park album. Again, like most of the songs on Greetings, the

rhyming is heavy and the lyrics are bizarre. From wizard imps, to sweat side pimps, to

Broadway Mary, to the lucky young matador, this is a true gem of a track.

Only heard the original for the first time upon writing this entry and the final lines of the

song are truly weird with the music that accompanies it as opposed to live version. Italmost comes to a sudden halt to let Bruce finish off singing and thats the end of it.

Completely different to the live versions where they keep jamming and play an outro that

goes for a minute or so. Very strange indeed.

Its a song that goes well on a summers day when you just dont give a damn.

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Starts about 1.15

3) Growin Up

I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid

Another surprise in the top 10, and particularly, so high up.

Growin' Up is a joy to behold.

My first recollection of Growin Up goes back a few years. The first version of it I heard

was the 1972 recording at Maxs in Kansas City. I liked it for a song that used only anacoustic guitar. Then I managed to find the version from the 1975-85 disc and finally got a

copy of a version from The Reunion Tour which is my favourite. Its a joyous song that

keeps that feel throughout the track. When I listen to it, I feel like a kid again, and a littlenostalgic.

This is the second song I listen to every morning after I wake up. Without fail.


32/38

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The story in the middle is brilliant. Its a must watch. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

2) Backstreets

We swore forever friends on the backstreets until the end

All those years ago when I bought Live In New York City on DVD, I neglected disc twofor quite some time. I would play disc one and not even give disc two a chance in Hell of

being played. Then I was bored one afternoon and I thought why not give it a go. First cab

off the rank on disc two was Backstreets, I had no idea what to expect, and especially the

impact it would have on me.

From those opening piano chords where Roy is ruling the roost without taking too much of

the spotlight. Followed by the organs, then the rumbling of Maxs floor tom, followed by

that commanding drum beat that is displayed throughout the song, then Bruce giving thatreal twang from his Telecaster, I knew it was going to be amazing, and it certainly didnt

disappoint. It has stood the test of time in my love for Springsteen.

It is the first song I listen to every morning when I wake up, Ive been doing that for

probably 2 years now and I am still not sick of it. I dont think I ever will be either. I listento it during the day too, the song is flawless. Everything about it is brilliant. The drums, the

piano, Bruces guitar, the organs. The breakdown after the third verse when its done live.

All of it. The lyrics are some of the best I have heard. The solo is my favourite piece of

music. The passion he shows when he sings this is almost unparalleled. The second bestsong off Born To Run. And if Max ever controlled a song, THIS was it.

It is my favourite song of all time. Musical brilliance near its epitome. Absolutely faultlesssong. I dont think I have seen him command a stage more and evoke so much emotion as

what he does during Backstreets.

Watch them all, and I guarantee youll be blown away each time.

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1) Jungleland

Man there's an opera out on the Turnpike, there's a ballet being fought out in the alley

Where do I start? Whatever I say it isnt going to do the song any justice whatsoever.

Firstly let me start by saying it is by far the greatest song I have ever heard and the greatest

song I will ever hear in my life. Nothing can, or ever will surpass it. It is perfection. If God


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wrote a song, it wouldnt be as good as Jungleland. It is impossible, in my mind for a better

song to be composed than this work of art. Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt,

impossible. From start to finish, it leaves me breathless, and even though I know whatscoming next and I have listened to it more times than I have had cooked dinners, it still

blows me away that this song actually exists, and was written by someone when they were

only 24. When you look at Born To Run, as an album its quite amazing the amount ofquality that oozes out of it. Youve got Lost In The Flood, Backstreets, Thunder Road,

Born To Run, and of course Jungleland, which are true epics. Amazing.

The first time I heard Jungleland I would have been 18 or 19. I remember either

downloading it or ripping it from the Live in NYC CD, but never actually listened to it. So

I thought Id give it a crack. It was instant love. Nothing was going to stop me from

holding it in such high esteem. From the start, much like Backstreets, I knew it wasphenomenal. I would listen to it before I go to sleep and be in tears by the end of it because

of how good it was. Clarences solo is something that is almost too good to be believed.

But when you realize its a Springsteen song, it starts to make sense.

This is where Roy shines the most. While Backstreets and Racing are pivotal parts in

showcasing the Professors talents, Jungleland is where you really hear what he is capableof. From that delicate intro, to thundering through the verses, to providing the backing

during Clarences solo, then the backing for the outro, to the energetic playing to close the

song out while Bruce is whailing, its just wonderful. Even though there is a lot going on,the piano is a foundation which carries Jungleland superbly. Credit to Bruce for writing it

and as much credit to Roy for stepping up to the plate and delivering masterfully.

The swirling organ during the intro adds charm and mystery, and a bit of optimism. Anunderrated and probably doesnt get enough spotlight, it sits back, and does its job fine

enough though.

The tempo builds as the first verse goes on and then all of a sudden by the end of the

second verse youre shouting DOOOOOOOWN IIIIIIIIIN

JUUUUUNGLEEEEELAAAAAAAAAAAND at the top of your lungs, like youre frontrow centre. By this point we have been introduced to possibly the best characters in a song

ever - The Magic Rat and The Barefoot Girl. I mean, how awesome are those names?

Anybody could write about Steve, Brian, Joe and so on, but those names are something

else. They kind of give of this aura of secrecy and make you want more.

Jungleland is in full swing now. Drums are pounding, guitars are being played with fury,

Roy is unrelenting on the piano, Bruce is giving it all vocally. Its all come together. Youcan see the passion almost bursting out of Bruces veins. Hell, Id be the same if I wrote

something this good too. You can hear it in his voice too, its awe-inspiring to watch.

While I think Bob Dylan is the greatest lyricist ever, I think Bruce is very underrated to

your John Doe. I mean, look at the lyrics of Jungleland, they are by far the best thing he has

ever written, and that is really saying something when you look at the quality of his

catalogue. Songs like Lost In The Flood, Incident, Backstreets, NYC Serenade, Racing In


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The Street are definitely no pushovers, but when Jungleland is incomparable to them, it

really is saying something about the quality of the lyrics. You could pick out any line and

be blown away.

The rangers had a homecoming in Harlem late last night

And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine over the Jersey state lineBarefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge

Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain

The Rat pulls into town rolls up his pantsTogether they take a stab at romance and disappear down Flamingo Lane

Well the Maximum Lawman run down Flamingo chasing the Rat and the barefoot girlAnd the kids round here look just like shadows always quiet, holding hands

From the churches to the jails tonight all is silence in the world

As we take our stand down in Jungleland

The midnight gang's assembled and picked a rendezvous for the nightThey'll meet 'neath that giant Exxon sign that brings this fair city light

Man there's an opera out on the TurnpikeThere's a ballet being fought out in the alley

Until the local cops, Cherry Tops, rips this holy night

The street's alive as secret debts are paidContacts made, they vanished unseen

Kids flash guitars just like switch-blades hustling for the record machine

The hungry and the hunted explode into rock'n'roll bands

That face off against each other out in the street down in Jungleland

In the parking lot the visionaries dress in the latest rage

Inside the backstreet girls are dancing to the records that the D.J. playsLonely-hearted lovers struggle in dark corners

Desperate as the night moves on, just a look and a whisper, and they're gone

Beneath the city two hearts beat

Soul engines running through a night so tender in a bedroom locked

In whispers of soft refusal and then surrender in the tunnels uptownThe Rat's own dream guns him down as shots echo down them hallways in the night

No one watches when the ambulance pulls away

Or as the girl shuts out the bedroom light

Outside the street's on fire in a real death waltz

Between flesh and what's fantasy and the poets down here

Don't write nothing at all, they just stand back and let it all beAnd in the quick of the night they reach for their moment

And try to make an honest stand but they wind up wounded, not even dead

Tonight in Jungleland


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You cannot pick a bad line. From the Barefoot Girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge, to the

Maximum Lawman running down Flamingo Lane, to meeting neath that Giant Exxon

sign, to flashing guitars like switchblades. Or how about the backstreet girls dancing to therecord that the DJ plays? The poets down here dont write nothing at all is amazing too.

The lyrics are faultless. I cant pick a favourite line, there are that many, its just too hard.

Sounding like a broken record, but writing this at 24 is almost inconceivable.

Then comes along the defining moment of Clarence Clemons career, and many Bruce fans

favourite moment. That epic sax solo. Not much needs to be said, I have run out ofsuperlatives to use, everyone knows how good it is. The passion, the emotion, the length,

all of it. Max provides a solid foundation too throughout the solo, the crashing of his

symbols are awesome.

After Clarences moment of glory, we are treated to some very depressing piano chords.

They fit with what is coming up though. You can hear the pain in Bruces voice. It sounds

like he himself has lost someone close to him, the anguish is heartbreaking, and the piano

only adds to it. Then there are those final whails. You thought the ones in Something InThe Night were filled with pain, these are the epitome of pain.

Then, the epic masterpiece that is Jungleland, is finished.

Ive written too much already, and interpreting this song is difficult. So Ill leave you toform your own assumptions of it. Whatever you come to though, it sure as hell will be

incredible.

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61) Murder Incorporated

60) Sad Eyes

59) Iceman

58) Trapped

57) For You

56) Born In The USA

55) Youngstown

54) Lonesome Day

53) Atlantic City

52) Devils Arcade

51) Seaside Bar Song


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50) Because The Night

49) Take Em As They Come

48) My Love Will Not Let You Down

47) The Fuse

46) E-Street Shuffle

45) Darkness On The Edge Of Town44) Bobby Jean

43) American Skin

42)Working On A Dream

41) Shes The One

40) Youll Be Comin Down

39) Dancing In The Dark

38) Candys Room

37)No Surrender

36) Dont Look Back

35) Spirit In The Night

34) Meeting Across The River33) Your Own Worst Enemy

32) The Promised Land

31) Loose Ends

30) Human Touch

29) Wrecking Ball

28) Adam Raised A Cain

27) Radio Nowhere

26)Night

25) Secret Garden

24) 10th Avenue Freeze Out

23) Drive All Night

22) Its Hard To Be A Saint In The City

21) Girls In Their Summer Clothes

20) Thunder Road

19) Badlands

18) The Rising

17) Downbound Train

16) Land Of Hope And Dreams

15) Roll Of The Dice

14) Racing In The Street

13)New York City Serenade

12) Born To Run

11) Im Goin Down

10) Ties That Bind

9) Lost In The Flood

8) Something In The Night

7) Streets Of Fire

6) Incident On 57th Street

5) Rosalita


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4) Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street

3) Growin Up

2) Backstreets

1) Jungleand

Those unlucky to miss out

Lonely Night In The Park

This is your chance, you're going to take it, If she can dance, you can make it

Had I knew about this song before I started the countdown, it would probably would have

ranked somewhere between 15 and 10. Unfortunately, that wasnt the case though, and Ididnt hear this song until mid October.

Surprising I know, but this is one high quality track. It sounds ironic as it didnt make it

onto any album, but with Bruce, it is understandable as we all know. It was written in theBorn To Run era, and probably would have looked and sounded out of place had it been on

the album.

Its catchy, the opening chords are welcoming and the bass is soothing. Bruce sounds great,

and when he goes high during some lines, it adds to it and takes that song up a few notches.Based on the music and Bruces tone, it sounds like a very fun song. But if you look deeper

into the song and read the lyrics, you realize its about guy who is, as the title suggests,

lonely.

This song makes me feel genuinely happy. I suggest you get it in your library too.

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Higher and Higher

I almost included it in my list, almost. But I decided to take it out as it was a cover. It

pained me to do it, but I thought it wouldnt be fair, so I opted to leave it. Had it made it in

however, it would be in the top 10.

Never have I seen anyone have as much fun with a song. Ever. You thought he had fun

playing Rosalita, well you aint seen nothing yet. Higher and Higher takes it to a whole

new level. He dances like he doesnt give a shit, bops around like hes king of the world,its an awesome sight to see. Its a song of pure joy, and it works perfectly with The E-

Street Band. The horns, Roy jamming out on the piano, Max with the steady beat, all of it

comes together so perfect, and so effortlessly, its like clockwork, its that perfect.

Then there is the switch up to D. A key change halfway through a song theyve never

played before. Unbelievable! And they do it like its nothing. But its what youd expect

from Bruce and the band, theyre so good at what they do, nothing can challenge them.


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I cant praise it enough. Nobody will ever understand I dont think. I hope you guys get the

joy I get when I listen to this song. It brightens up my day, it leaves a smile on my face forthe 8 minutes it plays, it makes me want to live life to its maximum potential.

This is the song that makes me the happiest I can feel. Nothing else comes close. Not evenRosie.

The best cover youll see of any song.

Watch all of the video, youll be lost for words.

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a countdown from 60 by springsteen and bsn fan iain muir

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