Recommendations of the Editorial team
It is not the first time that Bruce Springsteen has made direct political statements. He only voted once in the 1970s: for George McGovern, who lost to Richard Nixon. In the 80s his songwriting changed. “Born In The USA” is about a Vietnam veteran who can’t find a job.
Ronald Reagan’s speechwriter intentionally misunderstood the piece and praised “New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen.” On the same album there is the song “My Hometown”, a swansong for the small town.
In 2000, Springsteen wrote “American Skin (41 Shots)” after African-American Amadou Diallo was shot by police officers. Diallo reached for his wallet during a check. A few months later, Springsteen released the song.
Folk experiments and traditionals
The album “We Shall Overcome – The Seeger Sessions” is Springsteen’s most peculiar folk record: following Pete Seeger, he sings American traditionals such as “Pay Me My Money Down”, “Erie Canal” and “My Oklahoma Home” with a brass band and choirs. He went on tour with the Seeger Band – and that was it.
He later addressed the decline of American cities on the album “Wrecking Ball” (2012). “We Take Care Of Our Own” is a defiant song of encouragement.
The most direct song of his career
“Streets Of Minneapolis” is the most direct and fastest song Springsteen has ever released. “I wrote the song on Saturday…” It is fully produced with organ and choral singing, and at the end you can hear the voices of the people of Minneapolis on the street.
Springsteen names the names, and he names the time: the winter of 2026. It is one of Bruce Springsteen’s best songs.
