Bruce Springsteen performing during the Superbowl half-time show? Who'da figured? In some way, I'll always love Bruce, because he kept some of us from being vaporized by disco music during my college years.
Since it's Sunday, this classic Bruce tune is the acoustic version. You might actually learn the words to this song today - and nope, it's not very "suitable." But it's all about the memories, babe.
Opinion – 13 April 2024
5 days ago
4 comments:
Lynn,
Once again you have found a jewel. Never knew that song acoustically and it s way way better!
I am looking forward to his halftime show.
BTW, sanity in the 70's came in many forms just not disco! :-}
Credit for this find goes to my friend Ed, a true BRUCE fan.
I wasn't kidding about musical evaporation in the mid-to-late 1970s. Remember those turntables that would keep playing the same LP when you left the arm up? Well...I had a roommate in my freshman year that just adored the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever. Thank goodness for the girl down the hall from New Jersey, who was always playing Bruce. Her fave was Rosalita, and she had a collection of soap-on-a-rope microphones if you wanted to play rock star during her study breaks.
I swear, there were no drugs involved. Too much sugar and caffeine, without a doubt.
Your comment "In some way, I'll always love Bruce, because he kept some of us from being vaporized by disco music during my college years" reflects to this more senior persona bit differently.
I was singing for a living at the time, and there were few musicians that could dependably put out music that was anywhere near decent (at least mainstream music). My God, talk about a dark time!
Interestingly, my favorite Bruce album is Nebraska. Depressing album in some ways, but brilliant.
Recorded in his bathroom (and later remixed, but the essence is still brilliant).
This song, Reason To Believe is among one that I consistently go back to when I find myself in a faith crisis. You'll have to see the reason as I cannot explain it.
Interesting how he introduces this in the video, especially given my above comment.
I had never seen this video prior, but I guess I did get the meaning afterall. Thank God he's not Dylan (who I love but never ever expect to understand).
*****
Seen a man standin' over a dead dog lyin' by the highway in a ditch
He's lookin' down kinda puzzled pokin' that dog with a stick
Got his car door flung open he's standin' out on highway 31
Like if he stood there long enough that dog'd get up and run
Struck me kinda funny seem kinda funny sir to me
Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Now Mary Lou loved Johnny with a love mean and true
She said "Baby I'll work for you every day and bring my money home to you"
One day he up and left her and ever since that
She waits down at the end of that dirt road for young Johnny to come back
Struck me kinda funny seemed kind of funny sir to me
How at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Take a baby to the river Kyle William they called him
Wash the baby in the water take away little Kyle's sin
In a whitewash shotgun shack an old man passes away take his body to the graveyard and over him they pray Lord won't you tell us
tell us what does it mean
Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
Congregation gathers down by the riverside
Preacher stands with his Bible groom stands waitin' for his bride
Congregation gone and the sun sets behind a weepin' willow tree
Groom stands alone and watches the river rush on so effortlessly
Wonderin' where can his baby be still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe
You can hear it here, if you never have. The original recording is far better but this will give you sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOFk3qVlElk
The Boss was once again, well, The Boss.
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