If you jettison the world politics of the incident of 9/11, you’re left with the haunting memories of many things

I can’t honestly remember if I had expectations of Bruce’s reactions to the events of September 11, 2001. While many Americans views had hardened into position, mine had yet to take shape.

Why would Bruce close out a poignant album of dark and troubled times with a short, sweet, and cliché-ridden song?

Here’s a powerful bit of storytelling, about the intersection of lives that have seen tragedy and, depending on the decisions they make, might see more.

There are many descriptions of the album The Ghost of Tom Joad as being “bleak” and “tuneless,” which leads me to wonder how exactly is a person supposed to render situations of no hope in an artistic context.

I’ve always been a big fan of Jack Kerouac. There’s a lot of bad behavior in those stories, but there’s also a kind of innocent embrace of life’s possibilities.

When the fans start talking about what’s next on the Springsteen horizon, there’s usually somebody who will bring up the idea of Bruce doing a country album.

Yeah, this was supposed to be about “Dry Lightning,” but Lou Reed has died and my heart’s just not in it tonight.

Bruce spoke of the atmosphere of Darkness on the Edge of Town as being relentless. I’ve always felt the same way about The Ghost Of Tom Joad.

Life sometimes serves up terrible choices.