DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
JUNE 2, 1978
On the heels of the smash Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen is continuing down the avenue of great rock 'n' roll while never forgetting his roots in deep thought provoking lyrics. His music has been dependent on young youthful love that brings two people together or brings their relationship to an end.
On this latest release, he begins to expand into the devastation of the economy, starting with not only finding reliable work but keeping it. He does not need to open the eyes of those who follow him, as most understand his writing and Darkness on the Edge of Town will be no exception. Those who struggle to put food on the table also have been schooled in a religious connection. Springsteen is able to associate the bible followers with the hardships felt by those who attend. This is not to say that by following a religion you need to be poor, but those seeking hope will have a place to look for strength.
"Let the broken hearts stand, As the price you've gotta pay, keep pushin' till it's understood", lyrics found in "Adam Raised a Cain", is exactly what politicians leave behind when making decisions that they themselves will reap no repercussions for. Big business grows on the backs of the poor minimum wage workers who sacrifice everything, including their family, so that the suits can attend their children's sporting events, enroll them in private schools and tuck them in at night. Springsteen has his hand on the pulse of our nation, writing about what he knows.
He is still able to compose songs with lyrical content that touch the hearts of the young who love from desires heart strings to those bound together for life. "Candy's Room" paints a picture not unlike Helen Reddy's "Angie Baby", where those who enter the room of those they are drawn to may never find the freedom of the outside whole ever again. Springsteen writes the lyrics without the darkness of disappearing boys, choosing to direct the story to a united youth with one character more at arm's length. This always draws the curious boys to the brink, unable to follow any path but that of the young girl so different with appeals no one else can understand.
On this release, Springsteen weaves webs connecting precipitous foundations of rock 'n' roll with radio friendly sounds that precipitate intelligent lyrical content. It has been five years since his first debut and when someone listens to each on in order starting with side one, the maturity grows but the subject matters stay within the realm of what he understands the most. Springsteen knows there are so many stories that are still untold, so his future may be more about the expansion of his sound.
"Darkness on the Edge of Town" is a love gone astray because one partner can not live the life of struggle and chooses the easy way out. Finding someone who walks a life of financial bliss takes the place of true love. There is always a spot or place where two lovers know without speaking that it is their private hideaway. When the memories are accessed, floods of the past love containing youthful passion reopens feelings of unrequited love. Often one puts out the word that they are in need of bridging the gap and desirous to relapse back into the time when they were willing to give freely all they had.
The last track is not the longest song on the record, but clearly holds deep emotionally greedy ardent sentiment that conjures a need to rekindle a past now submerged deep in the unconsciousness. As the final track, it leaves the listener wanting the next installment and this is what keeps Bruce Springsteen stardom expanding after each record. The fourth album took three years to create... how long will we have to wait before he writes the next chapter in the ever growing saga of life?
11/29/10
RUSTY
6/2/78