Community Chat

[scotttie]

On 11/12/2014 Qwackertoo said:

On 11/12/2014 reiki604 said: Born in the USA was used by Ronald Reagan's campaign. Bruce has stated he never understood why and supposed they never actually listened to the lyrics.

In 1984, during his campaign for the presidency, Ronald Reagan used the song briefly as a campaign song. Reagan was quoted as saying, "America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside our hearts. It rests in the message of hope in the songs of a man so many young Americans admire: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen. And helping you make those dreams come true is what this job of mine is all about." Springsteen, a devout liberal, had the Reagan campaign stop using his song.

Walter Mondale, Reagan's Democratic opponent, quickly seized on the opportunity and said Bruce supported him for president. Springsteen's manager, John Landau, issued a quick denial, and the Mondale camp issued an apology and correction. Either way, it was hardly a campaign-turning event, as Reagan went on to carry a record 49 states in November of 1984.

To this day, "Born in the U.S.A." is construed as a "pro-America" tune. Like it or not, the song is very catchy. Part of the song's confusion probably lies in the unintelligibleness of Bruce's voice and the singing of the song's lyrics. His voice is strong and passionate, but many of the words are garbled and hard to decipher. But whereas the song is hard to understand, the catchy repeated lyric "Born in the U.S.A." is clear as a bell.

Critic Marcus Greil says about "Born in the U.S.A.": "Clearly the key to Bruce's popularity is in a misunderstanding. He is a tribute to the fact that people hear what they want to hear." Bruce, seemingly a genuinely nice guy, is still a bit angry about the song's misunderstood intention to this day. He considers the song one of his best, but it bothers him that it is so widely misunderstood.

Says The Boss: "In my songs, the spiritual part, the hope part, is in the choruses. The blues, your daily realities, are in the details of the verses. The spiritual comes out in the choruses, which I get from Gospel music and the church." He is very clear in his statement about "Born in the U.S.A." Far from being a happy, peppy "rah-rah America" song, the song has a much darker side.

Bruce elaborates: "'Born in the U.S.A' is about a working class man [in the midst of a] spiritual crisis, in which a man is left lost …it's like he has nothing left to tie him to society anymore. He's isolated from the government, isolated from his family, to the point where nothing makes sense."

Quackertoo, thanks for your information here. You always cut right to it!

I agree, if he wanted the lyrics understood, he shoulda not mumbled and gargled through the song.

[millieshops]

I think the irony of it all is that that the USA is like democracy itself: flawed but still the best there is. Maybe, somewhere that was in Bruce's mind even if subconsciously.

[AngusandBuddhasMom]

He doesn't mumble or garble the words.. he is making a good point. And he is not anti america and donates a lot to help so what exactly have politicians done?

His songs are deep but not for everyone.

[scotttie]

On 11/12/2014 Caravaggio said:

He doesn't mumble or garble the words.. he is making a good point. And he is not anti america and donates a lot to help so what exactly have politicians done?

His songs are deep but not for everyone.

I'm sorry but I own that album. I played that song often (it was a good one to exercise to) and I never understood a word he said except for ""Bawn in the U.S.A....I Was Bawn in the U.S.A.

My brother was a Springsteen fan when nobody ever heard of him.

I'm not trying to tick you off Cara but it does seem to be the consensus that the lyrics are unintelligible

[dooBdoo]

On 11/12/2014 Caravaggio said:

He doesn't mumble or garble the words.. he is making a good point. And he is not anti america and donates a lot to help so what exactly have politicians done?

His songs are deep but not for everyone.

I agree, Caravaggio. I'm a little baffled by the sudden "awakening" to his lyrics, which have always been there, up-front, clear. His charity work, especially for "Stand Up For Heroes," speaks for itself. Anyway, when did it become un-American to voice one's opinion or challenge the system? We can be proud of our nation, support our military, honor our veterans, and also question or criticize the government.

[Qwackertoo]

On 11/12/2014 dooBdoo said:

On 11/12/2014 Caravaggio said:

He doesn't mumble or garble the words.. he is making a good point. And he is not anti america and donates a lot to help so what exactly have politicians done?

His songs are deep but not for everyone.

I agree, Caravaggio. I'm a little baffled by the sudden "awakening" to his lyrics, which have always been there, up-front, clear. His charity work, especially for "Stand Up For Heroes," speaks for itself. Anyway, when did it become un-American to voice one's opinion or challenge the system? We can be proud of our nation, support our military, honor our veterans, and also question or criticize the government.

Oh there's been lots of threads questioning and criticizing our government . . . some state some federal. Some of it acceptable. Some of it is not. Depends on where "some" fall on the issue day to day or week to week . . . as in today's issue it is great . . . tomorrow's could easily be how dare you? . . . I like to call it "cherry picking.

[scotttie]

On 11/12/2014 Qwackertoo said:

Oh there's been lots of threads questioning and criticizing our government . . . some state some federal. Some of it acceptable. Some of it is not. Depends on where ""some"" fall on the issue day to day or week to week . . . as in today's issue it is great . . . tomorrow's could easily be how dare you? . . . I like to call it ""cherry picking.

THIS!

[Lion]

On 11/12/2014 Topaz Gem said:

Bruce would never write anything openly patriotic. If patriotic, pro-American politicians want to use one of his songs, you know that they must be misunderstanding the lyrics.

If Bruce wanted people to understand the real meaning of "Born in the USA", then he should have written music that conveyed a darker meaning, rather than a fist-pumping melody that would actually make the listener proud to be an American.

I don't want to jump to conclusions or make assumptions without asking.

Are you saying Bruce Springsteen is *not* patriotic? He is anti-American?

[dooBdoo]

On 11/12/2014 Qwackertoo said:

On 11/12/2014 dooBdoo said:

On 11/12/2014 Caravaggio said:

He doesn't mumble or garble the words.. he is making a good point. And he is not anti america and donates a lot to help so what exactly have politicians done?

His songs are deep but not for everyone.

I agree, Caravaggio. I'm a little baffled by the sudden "awakening" to his lyrics, which have always been there, up-front, clear. His charity work, especially for "Stand Up For Heroes," speaks for itself. Anyway, when did it become un-American to voice one's opinion or challenge the system? We can be proud of our nation, support our military, honor our veterans, and also question or criticize the government.

Oh there's been lots of threads questioning and criticizing our government . . . some state some federal. Some of it acceptable. Some of it is not. Depends on where "some" fall on the issue day to day or week to week . . . as in today's issue it is great . . . tomorrow's could easily be how dare you? . . . I like to call it "cherry picking.

Hi, Qwackertoo! Good to see you, haven't seen you around lately.

No argument from me. I think a healthy government is one which can be openly questioned. I've always felt that way. It's one of the many advantages we have as Americans.

[Lion]

I am at the music critics here.

Just think, if he'd only had this advice years ago, he could've been a much loved, much admired, one-of-the-great U.S. music icons.

Oh....that's right....he IS.