# the greates Springsteen song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2019, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034 "2019-10-20T06:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/41 "2019-10-22T08:28:34Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > As far as favorite songs, I’m trying to cut down to the top 50. On the other hand, I think his line with the most punch is from The River: “Is a dream a lie when it don’t come true, or is is something worse?” Best line from a Springsteen song would be a good topic for another thread. “The River” cuts me to the core every time I listen to it. “Born to Run” is a close second. Apples and oranges, though, as “The River” is intimate, while “Born to Run” is grand and epic. Pretty amazing that one guy could write them both. ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/42 "2019-10-22T08:40:07Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I grew up in Central Jersey (yes, it’s really a region). I’m younger than Springsteen, but grew up in a very working-class neighborhood, so lots of his songs touch attitudes and sentiments that were still very much part of my youth. “The River” is a version of the story of so many people I knew that it feels like the most personal to me, even if it doesn’t describe _ **me** _. > > I’ve said it before, and I will say it many times in the future. “Then I got Mary pregnant, and man, that was all she wrote,” is one of the saddest lyrics ever written in popular music. From that point on you can predict to a high degree of certainty how the singer’s life is going to spool out; it’s practically inevitable, and it’s that inevitability that make sit so sad. > > The line you quoted above carries quite a punch, but for me it’s not quite as potent, because it’s backward-looking; the singer is regretting how things turned out. The real tragedy, to me, is that inflection point where one unintended action dramatically alters the future. The time for dreaming is over and responsibilities, both self-imposed and outwardly-imposed, will determine the course of the future. For both good and ill. > … This is beautifully written. Well done. I indicated later in this thread that “The River” is my favorite Springsteen song. You’ve articulated some reasons why much better than I could. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/43 "2019-10-22T10:05:07Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > …I’ve said it before, and I will say it many times in the future. “Then I got Mary pregnant, and man, that was all she wrote,” is one of the saddest lyrics ever written in popular music… Agreed. To me, the addition of “_and man_” to the line, is genius. It makes it more conversational and intimate, and illuminates the level of resignation in the narrator’s tale. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/44 "2019-10-22T10:54:37Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > In Ken Burns’ Country Music, they asked a number of people to name their favorite Jimmie Rodgers songs. I think it was Merle Haggard who said, “We narrowed it down to the top fifty.” > > . Rolling Stone did actually do a top 100 Springsteen songs piece, and there wasn’t much padding in there - man brings the weight. > **[100 Greatest Bruce Springsteen Songs](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-bruce-springsteen-songs-of-all-time-32486/)** > > From "Rosalita" to "Wrecking Ball", an expert panel of writers and artists pick Bruce Springsteen's best songs. Deffo _Racing in the Street_ and _Atlantic City_ up there. I think some of the songwriting on Born in the USA is his best stuff - possibly overlooked nowadays as it was such a bombastic, commercial behemoth, that sounds a bit shite musically. Simpler songs but they’re the hard ones to write - We’ve all heard _Dancing in the dark_ or _I’m on fire_ a million times but they are immense songs. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/45 "2019-10-22T11:16:10Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > Incident on 57th Street I love the live version from the, “Live at the Main Point” bootleg, recorded in 1975 just before the band hit it big. Also, it’s not just my favorite Springsteen song, but possibly my favorite song overall. So beautiful, so well-recorded for a live recording. Poetry. [Incident on 57th Street - Live at the Main Point](https://youtu.be/Yk8iXy-aw30) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/46 "2019-10-22T12:02:43Z")
Ah! Interesting timing. Springsteen was never much of a figure for me but of course some of his massive catalogue got through to me. I’ve always loved “Hungry Heart” though and on a random wander through the Amazon I realised there was a great opportunity to dive into his early stuff. So that’s what I’m going to do and I’ll start with “The River”. If anything really sings to me I’ll report back, I’m sure there’ll be some good stuff in there. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/47 "2019-10-22T14:14:52Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I love the live version from the, “Live at the Main Point” bootleg, recorded in 1975 just before the band hit it big. Also, it’s not just my favorite Springsteen song, but possibly my favorite song overall. So beautiful, so well-recorded for a live recording. > > Poetry. > [Incident on 57th Street - Live at the Main Point](https://youtu.be/Yk8iXy-aw30) I think [this is my favourite version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbmLwUiJ6QA), it was a b-side from one of the singles from the live box set. I think I’ll always prefer the full band versions of this song to the stripped-down ones, but it really does show his versatility. There’s more recent ones where he performs it solo on piano as well. ---
**Author:** ![StuckinNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@StuckinNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuckinNJ)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/48 "2019-10-22T17:04:42Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I love the live version from the, “Live at the Main Point” bootleg, recorded in 1975 just before the band hit it big. Also, it’s not just my favorite Springsteen song, but possibly my favorite song overall. So beautiful, so well-recorded for a live recording. > > Poetry. > [Incident on 57th Street - Live at the Main Point](https://youtu.be/Yk8iXy-aw30) As an ex Jersey Shore Bruce lovin member, I second this. And more so for the whole bootleg. All responders have impressed me with their responses. I must own well over a 100 Bruce bootlegs, but you all need “Live at the Main Point”. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/49 "2019-10-22T17:34:41Z")
Why is anyone saying anything besides _ **Thunder Road** _? It’s _ **Thunder Road** _. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/50 "2019-10-23T09:48:18Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Ah! Interesting timing. Springsteen was never much of a figure for me but of course some of his massive catalogue got through to me. > I’ve always loved “Hungry Heart” though and on a random wander through the Amazon I realised there was a great opportunity to dive into his early stuff. > > So that’s what I’m going to do and I’ll start with “The River”. If anything really sings to me I’ll report back, I’m sure there’ll be some good stuff in there. Do yourself a big favor and dig even earlier. Springsteen’s first two albums are typically overlooked by casual fans but absolutely contain some of his best stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/51 "2019-10-23T12:30:55Z")
Another fan, who had a tough time deciding between Rosalita and Kitty’s Back, before giving KB the nod. The Wild… is my favorite album. Bought each album from Born to Run thru Nebraska on the day or soon after they were released. Bought none after. Don’t know if I’ve ever listened to Born In the USA all the way thru… (Yeah, I’m one of THOSE!) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/52 "2019-10-23T13:57:16Z")
At the very least you need to pick up a copy of _The Ties That Bind: The River Collection_. Among the other goodies are 11 unreleased tracks from _The River_ sessions. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/53 "2019-10-23T14:22:39Z")
“Candy’s Room” FWIW my least favourite number of his, by miles, would have to be “Pink Cadillac”. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/54 "2019-10-23T14:28:02Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Do yourself a big favor and dig even earlier. Springsteen’s first two albums are typically overlooked by casual fans but absolutely contain some of his best stuff. Thanks for that, I shall do. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/55 "2019-10-23T14:48:24Z")
Man, this geezer - and longtime Springsteen fan - is somewhat taken aback as to what constitutes “digging”! 😉 Pretty confident the 1st 2 albums are my faves of his. Possibly due - in part - to the songs not having been played to death everywhere. For you is probably right up there for me as a fave. Oh, and correction. I DID buy one of his albums after Nebraska. We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions. Great stuff on that! ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/56 "2019-10-23T17:22:58Z")
Thirding **Rosalita** (see my location), it lifts my spirits and gladdens my heart every time I hear it. Back in the '70s I taped a live Springsteen concert off WNEW-FM. The version of **She’s the One** from that concert is my second favorite Springsteen song. I just love songs with a Bo Diddley beat. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/57 "2019-10-23T22:32:12Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > FWIW my least favourite number of his, by miles, would have to be “Pink Cadillac”. Have you ever listened to _Mary Queen of Arkansas_? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034/58 "2019-10-24T16:17:07Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > “Candy’s Room” > > FWIW my least favourite number of his, by miles, would have to be “Pink Cadillac”. You’ve actually listed my two least-favorite Springsteen tracks. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-greates-springsteen-song/842034.md?page=2)