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.
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.
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.
Rolling Stone did actually do a top 100 Springsteen songs piece, and there wasn’t much padding in there - man brings the weight.
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.
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.
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.
I think this is my favourite version, 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.
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”.
Why is anyone saying anything besides Thunder Road?
It’s Thunder Road.
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.
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!) 
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.
“Candy’s Room”
FWIW my least favourite number of his, by miles, would have to be “Pink Cadillac”.
Thanks for that, I shall do.
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!
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.
Have you ever listened to Mary Queen of Arkansas?
You’ve actually listed my two least-favorite Springsteen tracks. 