Deliver Me From Nowhere has put a worldwide spotlight on Bruce Springsteen’s most difficult internal struggles, between 1981 and 1982. At this time, following The River tour, Springsteen moved back to New Jersey, renting a secluded house in Colts Neck. There, in self-isolation, he began to feel the decades of unresolved trauma, guilt and sadness that had been lingering deep in his soul. During the sleepless nights and lonely days, he started writing songs that, at the time, did not sound similar to anything from his first five albums. These tracks would later become his first album without the E Street Band, called Nebraska.
Nebraska was recorded on a 4-track recorder in The Boss’ bedroom, telling stories about hardship, American history, humanity and curiosity. The arrangements on the 8-song album are simple — vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, and the occasional mandolin or glockenspiel. The few instruments and low-quality recording gives the album an intimate feel. You aren’t distracted from the characters and their stories.
If you watched Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and enjoyed some of the music featured, here are 10 more songs you should listen to that will give you a similar taste of what makes Nebraska so special.
10 “Downbound Train” ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ (1984)
“Downbound Train” was written during the same time period as many of the songs from Nebraska. In fact, on the recently released Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition, there’s an outtake version of Downbound Train that never made the solo album. It was saved for the Born in the U.S.A. release. The outtake version is just Bruce and a guitar, with much more pace than the album version.
Like other songs on Born in the U.S.A., “Downbound Train” found its home with the E Street Band, incorporating Max Weinberg, Garry W. Tallent and Roy Bittan. It’s a gut-wrenching song about everyday struggles, dealing with dead-end jobs, causing you to lose your love. It carries the spirit of those songs on Nebraska, with the complexity and rhythm of Born in the USA. “Downbound Train” is the perfect bridge between the two albums.
9 “Born in the U.S.A. (Demo Version)” ‘Tracks’ (1998)
If you’ve seen Deliver Me From Nowhere, then you know THAT recording scene of “Born in the U.S.A.” at the Power Station in New York City. It’s rocking, anthemic and the “Bruce sound” that is synonymous around the world. It’s one of the few songs written during the 1981-1982 period that was successfully recorded with the E Street Band. It’s hard to think of it any other way.
But, because it was written during the Nebraska era, Bruce recorded a version of it in his bedroom on the 4-track recorder with the echo addition. This demo version was never officially released until 1998 on the Tracks box set. It has also been included on the Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition, a compilation of songs recorded during that time, as well as electric versions.
8 “The Ghost of Tom Joad” ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ (1995)
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” is often played live with the E Street Brand, and an earth-shattering guitar solo, sometimes even by Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello. The most recent iteration of the song was released on the High Hopes album in 2014. It features pounding drums and the electricity that could light up an entire stadium. But, the original version of this song was released in 1995, on the album The Ghost of Tom Joad.
The original is a dark and low ballad about drifting through America, mostly the southwest, looking for work and livable pay. Tom, the main character in the song, is fighting for equal rights and opportunities for the people and communities like his. The link to Nebraska is that this song was also intended to be played with the full E Street Band for the Greatest Hits (1995) album, but Bruce didn’t like the way it sounded. So, he saved it for the title track of his second acoustic album.
It’s a song that takes inspiration from many different places. Tom Joad is a character from the 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Also, and stay with me here, the song takes from Woody Guthrie’s “The Ballad of Tom Joad”, which itself was inspired by the 1940 film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath.
7 “Youngstown” ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ (1995)
War and politics are woven through Springsteen’s six decades of music. “Youngstown” from The Ghost of Tom Joad isn’t any different. The song tells the story of northeast Ohio, Youngstown, throughout the years. It starts with the discovery of iron ore, which were used to make cannon balls to help the Union win the Civil War. The factories and mills then built the tanks and bombs that won World Wars I and II. And even with the major contributions to the country’s success, those same people and families were then sent off to fight in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Years later, after the failures of both wars, the pondering thought of the fourth verse is “Now we’re wondering what they were dying for”.
“Youngstown” is in line with the songs on The Ghost of Tom Joad, challenging the politicians and government officials to treat its citizens fairly and support those who gave everything for it. It’s a harrowing tale of being a driving force of success and then thrown to the side. The live version of the song was played 134 times during the Reunion Tour between 1999-2000.
6 “Devils & Dust” ‘Devils & Dust’ (2005)
As the title track of Bruce’s third acoustic album, “Devils & Dust” is steeped in another war-themed story. This time, it’s centered around the Iraq War, surrounded by uncertainty and confusion. From the first line, “Got my finger on the trigger, but I don’t know who to trust”, you’re immediately put into a world of violence and chaos. Although it’s not outwardly stated, “Devils & Dust” is believed to be from the point of view of a soldier whose soul is being eaten away by the violence.
“Devils & Dust” is a bone-chilling song, from the perspective of another often overlooked POV, just like those in Nebraska. Both Nebraska and “Devils & Dust” ask the question of “Are these actions justifiable amongst blurred lines?” “D&D” was nominated for three Grammys, including “Song of the Year” and “Best Rock Song”.
5 “Long Time Comin’ – Live at the Walter Kerr Theatre, New York, NY” ‘Springsteen on Broadway’ (2018)
The second song on this list from Devils & Dust, “Long Time Comin'” is one of Springsteen’s most personal songs. It was originally written for The Ghost of Tom Joad, and was played often during the 1996 and 1997 tour, but wasn’t officially released until 2005. The version I’ve included on this list is from Springsteen on Broadway, from Bruce’s 236-show run on Broadway.
The reason I’ve chosen this version is because in the introduction of this song (the intro is the previous track on the album), Bruce explains the meaning behind the words. “It was the greatest moment in my life with my dad”, Bruce says in a raw and vulnerable manner. “Long Time Comin'” is the conversation between Bruce and his father, just days before the birth of his first child. Bruce’s father, Douglas, confesses to his son that he wasn’t the best dad, and urges him to learn from his own mistakes.
“If I had one wish for you in this god-forsaken world, kid, it’d be that your mistakes will be your own,” Bruce sings in the fourth verse, echoing his father’s apology to him. “Long Time Comin'” is the happy ending to “My Father’s House” from Nebraska, where Bruce stated that all the sins from his childhood “lie unatoned”.
4 “Independence Day – Live at Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ” ‘The Live Series: Stripped Down’ (2020)
Many of the songs on Nebraska are about Bruce’s strained relationship with his father. “Independence Day”, released on The River in 1980, is an insight into that father-son dynamic. Bruce and his father never saw eye-to-eye on anything. There were always disagreements and no common ground, and an eventual acceptance that the two will never align. The line “We wouldn’t change this thing even if we could somehow,” highlights that struggle.
The version on this list that I’ve chosen is the acoustic performance from Asbury Park, NJ on The Live Series: Stripped Down compilation album. There are no frills — just Bruce, his guitar and a sad story of a son having to leave home. The somberness in his voice reflects the internal and external battles he faced with his father growing up. “Independence Day” was first played live during the “Darkness on the Edge of Town Tour” before it was officially released. It was resurrected during “The River Tour 2016”, played 50 times in promotion of the “The Ties That Bind: The River Collection” box set.
3 “Sinaloa Cowboys – Live at The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA” ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad – EP’ (1995)
For fans of The Ghost of Tom Joad, you’ll be pleased to know that there are two live tracks from The Tower Theater in Philadelphia on The Ghost of Tom Joad – EP. One of the best songs on the original album is “Sinaloa Cowboys”, and the live version on the EP accentuates the intimacy and heartbreak of this migrant story.
Two brothers, Miguel and Louis, cross the Mexican border to California in search of work. For years, they worked in the field and orchards, doing the work that Americans wouldn’t do. When they got word that there was an opportunity to make “half as much in one ten hour shift working for the men from Sinaloa”, they took it. The job, though, was cooking methamphetamine. One night, the shack exploded, killing Louis. This ending is tragically foreshadowed in verse two — “Their father said, ‘My sons, one thing you will learn, for everything the north gives, it exacts a price in return.”
2 “Across the Border” ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ (1995)
In the above song, “Sinaloa Cowboys”, it tells the story of crossing the Mexican-American border — a very literal action. In “Across the Border”, it’s a metaphorical reference to crossing over into an afterlife. Searching for peace and serenity after a hard and difficult life lived. It views death as a blessing and a release from pain.
“Across the Border” channels acceptance and tranquility, despite being at a disadvantage in the world we live in. It shares a common theme to “Nebraska”, recognizing that the “meanness in this world” can cause suffering and evil actions. And yet, death is viewed as a relief.
1 “Jack of All Trades” ‘Wrecking Ball’ (2012)
Bruce has been a voice for the working class for over 50 years. And like “The Ghost of Tom Joad”, “Jack of All Trades” is a hardship story about blue collar Americans struggling in everyday life, working job after job just to survive. The theme is that those on Wall Street and banks will remain rich and wealthy, despite being the reason so many are living paycheck to paycheck.
The jack of all trades references that average American who has to work different jobs, regardless of skillset, because of the hard times that are suffocating the country. It’s a modern take on the Great Depression, and alludes to the housing crisis of 2008. Though released in 2012, it was written in 2009 as the United States and world economy were crashing down.
