Springsteen

[Edgy MD]

I can see why a hardcore fan might reject that sort of overt metaphor-deploying. A big part of Springsteen fandom is diving deeply into his most inscrutable and dense lyrics sheets, mining for hidden truths. And here Bruce is all Squeeze my lemon, Baby! Watch the juice drip down my leg! Figure that one out, dorks! Daddy has a TV show and he needs something superficial and gratifying!

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

269. Here's one I never heard till just now. "30 Days Out" is the flip side of the "Leap of Faith" single from Human Touch and dates from the same sessions. Bruce in this era has grown on me some; I actually admire him for leaving the band and trying a different approach to explore another side even if that side could be described as contemporary and for adults. Ranked #293

The chorus lead-in reminds me of "You're on the Wrong Side of the Street" (#250, you'll surely recall, December 10)

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Ain't no answers here, just the past and fear
Of spending the rest of your days
Down in Whitetown

270. "Whitetown" is said to be an early version of "Jackson Cage" and sounds like the Raspberries singing about a town that rips the bones from your back. Ranked #315



Hey check it out, an early version of this that doesn't sound anything like the above. Its like "Mr Outside" that were alreday heard, Bruce doing the island thing.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

271. The saga of Crazy Janey continues in "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart" a poppy B-side to "I'm Goin' Down," the 6th single from BITUSA.

This has a single-y feel right down to the fade-out. Useless fun fact: Originally created with Steve Van Zandt on backing vocals but recorded with Nils Lofgren singing instead. Ranked #226

[Gwreck]

Legend has it that the song was given to and recorded by Stevie Nicks, but permission for her to release it was denied.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Because Bruce hated it?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

272. I'm glad we finally got to this one. Not only that its considered the worst of the songs we have left to listen to but that I feel like there's oxygen behind the notion that this is actually Springsteen's worst song ever and not the 10th worst (330/340). Bruce wrote "Queen of the Supermarket" based upon his impression of the upscale fresh abundance in a Whole Foods store as a metaphor for emotional fulfillment. You can tell Bruce considered it something of a joke by the silly lyrics, but those taking it seriously--or Bruce too seriously--have a hard time with it.

I'm in love with the queen of the supermarket
Though a company cap covers her hair
Nothing can hide the beauty waiting there

"The worst song Springsteen has ever released on a studio album," -Philadelphia Inquirer

"A widescreen melodrama about a cashier crush that for sheer overkill rivals Adam Sandler’s Broooce parody 'Lunchlady Land.'" - Spin

Musically, its late-period Bruce in his Brian Wilson, lush pop phase, and is a good yearning-for-fulfillment sound. See the rehearsal footage below.

Would you shop here?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

273. "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" brings some optimism to the mournful Rising record. Fiddle makes it sound a little bit like Bruce is ripping off John Mellencamp's band. This one's a yawner for me, dog. Ranked #270

Bruce videos make it seem as though being in his band is the greatest job in the world where you know it's probably torture.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Well you're born with nothing, and better off that way
Soon as you've got something they send someone to try and take it away

274. "Something in the Night" really encapsulates the dark surprises awaiting tramps like us as we peel out towns full of losers. Remarkable maturity in his writing. Ranked #89

[Edgy MD]

I always sensed an narrative arc from "Spirits in the Night" to "Night" to "Something in the Night."

In a few short years, we go from the power trip and youthful bacchanal of the ones who haunt the night; to the thrill of the race to stay on top as other bands try to take the night from you; to the beginning of the long, slow surrender of accepting that you are no longer one of the haunters, but forever the haunted.

[whippoorwill]

Edgy, Edgy

[Edgy MD]

Yes? Yes?

How may I help you? How may I help you?

[whippoorwill]

Edgy, Edgy

As in:

“That was so edgy, Edgy!”

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

275. Probably the weirdest single in the history of Brucedom was "57 Channels" and its flip side, "Part Man, Part Monkey." The latter has Bruce boasting of his animalistic sex drive and disguising it as a commentary on the Scopes monkey trial, to a raggae beat. Ranked #225

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

276. Said to be an autobiographical tale of Springsteen's migration from East Coast to West Coast--the same trip his parents made in 1969, as referenced within, and the birth of his son.

"Goin' Cali" dates from the 1990ish period when Bruce was writing songs on the bass. There is an obvious connection to "57 Channels" here. I don't mind it, but its ranked #308.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

277. A decomposing body floats downriver in the first verse of "Matomoras Banks" and then it turns tragic, because it's prelude. Bruce was into migrant struggle before it was cool. Ranked #268

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

278. Bruce is always having relationships with gender-neutral names. "Frankie" might be his sweetest romance since Terry in "Backstreets" but isn't quite as epic. Still a really excellent song. Hard to imagine some other artist would have a song like this in his collection and decide it couldn't make an album, much less a double album. Ranked #114

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

279. The Obamatastic "Land of Hopes and Dreams" is one of the highest-scoring Bruce songs from this century on the list at #29. Fans laud it for it being a real E Street Band song but the most prominent features to me are that Irish sound that's all over Wrecking Ball and the gospel singers.

You might know this best as the music accompaniment to Fox's coverage of the MLB postseason one year--they knew the old white demographic that watched baseball.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

280. "Night Fire" couldn't make the cut for The River, and a cleaned-up version appeared on the Ties That Bind box set. Chorus is a bit of an earworm. Ranked #317



Here's a clip of Bruce and Clarence working out the sax solo.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

281. A defunct roadside motel is a metaphor for a grieving widower in "Moonlight Motel" from Western Stars. Rated #235

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

282. Bruce tackles estrangement and lost innocence and maybe death in "My Father's House" from Nebraska. Ranked #68

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

283. This morning on Worst Springsteen Song Remaining in the Countdown we have "Harry's Place" from High Hopes. This rhythmic tune has lots of profanity and would seem to be about drug addiction. Leftover from The Rising 12 years prior. Ranked 324/340, we've now knocked off 29 of the 30 worst Springsteen songs ever, so it's getting better.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

284. Deception and misdirection are right up Bruce's alley, and reflected upon in the sinister title track from Magic. In it, Bruce foretells of the epidemic of fear-mongering or perhaps, the actual death and destruction that awaits us from bad actors; a message about "Fake News," and people cut in half--divided.

Or Bruce could be the magician; his Broadway show opens with a monologue about that very topic. Ranked #160

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

285. A remorseless and corrupt fighter comes home in "The Hitter" from Tom Joad. This song sounds a lot like "Boots of Spanish Leather" or maybe "Hard Rain's..." from Dylan.



This song is ranked #304 for a "monotonous and uninteresting" arrangement. So if you wondered what this song might sound like with a much more dramatic vocal and arrangement, here's a pantydropping take from Tom Jones.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

286. "Bill Horton" (yeah right) entertains troubling doubts about his relationship with his new wife in "Cautious Man" from Tunnel of Love. A little cleaner sound but could easily be a Nebraska cut. Ranked #249