When looking at it from a bird’s eye view, Bruce Springsteen’s discography can feel a little one-note: tales of love, loss, and freedom. While that motif has certainly worked for Springsteen throughout the years, his deeper cuts reveal more sides to Springsteen that break up that monotony.
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Find five deep cuts from Springsteen to explore below.
1. “Thundercrack”
“Thundercrack” was released as part of Springsteen’s collection of rarities, Tracks. The song is played fast and loose, indicative of the fact it was a studio outtake. Springsteen ad-libs over an ear-worm refrain in the song’s intro: Her brains they rattle and her bones they shake / Woah, she’s an angel from the Innerlake. It’s one of Springsteen’s more off-kilter songs, but it makes for an interesting listen.
Thundercrack, baby’s back
This time she’ll tell me how she really feels
Bring me down to her lightning shack
You can watch my partner reelin’
2. “Point Blank”
“Point Blank” is featured on Springsteen’s fifth studio album, The River. “Point Blank” is one of the most painful songs on the record, dealing with heartbreak and loss. Well, they shot you point blank / You been shot in the back / Baby, point blank / You been fooled this time, little girl, that’s a fact, he sings. Springsteen flexes his ability to portray deep emotion with only his voice on this track.
You grew up where young girls they grow up fast
You took what you were handed and left behind what was asked
But what they asked, baby, wasn’t right
You didn’t have to live that life
And I was gonna be your Romeo, you were gonna be my Juliet
These days you don’t wait on Romeos you wait on that welfare cheque
3. “New York City Serenade”
Jersey boy Springsteen creates a vignette of a seedy New York night in this deep cut. The track is a bit of a whiplash at the start. An acoustic guitar riff opens the song before quickly dissolving into a classical piano line intermixed with a few jazzy trills. By the time the lyrics come around, the acoustic guitar line is back and Springsteen is rambling about a couple pickpocketing on Broadway.
Billy, he’s down by the railroad tracks
Sitting low in the back seat of his Cadillac
Diamond Jackie, she’s so intact
As she falls so softly beneath him
Jackie’s heels are stacked
Billy’s got cleats on his boots
Together they’re gonna boogaloo down Broadway
And come back home with the loot
4. “Incident on 57th Street”
“Incident on 57th Street” is another character-driven piece in Springsteen’s discography. The lyrics focus on a young Hispanic couple wrapped up in gang violence in New York. Springsteen’s ability to set a scene in his lyrics is well known, but let this song be yet another piece of evidence.
Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night
With bruised arms and broken rhythm
And a beat-up old Buick but dressed just like dynamite
He tried sellin’ his heart to the hard girls over on easy Street
But they said, Johnny, it falls apart so easy
And you know hearts these days are cheap
5. “Drive All Night”
“Drive All Night” is a forlorn number from The River. The melody and backing beat is perfect for a romantic slow dance, but the lyrics express deep hurt. When I lost you, honey / Sometimes I think I lost my guts too, he sings in a deep register. The song builds into a sweeping ballad that could easily score a John Hughes film. “Drive All Night” is a good one to have in your back pocket whenever heartbreak strikes.
Tonight there’s fallen angels
And they’re waiting for us down in the street
And tonight there’s calling strangers
Hear them crying in defeat
Let them go, let them go
Photo: Danny Clinch / Shore Fire Media
