Why Bruce Springsteen Changed His Writing Style After the Release of His Debut Album

Inspiration and influence are funny things, as when one body of work or artist is consumed extensively, it seemingly becomes a part of the person consuming it. Consequently, and unpurposefully, they start to create in that very style. That is seemingly what happened to Bruce Springsteen on his album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., as his deep affinity for Bob Dylan bled through and inspired comparisons from the public.

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Bruce Springsteen has always cited Bob Dylan as one of his most significant influences. Thus, in his early days, and even in his later days, Springsteen has sounded and written like Dylan. However, upon the release of his debut album, Springsteen claimed to have abandoned that style of writing. Well, that is, of course, up for interpretation. After all, can someone completely rid themself of one of their foundational inspirations?

As a matter of fact, Columbia Records signed Springsteen thanks to his Dylan-esque disposition and music. Springsteen recalled in his memoir, Born To Run, “The stock was way up on singer-songwriters in those days. The charts were full of them, with James Taylor leading the pack. I was signed to Columbia, along with Elliott Murphy, John Prine, and Loudon Wainwright, ‘new Dylan’s all, to compete in acoustic battle at the top of the charts with our contemporaries.’”

While these similarities certainly benefited Springsteen, they also caused him some creative conflict. So, that is why he vowed never to write differently.

Bruce Springsteen’s Early Songwriting Came From an “Un-Self-Conscious Place”

Concerning the Dylan comparisons, Springsteen added in his book, “I never wrote completely in that style again. Once the record was released, I heard all the Dylan comparisons, so I steered away from it. But the lyrics and spirit of ‘Greetings’ came from an un-self-conscious place. Your early songs emerge from a moment when you’re writing with no sure prospect of ever being heard. Up until then, it’s been just you and your music. That only happens once.”

Per his comments, Bruce Springsteen was not trying to sound like or imitate Bob Dylan. Instead, that is just what happened, and given his affinity for the “Hurricane” singer, it’s not surprising nor unusual. Frankly, this creative plight is comparable to the characteristics a child picks up from their parental figure. In other words, it’s a conversation that shouldn’t reside in the topics of stealing or plagiarism. Rather, it’s a conversation that seemingly falls under the age-old discussion of nature vs nurture.

Photo by Martin Philbey/Redferns