Music review: Bruce Springsteen – 鈥楧arkness on the Edge of Town鈥�
It was 40 years ago this month that I became a true Bruce Springsteen fan. Yes, I had listened to Springsteen鈥檚 first three albums. But I felt a true connection with his music after hearing my oldest brother鈥檚 copy of 鈥淒arkness on the Edge of Town鈥� on a rainy summer day back in 1978.
Released on my birthday, the New Jersey native鈥檚 much-anticipated follow-up to 鈥淏orn to Run鈥� served as my musical transformation from childhood innocence to the cold reality of adulthood and responsibility. To me it was a masterpiece full of stories from the streets with a gritty focus and steadfast determination to live the American dream.
My wife has always been a 鈥淏orn to Run鈥� gal with her youthful exuberance and romanticized quests for adventure. I鈥檓 more of a 鈥淒arkness on the Edge of Town鈥� guy with my dreams-verses-reality mentality and cautious perspective about the outside world. I guess that鈥檚 one of the reasons why our marriage works so well. Together we demonstrate the passion to pursue our dreams with a never-say-never attitude. One could say we have just the right combination of optimism and skepticism to keep us on an even keel for smooth sailing.
Since it has been well documented and throughly reviewed time and time again over the last four decades, I won鈥檛 waste time analyzing the songs from Springsteen鈥檚 fourth release in any great detail.
While Springsteen crafted a plethora of arrangements in preparation for 鈥淒arkness on the Edge of Town,鈥� only 10 numbers made the final cut.
Every track is a classic. Each one conveying a powerful testimonial about the human spirit. The songs speak of purpose, identity, perseverance and redemption.
鈥淏adlands鈥� opens and emphatically hammers home the message of seizing the moment without faltering as Springsteen sings, 鈥淭alk about a dream, try to make it real/You wake up in the night/With a fear so real/Spend your life waiting/For a moment that just don鈥檛 come/Well, don鈥檛 waste your time waiting.鈥�
The title track somberly closes the set with Springsteen living in the darkness around him without surrendering fully while seeking his moment of triumph as he sings, 鈥淟ives on the line where dreams are found and lost/I鈥檒l be there on time and I鈥檒l pay the cost/For wanting things that can only be found/In the darkness on the edge of town.鈥�
To celebrate my birthday and the 40th anniversary of Springsteen鈥檚 gem, I will be digging out my treasured vinyl copy of 鈥淒arkness on the Edge of Town鈥� for a nostalgic listen and journey down memory lane by once again experiencing the power of 鈥淭he Promised Land鈥� as Springsteen declares, 鈥淭he dogs on Main Street howl because they understand/If I could take one moment into my hands/Mister I ain鈥檛 a boy, no I鈥檓 a man/And I believe in a promised land.鈥�
Sometimes you need to experience a little darkness to truly appreciate the light.