How Bruce Springsteen’s song Thunder Road changed me and my next generation

I’ve just seen the Bruce Springsteen movie, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. Directed by Scott Cooper starring Jeremy Allen White

The movie focuses on a period of time around Springsteen’s writing of Nebraska (his sixth studio album released in 1982.) An artist trying to create new music, the movie depicts his struggles, pushing against what his management and the public expected of him.

“A character driven drama with music,” is how Bruce describes the movie in an interview with ABC News, David Muir.

The movie covered some topics that were not ‘upbeat.’ Springsteen’s mental state, his struggles with depression, self-doubts, his father’s mental illness/alcoholism. Jeremy as Bruce, shares his inner struggles to get the album he wanted to create at that time in his life. Bruce pared things down for this album, recording the songs unaccompanied on a four-track recorder in the bedroom of a rental house in New Jersey. Nebraska is a collection of Springsteen classics – raw, emotive lyrics, moody sounds. Musical artistry.

The movie’s emotional depth gives an insight into Bruce’s life. I enjoyed it, but I’m not saying it will be for everyone.

Over the years I have watched plenty of Bruce Springsteen interviews. He speaks quietly, is humble, and articulate – a deep thinker. He is a storyteller and I have been a fan for decades.

Earlier in the year (April) an American Publication, Broad Sound Magazine, placed a callout for “Exercises in Thunder Road.” They were looking for interpretive contributions around Bruce Springsteen’s song, Thunder Road, released in 1975 on his Born to Run Album, his third studio album. That’s 50 years ago! What an album. Of course I sent in an idea, to Ethan the Editor.

The pitching process

(Scroll to my Thunder Road essay if you want to skip the back story!)

Hey Ethan,

Bruce Springsteen toured Australia in 1985, on his Born in the USA Tour and I saw him at Brisbane’s QEII Stadium – an outdoors event – on Sunday March 31^st. Many years later I saw Bruce and the E Street Band play in Brisbane at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on March 26, 2003.

I was wondering if you would be interested in a story about being at those two concerts and the serendipitous moments that followed. I like to think its all due to the inspiration from that opening track on Born to Run.

Story Title: Thunder Road changed me and my next generation. Using lyrics from Thunder Road I’d write a story based around how the ensuing decades of my life have been poignantly undermined by the Thunder Road lyrics

Ethan replies:

Hi Jennifer,

This sounds lovely to me, I’d be very happy to run with it. We’re flexible on delivery date and word count–would something around the end of May work? And as I say, just let the needs of the piece dictate the length.

Any other thoughts and questions?

Thanks!

Ethan

At the end of May, I received an apologetic email, sent to the group:

I want to apologize for lengthy editing delays and explain that this is largely due to the fact that I ended up accepting (holy shit) about 60 pitches for this volume.

That’s really, really exciting–imagine how thick this book is going to be, and how dense with good stuff, from critical essays to personal essays to creative nonfiction to sonnet to haiku to stuff I can’t even classify. That does mean, though, that it’ll be a while before it’s in our hands–the August date I projected to some of you seems like a fairy tale, and “this year” is my new goal, but that might well not even be realistic. Our current special edition took about 10 months to come together, and that featured 12 pieces. So this is going to be a project that chugs along consistently, but one that will involve some hurrying up and waiting on an individual basis. As you might know, Broad Sound is a two-person operation–I edit everything, and Sydney fact-checks everything personally and copy-edits twice. So I hope you’ll bear with us as we put this together with thought and care.

A podcast episode as well

Ethan also created a podcast series, via The Broad Sound podcast feed: The E Street Shuffle. They planned to go through each Bruce Springsteen album, one a month, through to the end of the year. I put my hand up for Western Stars, released in 2019, its one of my favourite Springsteen albums. (I wrote a review for Western Stars for the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend Magazine.)

Excited about this Broad Sound Compilation, but …

Ethan loved my essay, “Hey Jennifer, I’ve finally gone through this lovely, lovely essay. As you can see in the doc, I’ve left a few notes, but just little style things, nothing major. Such great work on this essay, thank you so much for sharing it with us!

Cheers,

E

Then this email arrived in mid August:

I’m writing to let you know that all Broad Sound operations are going on indefinite pause while I process and recover from a personal emergency. This leaves the fate of projects like Exercises in Thunder Road (and the corresponding podcast) somewhat ambiguous. I have a strong desire to continue with this project in the future. However, I respect anyone who would prefer to pull their piece of work and seek publication elsewhere. Please let me know if you do so—it wouldn’t mean removal from the now-theoretical volume, I’d just like to be able to see the fate of your piece and cheer you on!

Thank you for understanding, and for your wholehearted participation in this process to date. It’s been my pleasure and honor to work with you, and I do hope this is not the end of the line, but it’s simply irresponsible to make promises at this time.

Peace, love, and Bruce.

Ethan

My Thunder Road essay

Will Ethan get around to publishing the Thunder Road edition? Who knows. After seeing the Springsteen movie, I’ve decided to self publish my story on my website. After that lengthy intro, here’s my personal essay.

How Thunder Road changed me and my next generation

When Bruce Springsteen released “Thunder Road” in 1975, I was in grade five. It took another five years before, as a gangly teenager, I discovered Bruce’s music and was forever changed.

Throughout my high school years Bruce Springsteen’s albums played on repeat in my bedroom, competing with the psychedelic Pink Floyd and heavy metal Deep Purple coming from my older brother’s bedroom, up the hallway. I cannot recall my parents telling either of us to turn the music down. They may have. We probably didn’t listen.

Lyrics have always been important to me. I love words. I love how, when cleverly combined, words convey a special meaning. 

Bruce Springsteen is a master songwriter. When a prophet preaches to their disciples, the disciples lean in. Since my teenage years I’ve been leaning in to Bruce Springsteen’s stories and his uncanny ability to transform the ordinary to the extraordinary. His lyrical masterpieces convey a narrative that resonates at an individual level and speaks more broadly to the masses. 

Those lines from “Thunder Road” have “spoken” to me — intimately — at various life moments.

From your front porch to my front seat

On Sunday March 31, 1985, as a 19 year old university student I was with my friend Catherine, her boyfriend and a few mates at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium (QEII) Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Along with 45,000 fans we came to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play at the outdoor stadium — the Aussie leg of the Born in the USA Tour.   

Being an outdoors event we were exposed to nature’s elements. Early into the three-and-a-half hour session the skies opened and it rained – heavily! Did we care? Of course not. Our hair disheveled and dripping, damp clothing clinging, we strolled past groups of fans, stoned and glassy eyed. They were oblivious of our intentions; discreetly maneuvering towards the front for a better position to watch Bruce and the E Street band rock the stadium. 

When they played the fourth song in the encore set; John Fogerty’s “Rockin’ All Over the World”, we did not want them to leave the stage. But the stadium’s location in the heart of residential Brisbane meant there was a sound curfew. They had to abide or cop a ridiculous fine. The finale was a sensational cover version of The Contours, “Do You Love Me?”  

And just like that, the most amazing concert of my young life was over! 

Oh, come take my hand

We’re riding out tonight to case the promised land

Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road

Oh, Thunder Road.

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain

It wasn’t the Stone Pony in Asbury Park New Jersey, or Slane Castle in County Meath Ireland, but it was Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre. On March 26, 2003 for the second time I was in the crowd waiting for Bruce and the E Street band, now on their Rising tour. This time we were not interrupted by the rain because it was indoors.  

At some point during the evening, I remember Bruce standing at the front of the stage. Turning his back to the audience, he took a step off the stage’s edge, entrusting his body to the outstretched hands in the mosh pit. From the stands, I watched the Boss crowd surf from one side to the other. 

How I wished I was down there in that heaving throng, helping pass that jean clad body. To place a hand on “The Boss.” There was a reason I was in the stands and not down the front. I was five months pregnant; with twins. I must have pre-booked the seated tickets knowing I was pregnant. That would be the only reason for selecting seats over the standing area. And yeah, I was with my husband, one of the unknowns from the outdoor stadium crowd in 1985!

For four non-stop hours we were captivated by The Boss and the E Street Band. The energy in that venue was electric. They gave everything. “Thunder Road” was the last song before the encore set.

That in utero experience must have rubbed off on one of my twin boys. At the same age I was at my first outdoor Springsteen concert, I caught my son raiding my vinyl record collection, removing my original boxed album set, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live 1975 – 1985. He is partial to Bruce AND interestingly he’s drawn to words, just like his Mama. 

Tonight we’ll be free, all the promises will be broken

That Born in the USA 1985 tour merch shirt, the one with the sexy jean clad bum, red cap hanging from the back right pocket, has reappeared. My husband (now my ex-husband), who purchased it at the 1985 Brisbane concert, in middle age grew too big for the T-shirt for it to be worn ‘decently’. So without hesitation I said, “Yes please, I’ll have it.” And I happily wore that t-shirt until menopausal changes in my body meant it looked ridiculously tight on me.   

That old T-shirt was destined for the local op shop. Tossed in a bag in the garage, until my son, Charley (the Bruce fan), rummaging through, rescued it. A slim 22 year old, he wears it well. And, incredibly, 40 years later, the shirt has held up, no holes or rips!

Casing the promised land

Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics speak of life’s dreams and hopes. He has lived, loved, and lost. I can hard relate. A master craftsmen, his words effortlessly capture the essence of every emotional journey I have been on, and then some.

The door’s open but the ride ain’t free.

Well ain’t that the truth. Living and loving comes at a cost. 

So you’re scared and you’re thinking
That maybe we ain’t that young anymore
Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night
You ain’t a beauty, but hey, you’re alright
Oh, and that’s alright with me.

That’s alright with me too. And I know, my next generation is alright too.

Roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair

Thank you Bruce. For helping make sense around those curve balls life throws at you. For understanding the struggles. And the pain. For dancing between the light and shade. 

Yes, my window is down and the wind is blowing. There is magic in the night. Heaven can wait a little longer, cause I’m pulling out of here to win.