Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A. (Live) REACTION!! | OFFICE BLOKES REACT!!

[@AJ-ut8cz]

This song is honestly heartbreaking when you read the lyrics while listening to it. It's about a man who had a rough life growing up, got into some minor legal trouble and was forced to go to Vietnam to kill people he had nothing against, and when he got back he couldn't find a job or get any mental health treatment for the PTSD he has over seeing his friends killed, and ten years down the road he's still just working in a dangerous dead end job. Born in the USA.

[@MusicMasterTasmania]

best description of the meaning of the song that I have seen. Thank you.

[@thebillryan]

I understand "the office blokes" will avoid politics. They know what the song is about. But they won't say it. They're self censoring and pandering to an audience that actually wants them to say it. Little do they know.

[@davidmitnick868]

Typical career path for a working class American

[@TowGunner]

Great to see a draft dodger leading the PTSD charge. 🖕🏻

[@ACHEESEDANISHZ]

I've always understood it as he enlists to avoid going to prison. Survives Vietnam to find he can't get a job or get the help he needs. Only to end up in the penitentiary he was trying to avoid by enlisting.

[@gordieparenteau6555]

A lot of people think the song is a jingoistic celebration of America, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. In actuality, the song is a scathing social commentary about America in the 1980's as told through the eyes of a Vietnam veteran.

[@robertk2007]

Reagan tried to use this song as his theme in 1984 election. Completely tone deaf politician who didn’t even know what the song meant

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

@@robertk2007 Or didn't care

[@camperoh]

Yeah, the campaign did the same thing with Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" that year.

[@TheRealAb216]

@@robertk2007 right wingers still do this.

[@jkrogs1843]

@@TheRealAb216 nah we hate Bruce Springsteen just as much as he hates America.

[@RomesThe59]

The song is not bragging about being born in the USA, but rather a harsh criticism of how the USA has handled foreign conflicts

[@Green.P3]

Most people are gonna think that because of how successful the USA is

[@smokingthereefer92]

Not even necessarily about handling foreign conflicts. But about the country back home as he returned. The hiring man back home would hire him if "it was up to me." His brother died losing him as well as his love in Saigon. And seeing nothing good came out of the conflict seeing the vietcong was still around while his brother was not. "Born in the USA" to me means he was raised on morals that was being lost depending on who you were during that time. Although his neighbor betrayed him, he would still be the first to defend his neighbor if need be. And he prides himself on that.

[@TowGunner]

Nothing better than a draft dodger to express criticism of one’s country.

[@RomesThe59]

@@TowGunner right, and then we elected one president in 2016

[@TowGunner]

@@RomesThe59 1992

[@theheadlesslegend]

During boot camp, they played this song while we were being awarded. I almost lost my bearing when the song started playing cuz I was thinking “I hope they realize how anti-military this song actually is someday.”

[@kingjamestres]

I'm pretty sure they're a lot more aware than most people. I had a friend who was a marine tell me that they played War(what is it good for) by Edwin Starr as they were leaving Iraq. Military leadership are aware of the f*ck up parts of the military but they carry a "ends justify the means" type of personality.

[@jonm7888]

@@kingjamestres Bruce actually does a great version of that song.

[@brianorzel1873]

It's a sneaky song. Too many people don't realize that it a song that protests how the Vietnam vets were treated when they got home.

[@OGS2099]

"End up like a dog that's been beat too much, til you spend half your life just covering up..."

[@jilliansmaniotto2326]

i’m always amazed when people use this song as a patriotic anthem, especially in political campaigns. it’s actually incredibly critical of the US, and talks about how the government sent all these young men to vietnam to fight a pointless war.. tons died for no reason or came home with terrible physical and mental injuries, and were abandoned by the government. no jobs. no money. no support. it’s a really powerful song. then you see some idiot politicians (particularly of one certain party 👀) use it in their campaign like some upbeat patriotic anthem.. not realizing that *they* are the very people was speaking out against in these lyrics.

[@kevinprzy4539]

not just that but also the average citizen treated vietnam vets like trash.

[@MrfuckinBeilke]

It's hilarious how many so-called "American Patriots" don't know that this is an Anti-War / Anti-Imperialist song. They just love to sing along to the chorus.

[@adventureswithjonny87]

I was born in the USA!

[@jimmyrhoades650]

Knew this comment was coming in spades. The song is about the struggles of military members and vets, not your political propaganda. People I’m sure you spit on like so many other “liberals” did when soldiers came back from Vietnam, so don’t champion it. I’m sorry are you under the impression that “patriots” want their family members to die serving you, they don’t. Respecting the military does not equal pro war clown. And my response is much the same for fortunate son.

[@rmr5044]

@@jimmyrhoades650 It's incredibly ironic that you say "the song is about the struggles of military members and vets, *not your political propaganda"* when it's Ronald Reagan who famously misinterpreted the song and used it as a pro-America anthem in 1984. And now you have conservative Republicans STILL blasting this song at political rallies. This prompted Bruce Springsteen to say "this was when the *Republicans first mastered the art of co-opting anything and everything that seemed fundamentally American,* and if you were on the other side, you were somehow unpatriotic. I make American music, and I write about the place I live and who I am in my lifetime. Those are the things I'm going to struggle for and fight for." This song is about the hypocrisy and stupidity of blind nationalism, the unnecessary failure that was the Vietnam War, the destruction of the working class, and how Vietnam veterans fit into all of this. Also, the Vietnam War was the first publicly televised war in history. So Americans back home actually saw for the first time the atrocities of war and what the US soldiers were engaging in. And most Americans had no idea why we were even there to begin with other than the "sToP cOmMuniSm" bullshit. So when Americans back home saw footage of the US carpet-bombing civilian cities, instigating brutal massacres against civilians, the bodies of dead kids in the streets, and towns reduced to rubble, it's no wonder that American civilians weren't too happy about what the American soldiers were doing across the world in a foreign land. Btw, there was actually *never a documented case of American civilians spitting on Vietnam veterans.*

[@MovieGuy808]

@@jimmyrhoades650 Sounds like you got some emotional baggage on your back there, sir. You’re making quite a few assumptions to reach a rather unstable conclusion. My dad was both a liberal and a Vietnam vet, two bronze stars and two purple hearts. Sweeping generalizations almost never accurately reflect reality. One thing we can agree on - this song is awesome 👏

[@jimmyrhoades650]

Sorry pal I am in fact not Ronald Reagan so it's not that ironic. Ronald Reagan was pretty anti Vietnam if you didn't know btw. Him saying that "(America's future) rests in the message of hope in songs such as (Born in the U.S.A)" is actually not a misinterpretation, its extremely on theme with the song. You're just repeating political posturing. I agree with Bruce's quote however and its hilarious that he disagrees with co-opting the song and says he just an American making music about his experiences and you proceed to immediately co-opt it with your own political beliefs. Also, did you know you can critique America and still be proud of who you are and where you come from? Bruce certainly is. Conservatives are the ones most of time who can actually relate and know the struggles of being or knowing a veteran, they are well aware of it's lyrics. I can tell you personally that when I blast this song and the first words are 'born down in a deadman's town' I can think of all my personal struggles but yet how proud I am of who I am, its very unifying song for americans, we all have are struggles and we're all born in the USA. But hey thanks for the history lesson man, I am aware of the events of the Vietnam war tho and are you under the impression somehow that I am pro Vietnam? As you try to justify the poor treatment of DRAFTED soldiers doing what they're told so that kind of flies in the face of the song don't you think? Um buddy 'spitting in the face' was clearly figurative and a euphemism but its hilarious you pointed that out.

[@tebindack]

This song is NOT about the American Dream or American pride. It’s about the American Nightmare! Listen again.

[@DoggyHateFire]

I think it's more known now, but a lot of people didn't realize this song is about things like how messed up the Vietnam War was and how deindustrialization destroyed communities. Ronald Reagan wanted to use it as a campaign song for his re-election and Springsteen said he couldn't.

[@errol-ih4jy]

i was at this concert, Bruce rocked them all night 3 hour set.

[@Scottwvu]

I don’t know if it’s equivalent, but London Calling by the clash gets me fired up. It’s a classic

[@buddhabling323]

God save the queen by the sex pistols does it for me lol

[@kevinp8108]

**PLEASE READ** It's obvious that the Office Blokes didn't listen to the lyrics of Born In the U.S.A. It's a protest song about how poorly American Vietnam veterans were treated by other Americans when the soldiers came home after a war to protect the United States from communism. Vietnam veterans were not treated to a heroes' parade instead they came home to quiet American airports, and later they were discriminated against by the American public. Many were called BABY KILLERS and murderers by those who protested the war! Vietnam veterans couldn't find jobs as described in the song that a vet couldn't get a job at the refinery where he probably used to work before going to war. The hiring manager said "son if it was up to me" meaning that he would hire the vet but his bosses wouldn't approve it. His VA man or Veterans Affairs worker told him "don't you understand" that there is no support for returning vets, whether it was job assistance or mental health assistance. In the song, Springstein describes a brother who died in the Vietnam war, in actuality, it was a close friend who he considered a brother that was killed in action. Springstein quotes..."they're still there, he's all gone" He's basically saying that his brother (close friend) died for nothing because America lost the war in Vietnam. Many veterans committed suicide or became alcoholics and/or were addicted to illegal drugs. If you've ever seen the movie FIRST BLOOD starring Sylvester Stallone, the movie depicts how badly Vietnam vets were treated by their own people. Please go back and carefully listen to the song and discover the true message of the song! It's not about how great the USA is, even though, it is GREAT!

[@crashje99]

Although the veterans on the recent wars weren't treated like Vietnam vets, we are in the same place as veterans of a war lost by politicians. Especially with the debacle in Afghanistan, so many lost in vain.

[@cdubs9918]

It really isn't a "Patriotic anthem". It's critical of America and rightfully so. We ask our veterans to do so much and ignore them when they need help. We treated Vietnam Vets like the plague.

[@danawitta9739]

It's a great song and most Americans loves to sing the chorus and it plays at lots of firework shows but it's actually a criticism of how veterans were treated in America after the Vietnam War. I think Little Stevie was on Bruce's right in the video

[@cfraase]

This was in 1988 and Stevie had left the band. He rejoined it at the reunion in 1999.

[@robertk2007]

Steven left before Born in the USA album

[@IUBOSSFAN]

It's Nils Lofgren who replaced Stevie when he left, and is still in the reunited ESB along with Stevie, Roy, Max, Patti, Jake and Garry...

[@kingjamestres]

The greatest shame is most people do not know this song is under no circumstance some nationalist song praising the US. Yet you see it played all the time at republican national conventions and rallies showing that a lot of Americans let alone people outside the US don't know the lyrics to this song.

[@emmef7970]

Can't count the times I have heard it at 4th of July firework celebrations and parties. People need to read the lyrics.

[@cereal-killer4455]

Cmon guys, born in the USA is a sad and critical song of being born in the USA for a veteran who was forced into the military. “End up like a dog that’s been beat too much untill you live half your life just giving up”, the lyrics say it all.

[@cfraase]

This is from 1988 in the Human Rights tour. Sting was one of the other performers.I believe this is in Argentina. Stevie van Zandt was not in the band for this tour as he'd left the band to tour solo. He came back during the Reunion tour in 1999. Nils Lofgren and Patti Scialfa replaced him and both stayed in the band when Stevie rejoined it.

[@1tishhead]

Artists on the tour were Sting, Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssou n'Dour. They would add other performers, usually from the local countries, at each stop.

[@wegotlumpsofitroundtheback5065]

As I recall at the time the song came out in 1984 Bruce said in interviews he was shocked that concert audiences clearly didn't listen to the lyrics as they thought the song was a patriotic anthem. He became so upset he dropped it from his tours of the USA for years, playing it only in Europe.

[@wmscott1975]

He is without a doubt the greatest live performer of all time,seen him in ‘82 when I was 7 & the last time would’ve been around 5 years ago when Tom Morello was in his band. The guy is a living legend

[@astrodoops]

I saw him in 1991 (unfortunately without the e street band) and again in the early 2000s I believe? I’ve been to hundreds of concerts, thousands if you consider the fact that I was in a band, and I’ve never seen ANYONE put more into a performance than Bruce. It’s the timelessness of his energy performing live that I don’t think has been replicated.

[@rvfusjc9653]

I think Michael Jackson is the greatest performer of all time Imo. Not even close. But bruce is for sure one of the best to ever do it.

[@grahamkey8496]

@@astrodoops 100%. He leave it all on the stage. 4 hours passes just like 90 minutes.

[@ExUSSailor]

At danger of sounding like a broken record, this is probably the most misundersyood song of all-time. It is NOT a patriotic, flag waving song, but, is a harsh indictment of the U.S.

[@davidnicholson6680]

Easily the most misunderstood song of all time.

[@Lonejustice1]

This was from the Human Rights Tour with Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracey Chapman.

[@maryerpenbach9517]

The angry, anguished broken promise of the American dream.

[@ILovePortugal-l9r]

The audience singing."Born in the USA" with a Spanish accent sounded funny.

[@firefighterchick]

Some view this song as unpatriotic, that can't be farther from the truth. A true patriot acknowledge the issues that need addressed. A more or less drafted Vietnam veteran comes home to a failing economy where he had to take a highly dangerous, dead end job to pay the bills and a VA that is underfunded (still is)that can't get him the mental help he needs.

[@Cultivation420]

Thank you Office guys. Too hear people from a different country sing this song with a pride that is totally foreign to it now. #Thanks Millenials F*ck Heads.

[@WD40318]

This is 100% a veterans song. It is just about the injustices of being a typical young American man during the Vietnam War. I think of Rambo from first blood every time I hear it. AND IRONICALLY it provides UNITY because of a common TRAGEDY among veterans. This is a song only Vietnam vets can sing together and embrace being an a tough calloused American. Bad ass song.

[@matthewdunham1689]

Most people have no idea what this song is about. 🤣❤❤❤ The Boss is the greatest modern day song writer in the USA 🇺🇸

[@andrewc318]

My pittbuls favorite song every time

[@tommygiavatto3850]

I live in Asbury Park. When you come you have to eat at moonstruck or mcloones supper club

[@Cultivation420]

You know what? F**k that! They know the song better than we do....!!!!

[@johnkasbohm7839]

This is a very angry song. That's pretty much all you need to know.

[@matthewdunham1689]

Born in the USA is wonderfully subversive. ❤❤❤

[@bondzo7184]

London calling ! Sorry Manchester guys but it’s that

[@twostepsforwardonestepback]

The drummer is Max Weinberg father of current Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg.

[@shawnanderson6313]

Also Wax Weinberg was on the Conan O'Brian show

[@The1painkiller]

An anti-war song and also how horrible vets are treated.

[@saintsataniko2116]

The British equivalent is "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys! LOL "It's Coming Home...Coming Home to Rome!"

[@larryk731]

You guys collectively missed the point. Springsteen tends to put happy upbeat music over extremely depressing lyrics and this is no exception. A Vietnam vet (drafted because born in a dead mans town and couldn't avoid it) arrives home, has trouble getting a job and generally suffers in life. The whole album features equally depressing lyrics with upbeat tempos (except for My Hometown) making it one of my favorites of all time.

[@Cultivation420]

It kinda upsets me. How in the F*CK are they singing it louder than a American crowd?! And we want to keep them out?! They're who we need in this next evolution of our country?! That love is all we ask for entry.

[@sydney4911]

Probably the very best concert that I ever experienced. Was just me and 80,000 other fans sitting out on the lawn at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin.

[@kennethrainero8664]

80,000 at Alpine Valley...ok

[@joshw1687]

U know u got mike to really laugh when he puts his head into his hand 😂

[@user-wr9ej6xe4j]

Funny enough, Cleveland blew up Bruce Springsteen to become a major artist. Back in the day they gave him major radio play when most others didnt. WMMS a legendary rock radio station still today, played him heavy on rotation

[@xcaliber6974]

So New Jersey had nothing to do with it? Have you ever been down the shore? Dude you have no idea.

[@user-wr9ej6xe4j]

@@xcaliber6974 I didnt say that at all, calm down lol

[@isthatwhatemptymeans8222]

Look this is a more commercial Boss, the song "Racing in the Street" is one of the best written songs by an American scribe since Dylan.

[@danno7466]

Lyrics Lyrics Lyrics

[@DUDEfreestyle]

my dad had this old old school set up, like two tall speakers literally 4ft tall and the whole 6 disc cd changers seperate EQ etc etc. His fucking favorite song.....Bruce Springsteen....and he wasn't even born in the US 😄😁

[@robertk2007]

Springsteen is from Freehold, NJ but, the band and started in Asbury Park

[@sobrevalorado]

Buenos Aires 1988. Last show of the Human Rights Tour (Amnesty International) with Bruce plus Sting, Peter Gabriel, Youssou NDour and Tracy Chapman

[@robertk2007]

Little Steven left the band before Born in the USA album. He wasn’t with the band here

[@thelatenightbar]

As young as Bruce looks in this video.. Little Steven Van Zandt may be absent.. off doing his own thing for a bit.. Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul

[@azizmooshoolov8922]

Don't bother finding out what the song is about or anything. It portrays a Vietnam Vet coming home and getting shat on. It's not about national pride. And for Christ sakes can ANYONE suggest one if the countless E Street live clips form their thousands live shows?This and the 80's Born to Run montage video are NOT THAT. Backstreets, Prove it All Night, Ghost of Tom Joad with Tom Morello, ANYTHING from the 1999 NYC show. Jesus, Tenth Avenue Freeze Out.

[@RaoulDuke77]

Silvio you're thinking of

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Watch Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a real American rock band

[@andrewc318]

Stone pony exactly

[@anandvijayan2033]

Springsteen never played at Live Aid. He later said that it was one of his biggest regrets.

[@CheezusChrist1776]

If you all are wondering why the numbers are down on a video like this, it's because here in America Bruce is now viewed by a large portion of America as a pariah. We as a country are so divided that if you have different political views from someone they are essentially dead to you. We are the definition of a nation divided. Hope you guys can help when China and Russia inevitably come for us soon. Otherwise we'll all be learning new languages sooner than I care to admit

[@doommonger7784]

Three office blokes who just don't get it. No surprise.

[@thedealer777]

I'm an 'old-fart" now, but 50 years ago I was 17, and used to hang out in front of Murphy's" five & dime" on Friday nights, sitting on top of my "Knucklehead." waiting for young to come by and "talk." My "pick-up line" was real smooth: "Hey baby, you want to wrap your legs around something hard and heavy, and go for a 'long' ride." Pathetic! However, I did take some "long rides."

[@mcm8737]

My favorite song by bruce is BLINDED BY THE LIGHT!! mainly because he ain't singing it, not a huge fan of his singing, but he can write some good songs!!! BLINDED BY THE LIGHT, preformed by MANFORD MANN AND THE BAND written by YA GOT IT BRUCE!👍

[@pushpak]

Born in Long Branch, raised in Freehold

[@VivaCohen]

Born in the USA is actually about a Vietnam vet who comes home and doesn't get a lot of support on their return (which is what happened to a lot of Vietnam vets since the war was so unpopular). Springsteen is great though. Weird to hear you compare Springsteen to Ed Sheeran haha (although I like Ed Sheeran's music too)

[@Tijuanabill]

As usual, the stupid crowd doesn't understand the satire of the chorus, and just blindly sing along because MURCA. How can nobody listed to the lyrics?

[@NikkiCox81]

John Mellencamp > Bruce Springsteen

[@jonm7888]

They just made a song together.

[@adventureswithjonny87]

This is an old song by Bruce but everyone in America knows this one.

[@emmef7970]

Unfortunately not everyone understands the message.

[@pushpak]

3:22 Amnesty International Tour.

[@RowdyRuth]

💔

[@emmef7970]

So weird to hear this song at 4th of July holiday celebrations. This is not a party anthem, it's a protest song. Anarchy in the UK is more along the same lines as well as the Cranberries - Zombie and Declan McKenna - British Bombs. Blokes should listen to or read the lyrics, the song takes on a completely different meaning.

[@donovandelaney3171]

Japan is the best country in the world.

[@DJUpdraft-DJExit-DJPort]

Good water and food mukbang song.

[@Westpark16]

I can't even make it thru this.

[@criatianoify]

😈🇺🇸😈🇬🇧🤭

[@holysquire8989]

This song makes me feel so grateful to be American.

[@kevinp8108]

@Holy Squire - you do know that this is a protest song about how poorly Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home after the war?

[@dj-um7el]

You guys got the meaning wrong. The message of this song is more negative.

[@rancidcrawfish]

Never been much for Bruce but it's interesting to watch the reaction nonetheless.

[@Westpark16]

I love my country and Bruce but never liked this song Sorry not sorry it sucks Like a screaming cat Blows

[@SilvanaDil]

If Bruce Springsteen were honest: "I write good songs, but I basically play only three chords on my guitar, and whenever I open my mouth and sing, I'm really having a bowel movement."

[@XISCify]

If you're going to make a video reacting to and commenting on a song, you should actually listen to the lyrics, because you clearly didn't on this one.

[@Gashouse69]

Bruce has ostracized half of his fan base in the last decade or so by becoming uber political on stage. If I spend my hard earned money to see an artist live I don't want to hear a 20 min speech about their political beliefs. Doesn't matter if I agree or not. Save that for your interviews and such, but don't do it on my time and my dime. I love Bruce's earlier stuff but due to his rhetoric I now turn the radio whenever his songs come on. Other artist do this as well, (see Bono, Aaron Lewis, Sting, etc.) but what makes Bruce so hypocritical is he made millions portraying himself as everyman. A blue collar guy that represents the middle class working man. Perhaps he use to be, but somewhere along the lines he crossed over to be a typical elitist, condescending snob.

[@MrfuckinBeilke]

When then you must really hate this song. Or were you unaware it's super political??

[@johncurtis7186]

Why turn the station if you really love Bruce’s music? You sound like the typical, radical conservative, snowflake ❄️

[@Mokkari77]

Gimme a break. Bruce's politics didn't come out of nowhere. He's always been that way. It's just you became more conservative and don't want to admit you're now the person he's against.

[@Gashouse69]

@@MrfuckinBeilke Aware and didn't care. Tired of hearing it but don't hate it. You missed my point entirely.

[@Gashouse69]

@@johncurtis7186 Nice try troll. We Independents think for ourselves.

[@Westpark16]

It's ok America..you don't have to like this song..It's terrible so cheesy and out of tune. Good God.

[@Annonymous0283745]

seriously, how did this guy ever get popular? he is awful. I've heard old hound dogs fart more musically.

[@jeffstevens4262]

Seriously WTF??????

[@drewgamezzz8482]

I used to love this song, but I just can’t stand Bruce anymore tbh.

[@moniqueleroux2198]

Probably the least relevant Bruce Springsteen song.

[@DRlFTIN]

Bruce Springsteen is one of the most overrated "musicians" of all time.

[@jeffstevens4262]

WTF???

[@kfgrip]

Bruce Springsteen is OVER RATED. Good song writer horrible singer.

[@samcalven12]

Don't be so butthurt.

[@OGS2099]

That's not accurate at all. You're wrong

[@4211234]

I disagree, I really like his voice, all subjective aint it? but he is one of the most famous singers of all time, cant argue with that.

[@MrfuckinBeilke]

Overrated for 45 years?

[@TheMarkc614]

Aww I think someone is upset that Bruce is a Democrat

[@ymmij5217]

This song is not patriotic but it is realistic