Bruce Springsteen on the soulful voice behind "Nebraska"

In-between his chart-topping album "The River" and his classic "Born in the U.S.A.," Bruce Springsteen recorded a collection of songs on a 4-track cassette recorder in a bedroom at his rented farmhouse - dark, mournful, and rough-hewn songs that reflected the upheaval in his life at a time of rising success. The resulting album, 1982's "Nebraska," would be one of his most personal, and helped solidify his status as one of music's most soulful voices. Springsteen talks with correspondent Jim Axelrod about how "Nebraska" spoke to his evolution as a songwriter. Axelrod also talks with Warren Zanes, author of the new book, "Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's 'Nebraska'." (This story was originally broadcast on April 30, 2023.)
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[@laurahykes9206]

Nothing like a Bruce Springsteen Concert!!! Love him and his music!!! So appreciative of his fans too.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Love you too ❤

[@MrCharliefarlie123]

I saw him last nite at Wembley and i'm so emotional , he's something else, his passion his spirituality gets me !! See him if your a fan because he' and the E street band are amazing !!🙏💙

[@sunshine3914]

Beyond amazing. Finally got to see him & the E Street Band ten years ago, & now I can die happy.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

@@sunshine3914thanks you for your kind words

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you for your kind words ❤

[@MrCharliefarlie123]

@@BruceSpringsteen-k9h my pleasure 🥰

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

@@MrCharliefarlie123 you’re welcome my friend! How long have you been my fan now?

[@owenwilberforce6138]

Nebraska really cut deep into the myth that Springsteen was only a stadium rocker at heart. It was mainly simple chords, stark images, and by far my favorite album of his. Not even Dylan in his whole body of work created any kind of thematic group of songs that cut this deep. Bruce did something that the culture at the time, with all its synths and big drum production, would never consider doing- putting out the demos. This is why the album has aged so well- it was not made with anything but expression of feeling as the goal- with nothing but the songs to do the talking. Bruce comes off as an everyman but few could tell stories as well as he did. Haunting is the best word for this album.

[@hdtravel1]

An American Music Legend still inspiring and entertaining us all. Love this story.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you for your kind words

[@simonmcleish2703]

Can't believe he's 75. I remember him doing Glastonbury a few years ago and I was transfixed watching his whole set. He is looking older but for some reason when on stage the boss is young as ever.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you for your kind words ❤

[@indranidasgupta8982]

I’ve been a Springsteen fan since 1979. My favorite is (and IMO his darkest) Darkness on the Edge of Town. Some will say Born to Run… but this is his take and I bow to the Master’s Voice.

[@knowsutrue]

I think the song Darkness on the Edge of Town is a stunning masterpiece. I’ll play it as loud as I can sing it and shout it

[@nimim.markomikkila1673]

For me Nebraska is second only to The River.

[@indranidasgupta8982]

@@nimim.markomikkila1673 we all have our favorites ☺️

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

@@knowsutruelol thank you ❤

[@maureen669]

I was late to the Bruce Party, and I live down the shore! Shopping around I see Bruce at every record store and Ok I'll check this guy out. Nebraska was my first album of his. A light went on and it's still burning brightly. God I adore him.

[@jhelmuth87]

Watching this at 37 I'm going through the same feelings and emotions Bruce was going through when he wrote these songs. I may need to rent a room for a few weeks somewhere and write some songs.

[@Bodyknowledge77]

"Atlantic City" is such a magical recording/ song. It jerks my tears. One of the first recordings I got as a kid in the 80's was the cassette of Born In The U.S.A (purchased in N.J) I've gone through the songwriting creative process myself with notebooks, mobile device recordings etc etc. This was/is a neat consumption.

[@pho3nix-]

Just him and that guitar sitting on the bed sounds amazing. I'd love to hear a recorded live album of him just singing those songs exactly like that.

[@KyleCourounis]

That’s literally what Nebraska is lol

[@pho3nix-]

@@KyleCourounis Sorta I guess, it has more than just one instrument though.

[@KyleCourounis]

@@pho3nix- Fair. Nebraska is just so good though. Impossible to reproduce that moment.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you! If that your then l can make that come through

[@catlady4765]

Saw him I'm 84 with The Born in the USA tour..awesome concert for 3 hrs!!

[@sunshine3914]

3 hours & 20 minutes, ten years ago.

[@mililaniman]

I love all of Springsteen's albums. I enjoy Nebraska and The River. I didn't know the movie Badlands inspired Nebraska.

[@DavidAcevedoAlvaro]

And highway patrolman is the base for Sean Penn´s directorial debut, The Indian runner , good flick!

[@pamelamays4186]

He makes 75 look DAMN good!

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you my dear ❤

[@ViraDrama]

He looks good at 75.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you ❤

[@semipenguin]

Atlantic City was probably the first video of his, I got to see regularly on MTV, back in 1982-83. Great song.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Wow that’s cool ❤

[@arlen6658]

This is the kind of thing the actor set to play him in a film version of Warren Zanes' book about the making of Nebraska, Jeremy Allen White, will be studying 24/7/365 until filming begins.

[@raamin141]

Bruce looks good.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you ❤❤❤

[@robhenerey]

"on the soulful roots of American life"

[@nicolabellomo6049]

Such a great artist. We love you Bruuuce

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you l truly appreciate your love and support! I love you all ❤

[@mertozelmusic]

The passionate voice of American Rock Music.

[@MsValdenora]

@@mertozelmusic obrigada pelo carinho

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you that means a lot to me ❤❤❤

[@MsValdenora]

@@BruceSpringsteen-k9h olá meu querido espero que você esteja bem obrigada pelo o seu carinho que Deus te abençoe muito com muita saúde e paz

[@peggygibbons1441]

My Eternal Love! ❤😊

[@tzzz7]

IMO his best album

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@peggygibbons1441]

Im so stuck in that deep dark depression now & i have been for way too long. My 26 yr old daughter was going through a tough time when she was 17 & I told her EXACTLY that; You need to remember who you are & where you come from. I brought her a bag of every card we received at my baby shower, when she was on the way and she cried like a baby. Shes doing great now. I forgot about me. Im gonna call the number on back of my insurance card tonight.

[@ABM-mz5pb]

Hang in there :-)

[@allisonpayne2097]

Wow he’s still looking great ,and sounds super 😎

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you ❤❤❤

[@mjkreu]

Funny, one of my favorite Springsteen albums ever, tied with The Ghost of Tom Joad. If you don't like either of these albums, you don't know Jack about The Boss.

[@ritahorvath8207]

The lyrics of " used car " are unbearably beautiful . .

[@JavierDunk]

Bruce Springsteen is a Genius 👌

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you ❤

[@debbiecooper1677]

love this man

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

I love you too ❤❤❤

[@LoveBaxterAlways0403]

❤ Bruce

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

❤❤❤❤

[@zsuzsacimpa8676]

❤❤😂😂🎉🎉szeretlek míg élek!!!! Persze nem úgy! 67 vagyok, sok puszi

[@6Picturesofyou]

God, I hope to see him perform Atlantic City live. I hope.

[@MsValdenora]

ÉU AMO OUVIR A SUA VOZ

[@alexwatts1375]

Thank you

[@alexwatts1375]

Please tell him how much he meant to me at my loneliness moments Patti

[@erikkibler3466]

That’s why he’s the Boss

[@JRAFF145]

Was this shown a while back? I don't think it is recent.

[@joncumber2020]

Interesting as this was a repeat episode. I wonder if they’re planning a deluxe reissue?

[@pamelamays4186]

Still The Boss.

[@barbarahourigan8462]

Sir, there’s surely a meanness in this world but it doesn’t need to be a suicide rap because love is real.💜

[@WainBowes-s2o]

Bruce just tough

[@DavidMiller-kf1ss]

Philadelphia was good too.🎉

[@catsj1767]

So have you come to Nebraska???

[@catsj1767]

My ex husband lived on the street where Fugates were murdered

[@catsj1767]

He’s buried in Wyuka. Grave is marked. Don’t emulate him.

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

@@catsj1767I’m so sorry about your husband! How’re you doing now

[@wolfeyes9357]

There would be no Springsteen without Dylan.

[@mariasahid1794]

❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you for the love ❤️ ❤❤❤❤

[@mariacoronado6802]

❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you for the love ❤❤❤❤

[@johnalbert5786]

I’m old enough to remember when he used to be the voice for the working class. Sad.

[@curragh4635]

I love alot of his music but he's a phony like the rest. He never had a real job in his life. But can't deny he wrote some great songs

[@chrisp4170]

I love Bruce, but hate the record Nebraska. Maybe he had to purge something from within himself. i guess he dealt with things better than Elvis did...

[@BruceSpringsteen-k9h]

Thank you my friend

[@maxlinder5262]

Moe Roca ...the New host. .?????😊

[@peterroussos1504]

yiannis and

[@steveconn]

Bruce just announced a billionaire. Working-class anthems ring a little less true. "And Janey's Lamborghini in the shop/ she might not be able to paraglide in Montauk 🎵" HUUARGH!!

[@yvonneplant9434]

So? He's the epitome of the American Dream. He's an example of it. Why be bitter? He never left New Jersey, btw.

[@brianmyers4444]

@@yvonneplant9434lived in California a good period of time…..

[@steveconn]

​@@yvonneplant9434Not bitter, called a parody of the new Springsteen wealth 😊

[@indranidasgupta8982]

@@brianmyers4444he came back to Jersey… either way it doesn’t matter.

[@curragh4635]

​@yvonneplant9434 meanwhile he bashes America every chance he gets. And has bashed police , he's a PHONY

[@davebegley9260]

As a lifelong Nebraskan, Billionaire Bruce turns my stomach!

[@rmkofmd1398]

For someone who likes to bash the U.S., he has done very well. I wonder how much he gives to charity.

[@birgittaanderzzon7009]

@@rmkofmd1398 If you had followed Bruce for 45 years like me you would know it's A LOT!

[@curragh4635]

​@@birgittaanderzzon7009to who BLM???

[@birgittaanderzzon7009]

@@curragh4635 Amnesty International, Red Cross, Vietnam veterans, MusiCares etc etc. To who you gives your money to? Trump? 🤑😝

[@mikem668]

A billionaire.

[@christopherlauter9403]

Born to run, literally was one of my favorite albums of all time! I could no longer listen to it because musicians should stay out of politics. And before you say, I’m a Republican I can tell you that I’m not. Although I don’t know my party anymore I hang in there for some reason. Springsteen, Bon Jovi, De Niro, and many others need to remember their craft and stay out of politics. I miss hearing born to run, but I refuse to listen to it. Our country is right now and it breaks my heart because the country divided will fall.

[@brianmyers4444]

Just denying yourself for ridiculous reasons….

[@marciasantos1160]

disagree completely about musicians staying out of politics

[@maxlinder5262]

They can say what they want .... they are Americans ..... Maybe they should support their party behind closed doors... might make you Happy 😊😁..... just my opinion

[@indranidasgupta8982]

I hear you but all politics is personal and our creators are not aliens. They live in our world and are affected by what happens in it. If you don’t want to listen to an album you once loved, that’s your call. But enough with the whole thing about creators should not deal in politics. Freedom of expression is an American tenet. Remember that.

[@curragh4635]

​@@indranidasgupta8982 someone like Bruce is not any way shape or form affected by it. people like Bruce thought covid was a vacation , and a chance to spend time with family. People like him aren't affected by gas prices inflation etc. He probably hasn't been in a grocery store in 40 years

[@jimmaculate5]

did somebody force that haircut on him or something?

[@giacominonicolazzo7181]

Not a word mentioned about dodging the draft!

[@dr.stevenpennym.d.3241]

Traitor

[@AA-xo9uw]

Was he asked if he regrets being a draft dodger?

[@stevelira52524]

.......................thats rayciss.

[@Bluesbabesrv]

Ask who? Trump?

[@LindaBeach-mo2jp]

clueless, you are. he went to the physical. he didn't pass the physical due to a motorcycle accident.

[@JoanneGreene-g4l]

I don't think he dodged it - he had a very bad accident and had a brain injury. As a result he was not eligible.

[@cleroyster2610]

Springsteen SUCKS.

[@rantoolio]

🤣🤣😂😂

[@indranidasgupta8982]

Why are you here?

[@cleroyster2610]

@@indranidasgupta8982 just to express my opinion. Is that against the law?

[@indranidasgupta8982]

@@cleroyster2610 no but a waste of time imo. I hate some musicians but don’t remember ever going on some yt video celebrating them and leaving a hate comment. Feels petty. Are you a petty person?

[@vc27r]

Learned it from your Mom! 😮