In 1973, Springsteen released his first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, neither of which earned him a large audience. He changed his style and reached worldwide popularity with Born to Run in 1975. It was followed by Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) and The River (1980), which topped the US Billboard 200 chart. After the solo recording, Nebraska (1982), he reunited with the E Street Band for Born in the U.S.A. (1984), his most commercially successful album and one of the best-selling albums of all time. Seven of its singles reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, including the title track. Springsteen recorded his next three albums, Tunnel of Love (1987), Human Touch (1992), and Lucky Town (1992) using mostly session musicians. He reassembled the E Street Band for 1995's Greatest Hits, then recorded the sparse acoustic The Ghost of Tom Joad, followed by the EP Blood Brothers (1996), his last release of the decade.
Springsteen dedicated his 2002 album The Rising to the victims of the September 11 attacks. He released two more folk albums, Devils & Dust (2005) and We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006), followed by two more albums with the E Street Band: Magic (2007) and Working on a Dream (2009). The next two, Wrecking Ball (2012) and High Hopes (2014), topped album charts worldwide. His latest releases include the solo Western Stars (2019), the E Street Band-featuring Letter to You (2020) and a solo cover album Only the Strong Survive (2022). When Letter to You went to No.2 in the US, Springsteen became the first artist to score a Top Five hit across six consecutive decades.
Among the album era's prominent acts, Springsteen has sold more than 140 million records worldwide and more than 71 million in the United States, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists. He has earned numerous awards for his work, including 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Special Tony Award (for Springsteen on Broadway). Springsteen was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, named MusiCares person of the year in 2013, and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2016. He ranked 23rd on Rolling Stone's list of the Greatest Artists of All Time, which described him as being "the embodiment of rock & roll".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Springsteen
Studio albums
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)
The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1973)
Born to Run (1975)
Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
The River (1980)
Nebraska (1982)
Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
Tunnel of Love (1987)
Human Touch (1992)
Lucky Town (1992)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995)
The Rising (2002)
Devils & Dust (2005)
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)
Magic (2007)
Working on a Dream (2009)
Wrecking Ball (2012)
High Hopes (2014)
Western Stars (2019)
Letter to You (2020)
Only the Strong Survive (2022)
Cowboys of the Sea
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On stallions stitched to seaweed strands
So smiling, so smiling
They herd the fishes of the deep
They ride for you and me
They ranch the rich and the sunken soil
At the bottom of the sea
I hear them calling me
Them deep sea desperadoes
Them midnight maelstrom freaks
The cowboy of the sea
So on wings of sleep I pierce the deep
And ride like a hurricane
At midnight still I paid my bill
And turned my back on the land
With the help of Old Paint, that seaweed nag
It's just Jesse James and me
We ride the depths and rob the banks
At the bottom of the sea
With a seaman's grip on navigation
And some fired, hired hands
We set forth to confront the nation
And lend a cowboy's hand
We do the Dolphins' Dance duet
My mermaid babe and me
Then I ride of into the blue sunset
At the bottom of the sea
And with the seaman's grip on submarining
And some aqualung outlaws
Our guns are made of solid dreamin'
And bullets from a broken cause
And with hand held high to touch the sky
A good Texas Ranger I'll beBut sometimes I feel like a lone stranger
'Midst the cowboys of the sea
Oh and men above he cannot make love
He's got to rape his mother the sea
And because of his greed
We're a vanishing breed
We cowboys of the sea
The lyrics of this song, 'Cowboys of the Sea' by Bruce Springsteen, seem to tell the story of a group of men who ride beneath the waves, much like cowboys ride on horses. These men are described as being able to ride on the sea-horses made of seaweed strands and they herd fishes of the deep. They 'ranch the rich and the sunken soil', which means they work and 'make a living' at the bottom of the sea. The song also talks about how the singer hears them calling him even in his sleep, they are the 'deep sea desperadoes'. They are compared to Jesse James, the famous outlaw, who used to rob banks on land. These cowboys rob banks at the bottom of the sea with the help of a seaweed nag, Old Paint.
Later in the song, the lyrics mention the seaman's grip on navigation and set forth to confront the nation and lend a cowboy's hand. They do Dolphins' dance duet, which means they work alongside dolphins to achieve their goal. The singer then describes himself as a good Texas Ranger who rides into the blue sunset at the bottom of the sea. However, the last few lyrics talk about how men above the sea cannot make love and because they're so greedy, they're a vanishing breed. This last line is a reflection on how, with industrialization and pollution, the sea is in danger and the life at the bottom of the sea suffers.
Line by Line Meaning
They ride beneath the waves at 20,000 leagues
Cowboys of the sea are brave enough to venture deep into the ocean to ride below the waves, braving every challenge that comes with it, no matter how dangerous.
On stallions stitched to seaweed strands
The cowboys of the sea ride using the help of seaweed strands, which are stitched onto majestic stallions that assist in their journey throughout the sea.
So smiling, so smiling
Despite the dangers that surround them, the cowboys of the sea always face their journey with a brave smile.
They herd the fishes of the deep
The cowboys of the sea guide the fishes of the deep through the ocean without any harm to them.
They ride for you and me
Even though their job is dangerous and with no recognition or reward, the cowboys of the sea willingly undertake it to protect people everywhere.
They ranch the rich and the sunken soil
The cowboys of the sea are brave enough to brave the sea bed to take care of the sunken soil that the ocean has in store.
At the bottom of the sea
The cowboys of the sea review in the sea bed to handle the problems the ocean has stored over the years.
In the dead of night, alive in sleep
The cowboys of the sea work during the night to care for the ocean, although when they sleep, they can be equally invigorated to handle their challenges.
I hear them calling me
Cowboys of the sea's bravery is undeniably attractive and alluring, calling people near the ocean towards the ocean.
Them deep sea desperadoes
Cowboys of the sea can be seen as desperadoes, fearless people with no fear of anything that comes their way in the ocean.
Them midnight maelstrom freaks
The cowboys of the sea are accustomed to facing midnight maelstroms, dangerous storms that attack the ocean when night falls. They face these storms without fear and safeguard the ocean.
The cowboy of the sea
Cowboys of the sea are the lone warriors of the ocean, protecting it from every danger in solitude.
So on wings of sleep I pierce the deep
Even in dreams, the cowboys of the sea are vigilant and gallant, ensuring the safety of the ocean at all times.
And ride like a hurricane
Since protecting the ocean is their obligation, cowboys of the sea move through the ocean with great vigor and passion, much like a hurricane.
At midnight still I paid my bill
Even in the depths of the sea and under the cover of darkness, cowboys of the sea remain on duty, fulfilling their duties towards the ocean.
And turned my back on the land
Cowboys of the sea forget the land and devote themselves to the ocean as the ocean is their only calling.
With the help of Old Paint, that seaweed nag
Using every resource available to the cowboys, they ride through the ocean using the help of Old Paint, a trusty seaweed nag, upon whom they can rely.
It's just Jesse James and me
Cowboys of the sea have to remain solitary in their ark, like Jesse James, and be their guide through the perils of the ocean.
We ride the depths and rob the banks
Cowboys of the sea at times need to turn into thieves and protect the ocean by curbing illegal activities that happen in the sea to save it.
With a seaman's grip on navigation
Cowboys of the sea have an unbreakable grip on navigation and know how to navigate themselves both in and out of the water.
And some fired, hired hands
Cowboys of the sea have other people under their guidance, advising them on what needs to be done when battling the ocean.
We set forth to confront the nation
Cowboys of the sea band together to protect the ocean from the damage that the ever-growing human population is posing on this planet.
And lend a cowboy's hand
Each of these cowboys has pledged to support the ocean to their full extent, even if it means risking their own lives.
We do the Dolphins' Dance duet
Cowboys of the sea listen to music on their lonelier nights and even allow themselves to dance a dance duet with dolphins for enjoyment.
My mermaid babe and me
The cowboy of the sea has befriended a mermaid in the vastness of the ocean, and they travel around, safeguarding the environment.
Then I ride of into the blue sunset
As sailors of the sea, cowboys of the sea often cruise through the ocean like the sunsets, filled with the hopes of new adventures, exploring newer elements of the ocean and the sea bed.
And with the seaman's grip on submarining
Cowboys of the sea maintain their guiding abilities even when they have to manoeuvre through submarines, which require different skill sets.
And some aqualung outlaws
Swimming to great depths for longer periods in the sea, cowboys of the sea work with aqualung outlaws to stay underwater for a more extended period.
Our guns are made of solid dreamin'
Cowboys of the sea have guns that are but a dream that as long as we preserve the ocean we will remain secure & ensure that nothing harmful to the ocean can ever penetrate through us.
And bullets from a broken cause
With every shot they fire, cowboys of the sea remind everyone of the broken promises human beings made with nature and how they wish to protect it now.
And with hand held high to touch the sky
Cowboys of the sea keep their hands held high while keeping the ocean's well-being in mind, hoping for a better future that will come alongside continued progress in saving the ocean.
A good Texas Ranger I'll be
Cowboys of the sea are considered to be the Texas rangers of the ocean, meant to protect the ocean no matter what.
But sometimes I feel like a lone stranger
At times cowboys of the sea feel alone against the vastness of the ocean, with no support to help them in a harsh & unknown environment.
'Midst the cowboys of the sea
Amidst their peers and colleagues, cowboys of the sea find solace knowing they have companionship on this journey they have decided to undertake.
Oh and men above he cannot make love
Humans who damage nature, harm nature, and create its problems cannot love nature or think of safeguarding it. They have no heart, and therefore, they do not comprehend environmental protection.
He's got to rape his mother the sea
Humans have forgotten that the sea is their mother, and they have to take care of her, safeguard her, and offer her protection. Instead, they forget the importance of the ocean and tend to use it for their gains, harming the ocean in the process.
And because of his greed
Human beings' greed has caused the destruction of the environment, leading to mass extinction of endangered species and leading to economic collapse at large.
We're a vanishing breed
As cowboy of the sea, you are at the risk of becoming extinct, making their protection job even more difficult as fewer and fewer people would remain towards the ocean's inland protection.
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alejandro Martinez
I love its guitar solo!! specially the part from 5:00 to 5:50
Spew King
I love that Bruce notes the keyboard player,David Sancious. He's key in the early development of Springsteen in that he added a jazz influence to the band. He played on the best Springsteen album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. I saw Bruce at the then called Carlton Theatre now called the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank NJ in Oct. 1975. I still consider it one of the best concerts I ever saw.
GrafficGuy
Agreed, Steel Mill was an incredible band to see live! Too bad most of the boots do not do them justice. Bruce was actually killer on guitar. I hear some Steve Van Zandt guitar on this track - in the beginning. I never cared for Steve's guitar sound though. - check out Steel Mill to get just a taste of Bruce on guitar.
budibausto
I am so sure that the real hardcore fans like this tuff. This shows the talent he has. I love his very early period and the steel mill band. I wonder what could be rock these days with the Steel mill band...but it dosnt metter, Bruce is there!
GrafficGuy
Bruce's previous band Steel Mill was absolutely phenomenal and could have been his vehicle to stardom as much as his E Street era was. It's too bad only bad quality live cuts and a couple of cheesy studio takes survive. Although his later music is fantastic, Bruce's guitar playing and total energy onstage never again reached the Steel Mill levels and total 'goose bump' highs of those concerts. (sounds like Stevie solos first on this cut)
tomrassel
Thanks for posting, I'm stunned! I'm just reading Carlin's biography of Bruce and starting to get a more complete picture of the man.
pretorious700
I was at many of these shows-I was attending college at VCU back when it was an art school. The Back Door was tiny. It was also where musicians in national acts dropped by for a beer passing through town. I met Paul Rodgers, Neil Smith from Alice Cooper, and Sam Andrew from Big Brother there.
zekeode
Actually there is plenty of excellent quality Steel Mill material available on bootleg world. I might make a few Steel Mill slideshows, but i need more quality photos. :)
Hasan-Woody Guthrie
A big genius
Craig Statham
Sancious is an incredible musician. Being an incredible musician is not, however, the be all and end all, as Sancious's post-Bruce albums attest to.