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)
It's a Shame
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll talk the way you want me to
And I've tried to do all I can just to please you
Well I work hard every day for you
And I brought home all my pay for you
And I've cried my tears through the rain night and again
Oh whoa girl, it's a doggone shame
We worked so hard, but it's all in vain
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
Now I bought your gold and diamond rings
And I brought you home your pretty things
And I thought I'd shown all the love I had for you, yes I did
But as hard as I try it all falls through
Well maybe I was born to be just your fool
Trying to satisfy your every desire, each need you require
Well oh whoa girl, it's a shame
Oh whoa girl, it's a doggone shame
I worked so hard, but it's all in vain
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
Someone now!
Whoa!
Whoa, whoa-hoo
Whoa
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
Oh girl, it's a doggone shame
We worked so hard, but it's all in vain
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
Oh girl, it's a doggone shame
I worked so hard, but it's all in vain
Oh whoa, girl it's a shame
The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's song "It's a Shame" tell the story of a man who has tried his best to make his partner happy, but despite his efforts, he feels like his hard work has been all in vain. He's done everything she's asked him to do - walked and talked the way she wants him to, worked hard every day for her, bought her expensive gifts, and tried his best to satisfy her every desire. But despite all of this, he still feels like it's not enough, and that he is just her fool.
The song is a commentary on the pressures and expectations that society places on men to provide for and satisfy their partners. It speaks to the idea that no matter how hard men may try, they are often unable to live up to these expectations, and as a result, feel like failures.
The repeated refrain of "it's a shame" underscores the sense of futility and resignation that the singer feels. It's a recognition that despite his best efforts, he is unable to change his situation, and that ultimately, he is a victim of societal expectations and gender roles.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I walk the way you want me to
I always follow your commands and do what you tell me to do.
And I'll talk the way you want me to
I speak in the manner you want me to and with the words that you want me to use.
And I've tried to do all I can just to please you
I have made efforts to please you in every way possible.
Well I work hard every day for you
I work hard every day of the week just to keep you happy.
And I brought home all my pay for you
I give you all the money I earn because you require it.
And I've cried my tears through the rain night and again
I have cried deeply in some of my worst moments.
And oh whoa girl, it's a shame
It is unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
Now I bought your gold and diamond rings
I have purchased very expensive and rare jewelry to prove my love and affection.
And I brought you home your pretty things
I have fulfilled your every materialistic desire and bought you everything pretty you could ask for.
And I thought I'd shown all the love I had for you, yes I did
I thought the things I did and the gifts I brought showed how much I love you.
But as hard as I try it all falls through
Despite my best efforts, all of my actions seem to not please you enough.
Well maybe I was born to be just your fool
Maybe I was destined to be your fool and keep trying to impress you.
Trying to satisfy your every desire, each need you require
My only mission is to fulfill every single desire and need you have.
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
It is unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
Someone now!
A plea for someone to help him out of this situation where his efforts go in vain.
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
It is unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
Oh whoa girl, it's a doggone shame
It is exceptionally unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
We worked so hard, but it's all in vain
We put in so much effort, but it seems like everything is going to waste.
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
It is unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
Oh whoa girl, it's a shame
It is unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
Oh girl, it's a doggone shame
It is exceptionally unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
I worked so hard, but it's all in vain
I have put in a lot of hard work, but it seems like everything is going to waste.
Oh whoa, girl it's a shame
It is unfortunate and sad what we are currently experiencing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind