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)
Jesse [
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Jesse, you put on that leather jacket like you put on respect
you got cleats on your boots and a woman who shoots everytime you shuffle out the stage door
And darling Jesse, do you know what its all for?
Ah Jesse, your manager brought by them eight by ten glossies of your band
Oh Jesse, he says you wear cross around your neck and come on with nails in your hands
With your insides showing and your New York band blowin' them old Chicago blues
Ah Jesse, can't you see you're the one Jesse
Well Jesse, your child is slobbering all over your pants
And Jesse, your wife has fallen into a trance
She's got eyes that tell no lies
She's seen so many wars
Ah be a good boy Jesse, tell her she don't have to look no more.
Well Jesse, he knows all the tricks to get the crowd reeling
Oh and Jesse, ya he rocks 'em with that old soul feeling
And he walks off the stage in a self-adoring haze
and gets shoved right out the door
Whoa Jesse, can't you see now boy that that's what its all about Jesse
Not even time to do that old played out encore
Whoa Jesse
The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's song "Jesse" are a commentary on the pressures and expectations placed on musicians and performers in the entertainment industry. The title character, Jesse, is portrayed as a talented musician who has achieved success, but whose success comes at a price. The lyrics suggest that Jesse is completely consumed by his work, which has caused him to neglect his family and ignore the toll that his lifestyle is taking on his well-being.
The opening lines of the song, "Oh Jesse, you better start thinkin' about saving your neck / Oh Jesse, you put on that leather jacket like you put on respect," set the scene for Jesse's frenzied existence. He is constantly in danger of losing everything he has worked for, and his confidence and sense of self-worth are tied to his public image.
Later in the song, the lyrics explore the toll that Jesse's lifestyle has taken on his family. His child is slobbering all over his pants, and his wife has fallen into a trance, suggesting that they have been neglected in favor of his career. The song ends with the lines, "Whoa Jesse, can't you see now boy that that's what its all about Jesse / Not even time to do that old played out encore." This suggests that despite his success, Jesse's life is empty and unfulfilling.
Overall, the lyrics of "Jesse" are a poignant commentary on the effects of fame and success on the personal lives of musicians and performers. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing success at any cost, and a plea for performers to prioritize their personal lives over their careers.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Jesse, you better start thinkin' about saving your neck
Jesse, you need to start being aware of the dangerous path you're on.
Oh Jesse, you put on that leather jacket like you put on respect
Jesse, you use your appearance to try to gain respect, but respect is earned by your actions.
you got cleats on your boots and a woman who shoots everytime you shuffle out the stage door
You're always ready for a fight and have a woman who will defend you at any cost.
And darling Jesse, do you know what its all for?
Jesse, do you even know what you're doing all of this for?
Ah Jesse, your manager brought by them eight by ten glossies of your band
Jesse, your manager is trying to sell your image to the world.
Oh Jesse, he says you wear cross around your neck and come on with nails in your hands
Your manager is using religious imagery to market you, but it's also a reference to the crucifixion, implying that you may suffer for your fame.
With your insides showing and your New York band blowin' them old Chicago blues
You expose your vulnerabilities through your music, blending influences from different places and times to create something unique.
Ah Jesse, can't you see you're the one Jesse
Jesse, you are the center of attention and the one making all of this happen, for better or for worse.
Ah Sonny, this time its you
Addressing someone called Sonny, implying that they are now in the spotlight and may be in danger.
Well Jesse, your child is slobbering all over your pants
Your family is always there, but you may not have time for them as you focus on your career.
And Jesse, your wife has fallen into a trance
Your wife may be disenchanted with your lifestyle and is disconnected from reality as a result.
She's got eyes that tell no lies / She's seen so many wars / Ah be a good boy Jesse, tell her she don't have to look no more.
Your wife has been through a lot and can see through the facade, so be honest with her and tell her she doesn't need to keep searching for something that may not exist.
Well Jesse, he knows all the tricks to get the crowd reeling
You know how to manipulate the crowd to get a reaction from them.
Oh and Jesse, ya he rocks 'em with that old soul feeling
You have an ability to connect with people on a deeper level through your music.
And he walks off the stage in a self-adoring haze and gets shoved right out the door
You may become lost in your own adoration and not realize when it's time to leave the stage.
Whoa Jesse, can't you see now boy that that's what its all about Jesse / Not even time to do that old played out encore
You need to realize that it's not about the fame or the encore, but about connecting with people and creating something meaningful.
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jim Page
Another acoustic treat from the Boss...you can reflect on some of his lyrics that eventually found themselves on released songs. A gem indeed! Thanks Bruce...
Ron Paoline
"Jesse" is one of Bruce's really great songs - Bruce probably never released it on any production because Appel released it w/out permission.
Edward Gallucci
This is my © photograph of Bruce Springsteen I shot for Crawdaddy Magazine in 1972. It was stolen off my website with no permission from me for its use.
Dorothy G
What a shame. Great pic!
62rosangeladoro
Bruce Springsteen THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!
HUGS OF THE BRAZIL,
ROSANGELA D'ORO
sharpshooterrn
I could see this song being played a little faster and harder. What a hit it would be for Bruce! Nice Post!
Nella Crosiglia
Rare uncle Bruce!
Roland Belyea
The 22 most fun nights of my life. 22 times I was lucky enough to be there. Check out the one burner bachelor on YouTube. We rock you all night long.💪✌️👍
ROSANGELA DORO
Bruce Springsteen THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!
HUGS OF THE BRAZIL,
ROSANGELA D'ORO
xander boogaerts
Does anybody know the chords?