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)
Missing
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing
Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair
Papers on the doorstep, but you're not there
Everything is everything
But you're missing
Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
For you to walk in, for you to walk in
But you're missing, you're missing
You're missing when I shut out the lights
You're missing, when I close my eyes
You're missing, when I see the sun rise
You're missing
Children are asking if it's alright
Will you be in our arms tonight?
Morning is morning, the evening falls I got
Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls
How's everything, everything?
Everything, everything
But you're missing, you're missing
God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox
I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops
"Missing" is a hauntingly emotional song written by Bruce Springsteen. The song reflects the emptiness and loneliness that one feels after losing a loved one. It is a lament about the loss of someone who was once an essential part of the singer's life. The singer describes his daily routine and the objects around the house that remind him of the missing person. The song is about the overwhelming grief and sadness that the singer feels but cannot escape from.
The first verse sets the scene, with the shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall, and Mama in the kitchen. The second verse describes the coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair, and papers on the doorstep, but the missing person is nowhere to be found. The bridge contains vivid imagery of the pictures on the nightstand, TV in the den, and the waiting house. Finally, the third verse depicts the singer's struggle to move on with his life, despite the emptiness he feels without his loved one. He has too much room in his bed, too many phone calls, but still, he cannot escape his sorrow.
The song's lyrics are incredibly poignant, raw, and emotional. It's a testament to Springsteen's exceptional songwriting abilities, and his ability to connect with his listeners and convey powerful emotions through his lyrics. The song is an enormous reflection of the universal experience of loss, pain, and grief, which makes it resonate with so many people worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall
Despite everything looking normal, the person he's missing is not present in their usual surroundings
Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all
Even though his family is there, the person he's missing is not
Everything is everything
All looks normal
But you're missing
Except for the person he's missing
Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair
Everyday items are present but the person he's missing is not
Papers on the doorstep, but you're not there
Even though there are signs of activity, the person he's missing is not present
Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den
The surroundings are the same, but the person he's missing is not there to enjoy them
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
The house is empty without the person he's missing
For you to walk in, for you to walk in
The person he's missing belongs in the house
But you're missing, you're missing
But they are not there
You're missing when I shut out the lights
The person he's missing is especially noticeable at night
You're missing, when I close my eyes
His thoughts immediately turn to the person he's missing
You're missing, when I see the sun rise
The person he's missing is always on his mind
Children are asking if it's alright
Others are wondering where the missing person is
Will you be in our arms tonight?
They want the missing person to come home
Morning is morning, the evening falls I got
Time continues to pass despite the person being missing
Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls
His loneliness is compounded by constant reminders of the person he's missing
How's everything, everything?
People are inquiring about his well-being, but it's not the same without the missing person
God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox
Even the forces of the universe are separated from him, just as the person he's missing is
I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops
He's been wandering and crying in search of the missing person to no avail
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Hadji
Some songs make you shout and say: Thank you God you gave the gift to some people to make masterpieces and not for the garbage. Those that can travel mind and soul.
One of this songs is the "Missing" by Bruce Spingsteen.
Kathy Saunders
I have loved Bruce's music forever. I think that he is a brilliant songwriter, and not a bad singer either. Such talent, and thank you for it. I have, and always will enjoy listening to his music.
flashNHALS
Wow! I Love Bruce since more than 30 years. Never heard about this amazing song. Now where I just finished the movie I bought and saved this beautiful song to his very best pieces. It directly jumped to my all time favorites. ❤️
Catherine Timmerman
I heard this song today. First time I’ve ever heard it and I love it!
Shane Ogden
You should check out Sean Penn's movies. The ones he directed. He's a big Springsteen fan and used the music in his movies.
Kirsten Hall
I'm glad I have never heard this song before, it is now on my Spotify playlist.
Mike K
Watch "The Crossing Guard" with Jack Nicholson. This song is on the soundtrack.
Bad Karma Lotion
@Mike K +
Ioanna Papakonstantinou
Bruce's best song!!
jose ricardo colleti dias
agree!!!