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)
The Big Muddy
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was that little somethin' that he did for himself
His own little secret didn't hurt nobody
Come the afternoon he'd take her wadin'
Waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
You start out standing but end up crawlin'
Got in some trouble and needed a hand from a friend of mine
This old friend he had a figure in mind
It was nothing illegal just a little bit funny
He said "c'mon don't tell me that the rich don't know
Sooner or later it all comes down to money"
And you're waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
You start on higher ground but end up crawlin'
Well I had a friend said "You watch what you do
Poison snake bites you and you're poison too"
How beautiful the river flows and the birds they sing
But you and I we're messier things
There ain't no one leavin' this world buddy
Without their shirttail dirty
Or their hands bloody
Waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
You start on higher ground but end up somehow crawlin'
Waist deep in the big muddy
The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's song The Big Muddy is a poignant tale of the muddy waters of life that can lead one down a path of trouble, and one must crawl their way out. The story revolves around the character of Billy, who has a mistress on 12th Street, and he visits her secretly in the afternoon. The lyrics suggest that this little secret of Billy did not hurt anybody. However, the metaphor of the big muddy waters suggests that he will get in trouble eventually. In the song, we see that Billy got into trouble and needed help from his friend, who had a figure in mind to help him but not through legal means. This dilemma indicates that even the rich have to resort to dishonest activities to meet their ends.
The song draws a remarkable and captivating picture of how one can be initially standing on higher ground but ultimately ends up waist-deep in the big muddy waters. The metaphor of the muddy waters is a symbol of the consequences of one's actions. The lyrics convey a powerful message that while you may think you are in control initially, you can eventually be dragged down by circumstances beyond your control. The song suggests that everyone leaves the world with their "shirttail dirty" or "hands bloody," implying that life is not immaculate, and everyone has their fair share of struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy had a mistress down on 'A' and 12th
Billy had a side affair with a woman on a particular street and house number called 'A' and 12th.
She was that little somethin' that he did for himself
This woman was Billy's secret affair and he chose to be with her for his own pleasure and happiness.
His own little secret didn't hurt nobody
Billy's affair was kept hidden from everyone and thus nobody was getting hurt.
Come the afternoon he'd take her wadin'
In the afternoon, Billy would take the woman out to wade in a body of water.
Waist deep in the big muddy
Billy and the woman are up to their waist in muddy water. This phrase symbolizes that they are in a difficult or dangerous situation.
You start out standing but end up crawlin'
Initially, Billy and the woman started off the day being able to stand in shallow water, but as they progressed towards deeper areas they ended up crawling in the muddy water to move forward. This phrase symbolizes that they started confidently but ended up struggling.
Got in some trouble and needed a hand from a friend of mine
Billy got into trouble and reached out to a friend for help.
This old friend he had a figure in mind
The friend had an idea in mind to help Billy out of his trouble.
It was nothing illegal just a little bit funny
The friend's idea was a little funny but not illegal.
He said 'C'mon don't tell me that the rich don't know
The friend exclaimed that even the rich know how to find solutions to their problems.
Sooner or later it all comes down to money'
The friend believed that money is ultimately what helps people in trouble.
How beautiful the river flows and the birds they sing
The river flows beautifully and the birds singing symbolizes how peaceful and calm the world is.
But you and I we're messier things
In contrast, the singer and the friend are imperfect and complicated individuals.
There ain't no one leavin' this world buddy
Everybody has to leave this world eventually.
Without their shirttail dirty, or their hands bloody
Before leaving, everyone has to face difficulties, obstacles, and hardships in life, which can cause either physical or mental harm or scars.
You start on higher ground but end up somehow crawlin'
Just like in the muddy water, people can start with advantages but ultimately end up struggling and crawling to make their way forward in life.
Waist deep in the big muddy
The repeated phrase symbolizes the artist's acknowledgment that life is difficult and people can get stuck in tough situations, but there is always a way forward.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
thetrevorosborne
such a brilliant performance of a forgotten gem
Jeff Stockton
"Sooner or later it all comes down to money." Underrated cut.
Salvador Ribeiro
DEMAIS , DEMAIS, SUPER 10, VALEU
Michael Eggleton
Great song, & i absolutely LOVE this version! Even more than the album version.
Γιάννης Πολιτόπουλος
Φωνή αναλλοίωτη στο χρόνο.
Lori Vissell
Complete Brilliance!
Paul van Schaik
So darn good. Couldn't be more American. The best he ever did I reckon. WOW.
donatella poma
The Boss is the boss no Body else Bruce Springsteen my love anyway Thank you very much You make me cry long time the first concert Milano Torino Every Way The Last two Years ago Milano strongman very Strong Man thank you thank you thank you👍🗣🎤💖❤💜💛💚💟😍🙋🏻♀️
CallmeToddy
This is the part of Bruce that many don't want to see.
1957PLATO
The ones who only like Glory Days, Born in the USA and Dancing in the dark. I see what you mean. This Bruce is more relevant.