Since forming in 1972, the band's members have changed; however, core members include saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan and, of course, guitarist/singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt joined the band while recording Born to Run and made this record at least possible. He became one of the most honored and most influential members.
Other musicians important to the band include guitarist Nils Lofgren (who stepped in after Van Zandt quit); guitarist/singer Patti Scialfa (who is also Springsten's wife); and pianist David Sancious and drummers "Mad Dog" Vini Lopez and Ernest "Boom" Carter, who all had left the band prior to Born to Run. Also, The Rising tour saw the official addition of violinist Soozie Tyrell.
In 1989 the band split up, after the massive success of the Born in the USA tour and the quieter Tunnel of Love tour. However, in 1999, the band reunited and embarked on a rather successful 18-month reunion tour - the "E-United Tour" - and now were powered by three guitars (Springsteen, Van Zandt and Lofgren, with Scialfa usually playing a fourth, acoustic guitar).
Following the events of September 11, 2001, Springsteen and the Band embarked on their first studio recordings (excepting a short recording session for Springsteen's 1995 Greatest Hits album) since 1984's Born in the U.S.A. The band recorded The Rising in 2002, and then hit the road for another marathon, two-year tour.
After The Rising, Springsteen recorded two more albums without the E Streeters followed by "Magic", released in October 2007 and featuring the hit single "Radio Nowhere". Magic was followed up by a traditionally strong tour throughout 2008, during which original band-member and friend Danny Federici passed away. Federici had already been temporarily replaced by Charlie Giordano, with whom Springsteen played the year before during the Seeger Sessions. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rounded the 100-show tour at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration.
On January 27, 2009 Springsteen's twenty-fourth album "Working on a Dream" will be released. According to the official press release, Working on a Dream was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album. A new tour for 2009 is expected to be announced soon. Springsteen and the E Street Band will play The Super Bowl halftime show on February 1, 2009.
Saturday 27th July 2009 saw Bruce and the E-Streeters played The Glastonbury Festival, England. This was the band's first-ever UK festival performance, a total of 135,000 people watched an epic, two-and-a-half hour headlining set.
Current members
* Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
* Garry Tallent - bass guitar, tuba
* Max Weinberg - drums, percussion (joined September 1974)
* Roy Bittan - piano, synthesizer (joined September 1974)
* Steven Van Zandt - lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals (officially joined July 1975 after playing in previous bands; left in 1984 to go solo; rejoined in early 1995) Steven Van Zandt
* Nils Lofgren - guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals (replaced Steven Van Zandt in June 1984; remained in group after Van Zandt returned)
* Patti Scialfa - backing and duet vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion (joined June 1984; became Springsteen's wife in 1991; they have a daughter and two sons)
* Soozie Tyrell - violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals (joined 2002, occasional appearances before that)
Former members
* Vinnie 'Mad Dog' Lopez - drums (inception through February 1974, when asked to resign)
* David Sancious - keyboards (June 1973 to August 1974)
* Ernest 'Boom' Carter - drums (February to August 1974)
* Suki Lahav - violin, backing vocals (September 1974 to March 1975)
* Danny Federici - organ, electronic glockenspiel, accordion, other keyboards (on medical leave of absence from late November 2007, temporarily replaced by Charles Giordano) (Danny passed away on April 17, 2008 after a battle with cancer.)
* Clarence Clemons - saxophone, percussion, backing vocals, larger-than-life persona and Springsteen foil (died 2011)
Born in the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just to cover it up now
Born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said, "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my VA man
He said, "Son, don't you understand now?"
(Ok)
(No, no)
(No, no, no)
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off all the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
Born in the USA
I was born in the USA now
Born in the USA
I'm a long gone Daddy in the USA now
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the USA now
(Oh, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
(Oh, no, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
Hey
(Oh, no, no)
Woo
"Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen was a hit song that represented the struggles of America's working class, particularly the life of the Vietnam War veterans. The song begins with the phrase "Born down in a dead man's town," which implies that the singer grew up in a poverty-stricken area. The phrase "The first kick I took was when I hit the ground" suggests that the singer was born into a difficult life that was filled with problems.
The singer of the song is a veteran who was sent to fight in the Vietnam War when he says "Got in a little hometown jam, So they put a rifle in my hands, Sent me off to a foreign land, To go and kill the yellow man." The lyrics of the song offer a powerful critique of the way the US handled its soldiers when they returned from the war. The chorus "Born in the USA" is often misinterpreted as a patriotic chant, while in reality, it is a cry of despair from the singer who feels trapped by his past; he cannot escape his experiences in Vietnam even though he has to live with them.
To sum up, "Born in the U.S.A." is not a patriotic song but a critique of the country's treatment of its working-class citizens and veterans. Springsteen's song speaks to the idea that the American dream can be a false promise, and that even when someone is born in the country, it does not necessarily guarantee them a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Born down in a dead man's town
I was born in a place where there are no opportunities
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
My very existence was a struggle
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
I have been oppressed to the point of hopelessness
'Til you spend half your life just to cover it up now
The only way to survive is to numb out the pain
Born in the USA
I was born in America
Got in a little hometown jam
Got in some trouble without many options
So they put a rifle in my hands
I was forced into war
Sent me off to a foreign land
I was sent to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man
To fight against the Vietnamese people
Come back home to the refinery
After the war, I was not welcomed back with open arms
Hiring man said, 'Son if it was up to me'
I was not able to find work
Went down to see my VA man
I went to the Veterans Affairs office
He said, 'Son, don't you understand now?'
There is no help for me
(Ok)
(No, no)
(No, no, no)
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
I had a brother who fought at Khe Sanh
Fighting off all the Viet Cong
He fought against the Vietnamese army
They're still there, he's all gone
He lost his life in combat
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
He had a girlfriend in Vietnam
I got a picture of him in her arms now
I have a photo of my brother and his girlfriend
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
I am near a prison
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I am working in a harsh environment
I'm ten years burning down the road
I have been on this hard journey for a long time
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
I am stuck in this place
I'm a long gone Daddy in the USA now
I am a disengaged father
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the USA now
I am a detached father who copes with the pain through music
(Oh, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
(Oh, no, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
Hey
(Oh, no, no)
Woo
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deborahtorres2256
Born down in a dead man's town
And the first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just to cover up
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says, "Son, if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said, "Son, don't you understand?"
Had a brother at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
I've got nowhere to run and nowhere to go
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long time daddy in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long gone daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I was
@BrendanAsivo55
Max Weinberg is an absolutely underrated drummer. The way he held together the E Street Band throughout those hours of sets. All class!
@moninrambo5257
B b b
@luizzuniga5987
One of the best versions ever made in a concert.
@benjaminhatcher9846
This blew my mind...very moving...he sang that like it was the first time...as if his life depended on it...pure art...
@anelladambrosio2513
Con questa canzone e iniziata la mia avventura con bruce.. 30anni fa.. Ho la stessa eta di bruce... 😅🤗👩❤️💋👩🥰👩❤️💋👩🥰😍😘💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
@terry5659
@@anelladambrosio2513 v😆😘
@anelladambrosio2513
@@terry5659ciao Terry! 🙋♀️😊😘
@cohimbradelacoronia3486
Best live Version of this Song i‘ve seen so far. Really love it! Ecspecially Max and Bruce performs absolutely great
@leviphillips5998
This is just awesome! The way everything fits together is just mind blowing!
@pjneslo8979
You know without a shadow of a doubt every member of this band put 110% in performing this song, as it should be. Wish our country & the world wasn’t so at odds of ridiculous politics. Great song !