About the Song

Track: The River

Length: 5:01

Album: The River (1980)

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen

Favorite part:

“Now those memories come back to haunt me

They haunt me like a curse

Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true

Or is it something worse”

℗ 1980 Bruce Springsteen

Here’s Why I Love It

During the quarantine, I went on a Bruce Springsteen kick. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about the icon, so I read his autobiography, which was excellent, listened to a ton of records, and watched his Broadway special on Netflix. It was time well invested. Many people have a misaligned notion of The Boss. I know I did. They know him as “Born in the USA” (probably the most misunderstood song of all time), “Glory Days,” and “Dancing in the Dark, ” which are great versions of Springsteen. But he’s also one of the revered storytellers in rock history, and that brings me perfectly to this song.

“The River” is about blue-collar America, early-life decisions, responsibility, and living with the hand you're dealt. It was also a huge pivot point for Springsteen. It was the first time he embodied what he came to be known for as a writer—embracing a character and telling the story through their eyes. The character didn’t have to be Springsteen—most times it wasn’t. It could be anybody. The song is actually a tribute to his sister and her husband, almost verbatim, and written from the perspective of his brother-in-law, a man who worked hard to support the family despite unfortunate circumstances. As the song progresses, the river is a physical symbol that moves from hope to fading dreams to an emotional safe haven. Springsteen pairs a straightforward tale with a slow-churning melody to provide a heart-wrenching effect (but in a good way.) It almost feels dreamy.

There are lyric videos on YouTube, but the video linked below is a short video of Springsteen singing and explaining the song. It’s rare to get something like this, so I linked it instead. It’s awesome. Totally worth five minutes of your time. Do it.

Listen to the song and read the lyrics for full effect.

You can now listen to the Lyrics I Love playlist on Spotify. A new song is added with each edition!

*This article is part of the ongoing Lyrics I Love series: short interpretations of the meaning and story behind one song with lyrics that move me.