COUNTDOWN: Top 50 Bruce Springsteen Songs

[Jason]

I don't know how I managed to do it, but I actually sat here for like 3 or 4 hours, compiled a list of my all-time favorite Bruce Springsteen songs and ranked them all, and all 50 songs feel fairly accurate in where they should be placed. I only focused on Studio Albums and Singles for this list. Not included in the top 50 are:

- Songs that were only performed on live albums
- Songs that were outtakes from albums that were later released
- Compilation albums of songs that were written for certain albums but never recorded until a much later date.

I chose to ignore those, because a fairly decent chunk of that would've made the list somewhere and I just like to keep them separate from the officially released songs.

So, what I've decided to do instead of just filling up an enormous post with all 50 songs, I figure I'll post a couple of songs every day and maybe give my thoughts on each one. It would just take way too much time to sit here and think of something to say for all 50 songs and then make a giant post about it. My brain would fry. I think it'd be better if I post a couple per day and post how I feel in the moment. Also, nobody on Earth is going to stumble upon this list, sit there and listen to all 50 songs for 2 hours in one sitting. I'm gonna take advantage of the quarantine we're in and treat it as a daily thing. Sort of like tuning in to your favorite sitcom every night like we all used to back when cable TV reigned supreme. At least that way it'll be easier for me to gather my thoughts and post something about the songs. And hopefully you guys will be more likely to play the songs that I list for each day. I don't know, could be fun. Interested to see what you guys think.

Below is the list of albums and the number of songs from those albums that made the list.
46 songs from studio albums made this list and 4 songs that were released as singles made the cut to make it an even 50.

Born In The U.S.A. (12)
The River (8)
Darkness On The Edge Of Town (7)
Born To Run (5)
Tunnel Of Love (5)
Nebraska (4)
Lucky Town (2)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (2)
Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (1)




50) Used Cars (Nebraska, 1982)
49) Growin' Up (Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., 1972)
48) The Ties That Bind (The River, 1980)
47) Fade Away (The River, 1980)
46) Badlands (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
45) Adam Raised A Cain (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
44) Born To Run (Born To Run, 1975)
43) Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (Born To Run, 1975)
42) Ramrod (The River, 1980)
41) Cadillac Ranch (The River, 1980)

40) Something In The Night (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
39) The Price You Pay (The River, 1980)
38) Streets Of Fire (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
37) Atlantic City (Nebraska, 1982)
36) Jungleland (Born To Run, 1975)
35) Streets Of Philadelphia (Single, 1993)
34) Tunnel Of Love (Tunnel Of Love, 1987)
33) Working On The Highway (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
32) Prove It All Night (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
31) Pink Cadillac (Single, 1984)

30) Point Blank (The River, 1980)
29) Janey, Don't You Lose Heart (Single, 1985)
28) Spare Parts (Tunnel Of Love, 1987)
27) Tougher Than The Rest (Tunnel Of Love, 1987)
26) Darlington County (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
25) The Ghost Of Tom Joad (The Ghost Of Tom Joad, 1995)
24) Better Days (Lucky Town, 1992)
23) Johnny 99 (Nebraska, 1982)
22) Highway Patrolman (Nebraska, 1982)
21) Lucky Town (Lucky Town, 1992)

20) Brilliant Disguise (Tunnel Of Love, 1987)
19) Two Faces (Tunnel Of Love, 1987)
18) Youngstown (The Ghost Of Tom Joad, 1995)
17) The Promised Land (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
16) My Hometown (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
15) No Surrender (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
14) Stand On It (Single, 1985)
13) Cover Me (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
12) Racing In The Street (Darkness On The Edge Of Town, 1978)
11) Thunder Road (Born To Run, 1975)

10) Downbound Train (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
9) Born In The U.S.A. (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
8) Backstreets (Born To Run, 1975)
7) I'm Goin' Down (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
6) Glory Days (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
5) The River (The River, 1980)
4) Bobby Jean (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
3) I'm On Fire (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)
2) Hungry Heart (The River, 1980)
1) Dancing In The Dark (Born In The U.S.A., 1984)

[Jigsaw]

As long as both "Highway Patrolman" and "My Father's House" appear at some point, I'll have no complaints.

Honestly, aside from his Nebraska album, I don't really know that many songs by Springsteen, so I'd be interested.

[Jason]

As long as both "Highway Patrolman" and "My Father's House" appear at some point, I'll have no complaints.

Honestly, aside from his Nebraska album, I don't really know that many songs by Springsteen, so I'd be interested.

One of those did, and the other came close. :p

Did you know a movie was made based on the song Highway Patrolman? It's called The Indian Runner.

4 songs from Nebraska made this list.

[Jason]

#50






Used Cars


album: Nebraska (1982)











#50 was the hardest position to put a song, because there were about 20 others in contention for that spot.
But in the moment, I was feeling like Used Cars was the most deserving to make the list, so here it is.
It's a very solemn, thoughtful and lyrical tune, which is really the general theme of the Nebraska album.
This one is actually a tale of Bruce's own childhood.




Now, the neighbors come from near and far
As we pull up in our brand new used car

USED CARS lyrics

---

My little sister's in the front seat with an ice cream cone
My ma's in the back seat sittin' all alone
As my pa steers her slow out of the lot
for a test drive down Michigan Avenue

Now, my ma, she fingers her wedding band
And watches the salesman stare at my old man's hands
He's tellin' us all 'bout the break he'd give us if he could, but he just can't
Well if I could, I swear I know just what I'd do

Now, mister, the day the lottery I win I ain't ever gonna ride in no used car again

Now, the neighbors come from near and far
As we pull up in our brand new used car
I wish he'd just hit the gas and let out a cry
Tell 'em all they can kiss our asses goodbye

My dad, he sweats the same job from mornin' to morn
Me, I walk home on the same dirty streets where I was born
Up the block I can hear my little sister in the front seat blowin' that horn
The sounds echoin' all down Michigan Avenue

Now, mister, the day my number comes in I ain't ever gonna ride in no used car again

[Jmac Attack]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

[Jason]

#49






Growin' Up


album: Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (1973)











This is one I imagine most of you have probably heard before. It's from the debut album and was
One of the biggest hits off the album. For me, growing up I always did like Bruce Springsteen
But it wasn't until my 20s that he really began to take a stranglehold on my musical interest
Growin' Up was one of the dozen or so songs I knew as a kid that never quite held up to the rest
But an entirely enjoyable tune




And I swear I found the key to the universe
In the engine of an old parked car

Lyrics

---

Well I stood stone-like at midnight
Suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair 'til it was just right
And commanded the night brigade

I was open to pain
And crossed by the rain
And I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone
Through a fallout zone
And came out with my soul untouched

I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
But when they said "Sit down" I stood up
Ooh... growin' up

The flag of piracy flew from my mast
my sails were set wing to wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate
She couldn't sail but she sure could sing

I pushed B-52
And bombed 'em with the blues
With my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules
Strafed my old high school
Never once gave thought to landing

I hid in the clouded warmth of the crowd
But when they said, "Come down" I threw up
Ooh... growin' up

I took month long vacations in the stratosphere
And you know it's really hard to hold your breath
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared
I was the comic kid in full costume dress

Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth
But I got me a nice little place in the stars
And I swear I found the key to the universe
In the engine of an old parked car

I hid in the mother breast of the crowd
But when they said, "Pull down" I pulled up
Ooh... growin' up
Ooh...

[Jason]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

Nebraska is sorely underrated. He has another album that came out in the 90s which Springsteen fans nicknamed "Nebraska 2". They're really similar albums, and the second one is called "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Two songs from that album made this list and one of those songs is about the struggles of blue-collar workers in North-East Ohio.

[Jmac Attack]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

Nebraska is sorely underrated. He has another album that came out in the 90s which Springsteen fans nicknamed "Nebraska 2". They're really similar albums, and the second one is called "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Two songs from that album made this list and one of those songs is about the struggles of blue-collar workers in North-East Ohio.

I have a copy of that album somewhere. Never really thought about the lyrics though. Yeah, Northeast Ohio was hit hard and still is recovering. Canton and Akron are shitholes, but because the economy there tanked. Good people though.

[Jason]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

Nebraska is sorely underrated. He has another album that came out in the 90s which Springsteen fans nicknamed "Nebraska 2". They're really similar albums, and the second one is called "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Two songs from that album made this list and one of those songs is about the struggles of blue-collar workers in North-East Ohio.

I have a copy of that album somewhere. Never really thought about the lyrics though. Yeah, Northeast Ohio was hit hard and still is recovering. Canton and Akron are shitholes, but because the economy there tanked. Good people though.

Three more songs from Nebraska are going to make the list. Any favorites?

[Jmac Attack]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

Nebraska is sorely underrated. He has another album that came out in the 90s which Springsteen fans nicknamed "Nebraska 2". They're really similar albums, and the second one is called "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Two songs from that album made this list and one of those songs is about the struggles of blue-collar workers in North-East Ohio.

I have a copy of that album somewhere. Never really thought about the lyrics though. Yeah, Northeast Ohio was hit hard and still is recovering. Canton and Akron are shitholes, but because the economy there tanked. Good people though.

Three more songs from Nebraska are going to make the list. Any favorites?

Highway Patrolmen and My Fathers House comes to mind.

[Jigsaw]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

Nebraska is sorely underrated. He has another album that came out in the 90s which Springsteen fans nicknamed "Nebraska 2". They're really similar albums, and the second one is called "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Two songs from that album made this list and one of those songs is about the struggles of blue-collar workers in North-East Ohio.

I have a copy of that album somewhere. Never really thought about the lyrics though. Yeah, Northeast Ohio was hit hard and still is recovering. Canton and Akron are shitholes, but because the economy there tanked. Good people though.

Three more songs from Nebraska are going to make the list. Any favorites?

Highway Patrolmen and My Fathers House comes to mind.

Exactly the ones I named. Noice.

[Jmac Attack]

I'm really looking forward to this. I've always been a fan. But I never really delved into his work. I do know Nebraska. That's a great record.

Nebraska is sorely underrated. He has another album that came out in the 90s which Springsteen fans nicknamed "Nebraska 2". They're really similar albums, and the second one is called "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Two songs from that album made this list and one of those songs is about the struggles of blue-collar workers in North-East Ohio.

I have a copy of that album somewhere. Never really thought about the lyrics though. Yeah, Northeast Ohio was hit hard and still is recovering. Canton and Akron are shitholes, but because the economy there tanked. Good people though.

Three more songs from Nebraska are going to make the list. Any favorites?

Highway Patrolmen and My Fathers House comes to mind.

Exactly the ones I named. Noice.

Lol. I am just now seeing that. Great minds.....

[Jigsaw]

Jason, you may have made "Used Cars" racist.

Your lyrics say "My ma's in the black seat sittin' all alone"

[Jason]

Jason, you may have made "Used Cars" racist.

Your lyrics say "My ma's in the black seat sittin' all alone"

Took me like 20 seconds to figure out what the hell was wrong with that. :p

[Jigsaw]

Jason, you may have made "Used Cars" racist.

Your lyrics say "My ma's in the black seat sittin' all alone"

Took me like 20 seconds to figure out what the hell was wrong with that. :p

You got there in the end, though.

I already knew "Used Cars," but never heard "Growin' Up" before, and it was pretty catchy. I'd probably lean toward "Used Cars" myself, but both were solid.

[Jason]

Jason, you may have made "Used Cars" racist.

Your lyrics say "My ma's in the black seat sittin' all alone"

Took me like 20 seconds to figure out what the hell was wrong with that. :p

You got there in the end, though.

I already knew "Used Cars," but never heard "Growin' Up" before, and it was pretty catchy. I'd probably lean toward "Used Cars" myself, but both were solid.

Bare in mind, I absolutely love Used Cars. This list was not easy to put together. I love Bruce's catalog to the extent that nearly everything feels like it's getting snubbed.

[Jigsaw]

Jason, you may have made "Used Cars" racist.

Your lyrics say "My ma's in the black seat sittin' all alone"

Took me like 20 seconds to figure out what the hell was wrong with that. :p

You got there in the end, though.

I already knew "Used Cars," but never heard "Growin' Up" before, and it was pretty catchy. I'd probably lean toward "Used Cars" myself, but both were solid.

Bare in mind, I absolutely love Used Cars. This list was not easy to put together. I love Bruce's catalogue to the extent that nearly everything feels like it's getting snubbed.

That's partially why it's impossible for me to rank music. Some songs are obviously more enjoyable than others, but if a hundred songs make you feel equally good, how can I rank that?

Definitely looking forward to this list as it grows *thumbs up*

[Jason]

Jason, you may have made "Used Cars" racist.

Your lyrics say "My ma's in the black seat sittin' all alone"

Took me like 20 seconds to figure out what the hell was wrong with that. :p

You got there in the end, though.

I already knew "Used Cars," but never heard "Growin' Up" before, and it was pretty catchy. I'd probably lean toward "Used Cars" myself, but both were solid.

Bare in mind, I absolutely love Used Cars. This list was not easy to put together. I love Bruce's catalogue to the extent that nearly everything feels like it's getting snubbed.

That's partially why it's impossible for me to rank music. Some songs are obviously more enjoyable than others, but if a hundred songs make you feel equally good, how can I rank that?

Definitely looking forward to this list as it grows *thumbs up*

I've known Bruce's music my entire life, but I've been listening religiously for a good ten years now, or so. The familiarity helps to put some above others, but as I was making the list, some jumped up as far as 10 spots before I finalized it. So no matter what it's never going to be easy, and I am generally shit with lists anyway. :p

48 and 47 on the way soon.

[Jason]

#48






The Ties That Bind


album: The River (1980)











The opening track to Bruce Springsteen's double album, The River. There are going to be more than a couple
Of songs from this album on this list. I really love that they chose this song to open the album with. The tempo
Is perfect and captures you as you progress into the album. In this song, Bruce is challenging a hurt woman to
Not shy away from love, but to face the challenges and accept the imperfections that every one has to deal with




Oh, I'd rather feel the hurt inside, yes I would darlin'
Than know, than know the emptiness your heart must hide

The Ties That Bind lyrics

---

You been hurt and you're all cried out, you say
You walk down the street pushin' people out of your way
You packed your bags and all alone you wanna ride
You don't want nothin', don't need no one by your side

You're walkin' tough baby, but you're walkin' blind
To the ties that bind
The ties that bind
Now you can't break the ties that bind

Cheap romance, it's all just, just a crutch
You don't want nothin' that anybody can touch
You're so afraid of being somebody's fool
Not walkin' tough baby, not walkin' cool

You walk cool, but darlin', can you walk the line?
And face the ties that bind
The ties that bind
Now you can't break the ties that bind

Oh, I'd rather feel the hurt inside, yes I would darlin'
Than know, than know the emptiness your heart must hide
Yes I would darlin', yes I would darlin'
Yes I would baby

You sit and wonder just who's gonna stop the rain
Who'll ease the sadness, who's gonna quiet the pain?
It's a long dark highway and a thin white line
Connecting baby, your heart to mine

We're runnin' now but darlin' we will stand in time
To face the ties that bind
The ties that bind
Now you can't break the ties that bind

You can't forsake the ties that bind

[Jason]

#47






Fade Away


album: The River (1980)











As far as the way this song sounds, it wouldn't appear to be too sad of a song, and while it may not be the saddest
Song in Bruce Springsteen's catalog... lyrically, it's almost certainly one of the most helpless songs he's ever written. My favorite
Thing about Bruce Springsteen is his ability to essentially put a life story into his entire library of music, and this is one of those
Songs that I, and nearly every man on the planet, can relate to. In short, it's about his long-time lover leaving him for another man.
Throughout the song he expresses that despite the troubles they've had in the latter part of their relationship, he still had the
Desire to rekindle what'd been missing, even though she's already made up her mind. And if it's all over now, all he wants is to
Not be just a faded memory as his lover moves on with her new man. One of the most brilliant moments is as the song is ending.
As the song ends, he's pleading "I don't want to fade away" as the song fades into silence.




You say that you miss the nights
When we'd go out dancing
The days when you and I walked as two
Well, girl, I miss them, too
Oh, I swear that I do

Fade Away lyrics

---

Well now you say you've found another man
Who does things to you that I can't
And that no matter what I do
It's all over now between me and you, girl
But I can't believe what you say
No, I can't believe what you say

'Cause baby, I don't wanna fade away
Oh, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me, what can I do, what can I say?
'Cause darlin', I don't wanna fade away

Well now you say that you've made up your mind
It's been such a long, long time
Since it's been good with us
And that somewhere back along the line
You lost your love and I lost your trust
Now rooms that once were so bright
Are filled with the coming night

Oh, darlin', I don't wanna fade away
Now, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me, what can I do what can I say?
'Cause darlin', I don't wanna fade away

You say it's not easy for you
And that you've been so lonely
While other girls go out
Doing what they want to do
You say that you miss the nights
When we'd go out dancing
The days when you and I walked as two
Well, girl, I miss them, too
Oh, I swear that I do

Oh, girl

Now, baby, I don't wanna be just another useless memory
Holding you tight
Or just some other ghost out on the street
To whom you stop and politely speak
When you pass on by
Vanishing into the night
Left to vanish into the night

No, baby, I don't wanna fade away
Oh no, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me, what can I do, what can I say?
'Cause darlin', I don't wanna fade away

No, darlin', I don't wanna fade away
No, I don't wanna fade away
Tell me, what can I do, what can I say?
'Cause darlin', I don't wanna fade away

Don't make me, darlin'
I don't wanna fade away
Don't make me, darlin'
I don't wanna fade away
I don't wanna fade away
I don't wanna fade away