An open letter to Bruce Springsteen

English english versus American english...I loved it when an English stand-up comedian began his act in NY with: "You may wonder about my strange accent. I'm from England. It's not an accent. You know - ENGLISH. This is how your are supposed to speak it."

I can't see mention of the song now and not say that it contains some of his best vocals, ever, on the new recording. That refrain is a downright knockout.

Well, howdy Boss, I get it that Janey needs a shooter, but please define what a shooter is!

Has anyone discussed Song for Orphans yet? I have no idea what it’s about but I really like its sound.

I've listened to Letter To You a couple of times now, just like Phantom, and watched the doc and I like the album better than in my initial reaction. If you accept that it's a rock album, listen with an "it's only rock'n'roll" attitude and focus more on the music and the playing than the lyrics then it's a pretty solid album.

I've listened to Letter To You a couple of times now and I don't agree with Tom Joad that it's a weak album. My conclusion is, it's just fine. No better, no worse. I didn't find it a chore to listen to, as I did Western Stars, but neither did it beckon further spins. It's just fine but I just don't have a need for it and that's a shame. I was holding out hope that this would be the album that pulled me back in. Just a bit of that ol' summer of "78 magic when I was immersed in the first four albums in a short time. But it's not to be. I listened to it from a borrowed CD. I'm glad I didn't pay for it.

"At his core he's always been a rock and roll guitarist fronting his band."

At his core being key phrase, coz not only was he signed as a folk singer, he's had plenty of that throughout his music too. Whether leading a folk band or solo.

These streets are familiar because he first introduced us to them and in even that alone, I find comfort.

There's so much more than that, though, but I'm not here to turn your opinions against you.

I came back to this thread t o re-read some stuff.

In TJ's initial post he referred to Bruce as a 70 year old concerned about his legacy. That line kinda stuck with me and I gotta say...I strongly disagree with this sentiment.

Personally I don't think Bruce is worried about his legacy one bit. Mostly because there's nothing to be concerned about in that regard...I mean seriously, he coulda hung up his rock and roll shoes 20 years ago and still be thought of as one of the greatest musician/front man/recording artist of his time. That he is still putting out new music that touches people is pretty damn amazing.

As far as the mentioning of his creativity running dry....I'm not sure what that even really means or what exactly he's supposed to do to be more 'creative'? At his core he's always been a rock and roll guitarist fronting his band. If going back to that well isn't creative enough....I hope that well stays dry as a bone and he does more of what he did with this new album. An album that has gotten to me in a way I didn't think music could anymore.

It's funny how a piece of art can be looked at or in this case listened to and be appreciated on such a wide scale....from hate, disgust or disappointment to pure joy.

Nothing wrong with that of course....just kinda amazing how a batch of tunes can effect fans so profoundly in both the negative and positive ways.

Bruce, if you by any chance scroll down to read the comments below the letter from TJ, I would like to take the opportunity to have a few words. The way the pre-Greetings songs is produced, arranged and performed would be great for an album with Dylan-covers. "The Bossman Tapes: Battle Outside Still Ragin'" could work as a working title until you come up with something better.

I'm going to perhaps somewhat insult the articulate and thoughtful way @Tom Joad expressed his opinion with a scattershot response to some of the points he (and subsequent posts) raised.

1) Regarding this new material being 'self referential'... I think he was more guilty of this trait back in the 1987-1992 period. Ain't Got You and 57 Channels come to mind. Local Hero also. Infact, the Lucky Town album as a whole was almost all self referential.

2) Western Stars was a poignant reflection on ageing, the everyday thoughts of characters in the later seasons of their time here. Universal feelings and emotions for many at that stage I'm guessing. Whereas this new record is more like a 70th birthday party, where you celebrate your own particular time and experience on this planet. That's how I look at this new record. (Indeed, the stories of how it came to be place it's gestation and recording a matter of months either side of Bruce's 70th birthday). Bruce is having a party with his oldest friends that he's also invited us to, where he's reflecting specifically on his memories and achievements with us and likewise us with him.

3) When you've created as much art as Bruce has in his life, surely it becomes inevitable that patterns will emerge which begin to seem like cliche. Hell, just take the period of 1978 to 1984 and look at what's been released officially on albums and outtake collections and also what we know is still in the vault from bootlegs... that material alone would be a careers output for some. The sheer volume of songs Bruce has written in his life... impossible at this point not to repeat some of what has gone before, nor is it surprising that it may take perspiration as much as inspiration for him to achieve similar results now days.

Christ, I too loved Miley's cover of Heart of Glass! Like her covers, can't stand her own music from what I've heard.

Well stated. I know what dealing with depression & anxiety is like. & I should've been more clear that I was not suggesting Mr. Joad abandon Bruce altogether. Merely, perhaps rely on other artists who are more in his age group, who might have something to say musically that is more in tune with his own stage in life. That doesn't mean he should stop being a Springsteen fan.

I think I to some degree understand what TJ is talking about with "Nothing that is relevant and vibrant. ". But that doesn't mean I can't be friends with Bruce anymore. Bruce has suffered from depressions for 40 years now and been on some heavy medications during this period. That takes it's toll. Mentally/ cognitively and physically. There's no way to go through that with your creative abilities intact. I think this - in lack of a better word - "mental decline" is more obvious OUTSIDE his song writing or stage performances - in interviews and his prepared "speeches" between songs in the Western Stars and Letter to you films. I think it is kind of sad that his creativity has run dry, that the "new" songs that he releases gets older, fewer and less magical for each year. But, that's life and I am sure he's doing the best he can.

It's not the end of the world dude. So you can't relate to Springsteen anymore. Go on to another artist. Jason Isbell is a singer/songwriter who is releasing some prolific records. Josh Ritter is another artist who's writing some great songs as well. Life aint over 😊

I guess what I'm trying to say is...the man is in his 70s now. A much different stage of life than his 20s, 30s, 40s. Many people at the age of 70 & above have a tendency to look back and reflect rather than look forward. Perhaps you should align yourself with artists who are of your age group, who would look forward more and express themselves in a more relevant way to you & where you are at the current stage of your life.

Adam is right, it is brave of you TJ to share this, especially when everyone else appears to be smitten with this album. I agree with @berlintramp, maybe it's because we are similar in age, I think I fully understand what Bruce is doing with the book, the Broadway show and now this album.

I hope in time you may find something to admire in his latest work, but, if you don't, he will always be a special presence in your life.

It must be because I'm roughly the same age as Bruce why I can completely understand what he is doing. All his life he has taken circumstances, people and personal conditions and shaped them into songs. It is totally natural that he - and the band - now look back and evaluate what has been, what it has meant and where it takes them from here.

Things like the death of an old friend triggers feelings, memories, understanding and shape your present outlook. Feeling them near when they actually have passed enriches your life. It is a broadening of perspective. It is not just wallowing in memories and worrying about your legacy.

Perhaps there will be some point in the future when @Tom Joad will find that his path and Bruce's will converge again. You don't need to be on the same page all the time...

Very brave move to share this. Thank you. I pray that you listen to the record again at some point. I like it and love it in spots. There will never be a Nebraska or Darkness or Born to Run. But, we age, we fade. We will rise again.

I'm in my fifties and I spend more time now looking to the past rather than the future. I am younger than Bruce but I don't have kids so my future largely involves myself. I won't have a biological legacy like Bruce, let alone any artistic or cultural legacy. Bruce has made countless millions of lives better with his work., whether a song is played for reasons of catharsis or just to bop along to in the kitchen.

My CD's and my books are, in a way, friends to me in that they connect me to the world. And the most important connection to the world for me is Bruce. I cannot call another person my friend if they do not know me, but I can call Bruce my hero. He has, after all, rescued me so many times.