Top 20 Bruce Springsteen Songs
#20: “Hungry Heart”
“The River” (1980) While “The River” boasts some of Bruce Springsteen’s most powerful ballads, the lead single is the quintessential pop rock anthem. “Hungry Heart” resonates enough in its exploration of yearning in a devoted family man. But Roy Bittan’s unshakable piano riff and Clarence Clemons’s baritone sax get that bittersweet stride jumping. This endlessly listenable dynamic launched the single as Springsteen’s first top five hit on the Billboards. It’s so catchy that the audience is invited to sing the first verse during live performances. But with a more convincing passion than most pop hooks, “Hungry Heart” breaks out the wanderlust in all of us.
#19: “The Ghost of Tom Joad”
Top 10 Bruce Springsteen Songs
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” (1995) The album "The Ghost of Tom Joad" finds Springsteen returning to stripped-down folk traditions. The title track particularly displays a master lyricist, but it’s not too traditionalist. A full band’s catchy rhythm and ghostly ambiance enrich the devastating ballad of a displaced family, inspired by John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie. This historical drama and modern musicianship cleverly set up the rest of the album’s more minimalist observations of 1990s social issues. “Tom Joad” is still uniquely open to interpretation, as well as experimentation. Springsteen’s collaboration with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine really stands out. No matter the composition, “The Ghost of Tom Joad” sustains the spirit of folk’s greatest storytellers.
#18: “Nebraska”
“Nebraska” (1982) The eponymous track of “Nebraska” perfectly opens one of Springsteen’s most subversive albums. The usually upbeat rocker sits unaccompanied with an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, to croon about the darkest side of the American heartland. This particular ballad imagines the final thoughts of Nebraska spree killer Charles Starkweather before his execution. It’s an audacious feat of empathetic storytelling, in the tradition of classic folk tragedies. The low-fi recording adds to that old-fashioned sound and the gritty atmosphere of the lyrics. “Nebraska” is a true masterpiece of Americana that has been covered by a diverse array of artists. While that can be said of the namesake album as a whole, its hook is especially haunting.
#17: “I’m on Fire”
Top 10 Arcade Fire Songs
“Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) An interesting break in the more hyper energy of “Born in the U.S.A.,” “I’m on Fire” is a hauntingly vivid expression of a man’s “bad desire” for a lonesome lady. The stimulating rhythm was influenced by Johnny Cash and rockabilly, with Max Weinberg laying down a more 1980s beat. The melody, however, is led by Roy Bittan’s ambient synthesizer. It’s a pretty sophisticated composition for such a steamy ditty. But it poignantly captures the spirit of sentimental passion behind the sexual tension. “I’m On Fire” exploded on the charts, especially in Europe. Even with the scintillating content, the melody may be considered one of the most romantic in Springsteen’s popular catalog.
#16: “Streets of Philadelphia”
“Philadelphia Official Soundtrack” (1994) As solemn as the courtroom and AIDS drama “Philadelphia” is, director Jonathan Demme approached Springsteen for a song that could be played in malls. “Streets of Philadelphia” proved a soft rock anthem to satisfy that 1990s pop appeal with a smooth rhythm and keyboards. In confronting disenfranchisement in the City of Brotherly Love, Springsteen also lives up the film’s timely humanity. The song landed an Oscar alongside Tom Hanks’s historic dramatic performance. Independently, it topped the Billboard charts and won four Grammys, including Song of the Year. Surely one of the best movie songs of the ‘90s, “Streets of Philadelphia” is also one of Springsteen’s most powerful urban anthems.
#15: “Glory Days”
“Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) Who says that bittersweet nostalgia has to mostly be bitter? “Glory Days” opens with the true story of Springsteen’s run-in with an old Little League teammate, Joe DePugh. This sets off a skip down memory line that both mourns and celebrates the awkward teenage years. The impossibly catchy keyboard riff still keeps a spry energy. “Glory Days” was an instant hit that would stay a radio staple for years to come. A rockstar may have more glory days than most of his contemporaries. But the story in and behind this tribute to DePugh, whom Springsteen stayed in touch with, shows how the Boss can relate to anyone.
#14: “Backstreets”
“Born to Run” (1975) The first minute of this six-and-a-half minute number off “Born to Run” is made up of an instrumental piano and organ section. It’s the perfect introduction to this song of “love so hard and filled with defeat,” which Springsteen makes all the more poignant with his passionate vocals and storytelling prowess. But nothing makes “Backstreets” truly come alive more than experiencing it in concert with the extra piano and vocal solo called the “Sad Eyes” interlude.
#13: “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)”
“The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle” (1973) Bruce Springsteen’s second album confirmed him as a critical darling. To this day, “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” stands out as a fan favorite. The epic love story between a young rocker and a good girl never slows down in seven minutes. It has all the youthful passion and heartbreak that the subject demands. And as a prime display of the Boss’s musical trademarks, it would be his go-to concert finisher for years. Even now, he considers the semi-autobiographical lyrics to be one of the best he's ever written. Though “Rosalita” has unfortunately grown more obscure after years of bigger and bigger hits, it’s still widely considered one of his true masterpieces.
#12: “The Promised Land”
Top 20 Songs People Think Are By Someone Else
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” (1978) The album “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is mostly about the fight in the downtrodden. “The Promised Land” declares something to fight for. Springsteen’s signature triumphant tone backs the unexpectedly profound tale of a small-town runaway. It’s tragically honest about the futility in pursuing some far-off salvation. It still celebrates the pursuit itself, while acknowledging the dignity of where one comes from. This complex storytelling against catchy musicianship is quintessentially Springsteen. All the same, it’s distinguished by philosophy, inspired by a young man’s travels and grief over the death of Elvis Presley. “The Promised Land” may have been the right song at the right time. But it’s a timelessly important tribute to the will to carry on.
#11: “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
“Born to Run” (1975) Though the jury’s still out on the meaning of this song’s title, what is known is that the second track off “Born to Run” is the musical equivalent to a biography of the E Street Band. Led by Clemons on the sax, “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” combines horns and a piano-driven rhythm to tell us the tale of Springsteen as Big Scooter “searching for his groove.” The rocking number is also often played live.
#10 “Dancing in the Dark”
Top 10 Songs with Dark Hidden Meanings
“Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) While it might be the track that’s least representative of his extremely varied work, “Dancing in the Dark” is still the Boss’s biggest hit. With its lively synthesizer riffs and off-beat rhythm, this power pop and rock number hit the Billboard Hot 100’s second spot and helped its parent album become his best-selling record ever. Who can forget his smooth dance moves in the accompanying music video?
#9: “Darkness on the Edge of Town”
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” (1978) As an album, “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is an emotionally layered journey through the heartland losers. It all comes into focus with the titular closing track. The tragic ballad details a man who knows no freedom beyond the glory of street races. This is felt in the interplay between solemn verses and the heroic chorus, but the lyric carries a more poignant confession. “Darkness” beautifully epitomizes all previous tracks’ mixed emotions about the hardships and resilience of the common man. With the album as a whole being considered one of the great poetic rock albums of the ‘70s, it goes out on one of Springsteen’s great ballads.
#8: “Jungleland”
“Born to Run” (1975) Opening with a memorable violin and piano intro, this fan and critic favorite is the nine-and-a-half minute closer to Bruce Springsteen’s third effort. Featuring an unforgettable Clarence Clemons sax solo and one of the finest examples of the singer-songwriter’s narrative technique, “Jungleland” takes us on a musical and emotional journey that’s truly epic.
#7: “Racing in the Street”
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” (1978) The title of “Racing in the Street” promises another triumphant anthem of youth. Instead, it’s a slow, thoughtful portrait of street racing culture and the freedom it represents. This keeps up the masculine muscle car fantasy that led some of Springsteen’s earliest hits. With the third verse, however, he breaks a crescendo with one of his first sobering doses of reality from a female perspective. Romantic, harrowing and heartbreaking, “Racing in the Street” gradually revs up as one of the Boss’s most vivid epics. It’s hardly the Springsteen song you’d most expect to blast over the radio. But for fans, it’s one of the smoothest rides in his catalog.
#6: “Born in the U.S.A.”
"Born in the U.S.A." (1984) Thanks to its rousing chorus, the title track to “Born in the U.S.A.” was Springsteen’s third top ten American single from his seventh studio album. With its memorable synthesizer riff and blasting drums, it’s also one of the artist’s most well-known tracks. But it’s “Born in the U.S.A.’s” heartland rock style and socio-political lyrics that deal with the downside of the Vietnam War that really make it a Springsteen classic.
#5: “Atlantic City”
“Nebraska” (1982) This folk rock track off Nebraska follows the same dark vein as the rest of the album: in just four short minutes, Springsteen brings us into the world of a young couple tackling issues of human mortality and organized crime in the New Jersey city. The honest and thought-provoking tune is another live stunner and has been covered by multiple artists.
#4: “The River”
Top 10 Albums With the Most Hit Songs
“The River” (1980) Inspired by his sister and her husband’s economic difficulties as a young couple, Springsteen crafted this sad but powerful song that appeared on the album of the same name. While it wasn’t released as a single in the U.S., “The River” quickly found a home on rock radio. With its folk rock flavors and Springsteen’s harmonica playing, this moving tune about dreams versus reality is often modified or extended while played live.
#3: “Badlands”
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” (1978) With its unforgettable drum intro and anthemic nature, “Badlands” is a hard rocking tune that’s simply meant to be played in concert. Featuring a piano-and-electric guitar riff borrowed from the Animals, Max Weinberg’s energetic drumming and so much more, the track showcases Springsteen and the E Street Band at their finest. Despite only charting within the Billboard top fifty, it continues to be a fan and band favorite.
#2: “Thunder Road”
“Born to Run” (1975) They couldn’t have chosen a better track to be the opener of the Boss’s breakthrough record. Mixing folk and rock with blue-collar themes, “Thunder Road” slowly brings you in with piano and harmonica. But it’s Springsteen’s vocals, the song’s mounting pace, and masterful blending of multiple instruments that makes it one of his most performed tunes. To top things off, it’s also often considered one of the greatest rock songs ever.
#1: “Born to Run”
“Born to Run” (1975) This first-person love letter and title cut to Springsteen’s third record epitomized heartland rock to a tee. Its big sound, layered guitars and inspiring message helped it reach the Billboard top 40, which in turn, helped launch the singer to mainstream success. Today, the beloved underdog anthem is a Springsteen signature tune and a live staple. Just take a listen for yourself to see why. What are your favorite of Bruce Springsteen’s masterpieces? Come on up to the comments.
