First of all if you’re young you may not know that this was first written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. You can not hear this song with anybody born at least in the seventies or earlier without them bringing that up every time. Then there’s always a strongly expressed opinion about who’s version is better. It’s uncanny how predictable this is every time.
I love Bruce and his music. His channel is one of my five presets on my radio’s home screen. He’s a voice of America, an original, and a great writer and musician. But never was it so evident that he has things to say, which to him (at least in this song) are more important than the music itself. On this song he was a novelist poet trying to force a book into a song. He had way too many words in it. To further mutilate this song, Bruce’s singing style is mismatched for it. Bruce has a heavy throat and a thick slower tongue. His attempt to spit out all of the words he wrote was disfunctional at best. Think Johnny Cash singing We Didn’t Start The Fire.
Manfred Mann cut some words out (with the result still being heavy on lyrics). This made the singing mechanically smoother and let the listener’s mind slow down from the frantic spewing of details. They sped up the music and lyrics as necessary to say all that, and that created a more defined melody to it. Then they used a more appropriate vocalist for this type of song. They accomplished more than a cover. It’s a whole different song, in my opinion, a better song.
This was a very forgivable growing pain for Bruce. Many artists start out something that doesn’t really fit them in the beginning. I laugh looking and/or listening to James Brown’s early crooner attempts. He took a while to cut loose and become The Godfather who invented his own style. Pink Floyd was random noise before they found a way to be both different AND construct coherent (amazing) songs. Bruce wasn’t nearly as far off as those examples. He was half rock and half folk from the very beginning. He just needed some fine tuning. If he didn’t write it we wouldn’t have this version. And though this is a better sounding, technically functioning version, which is great to hear, the meaning is even better, and that’s all Bruce.
Here’s the meaning I get from it:
There’s a girl who’s had her heart broken (wounded deep in battle), who has retreated from the world (eyes shining vacancy), and that’s why (to see (the real) her you got to look hard).
There’s a guy who sees through that and wants to love her, and he’s willing to do the work (like a soldier undaunted), but the most she’ll give back is a metaphorical card (with her regards), as if to say the princess is not here, thank you for your inquiry, regards, the attendant. He pleads telling her that her depression (blue walls) won’t allow her to see he loves her and he’s not trying to hurt her. He’s not trying to just drain himself in her, he (came for so much more). He came for her.
He’s trying to save her before she’s completely dead inside (crawl into my ambulance. Your pulse is getting weak). The only way to save yourself is to allow yourself to come back out of there (reveal yourself all to me now, while you’ve got the strength to speak). The alternative is the nut house (Bellevue). And nobody can make you, and doctors can’t help you (if only you could ask)(your heart holds your fate).
He realizes she’s not just going to come out and open herself to him. He’s going to have to fight through her walls of protection and meet her more than half way through any openings available (I’ve broken all your windows and I rammed through all your doors. Who am I to ask you to fight my wars). You just sit tight, I’m coming, because...I came for you.
I’m a middle aged straight man’s man, but that right there is love. Love that every broken hearted person secretly hopes and deep down knows is their only possible saving grace. Sadly it usually never comes. And the truth is, he may not be successful to save her, but regardless of the result the attempt is a truly valiant display of love.
Thank you Bruce for these words and thoughts. Thank you Manfred Mann for making it better to listen to.
First of all if you’re young you may not know that this was first written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. You can not hear this song with anybody born at least in the seventies or earlier without them bringing that up every time. Then there’s always a strongly expressed opinion about who’s version is better. It’s uncanny how predictable this is every time.
I love Bruce and his music. His channel is one of my five presets on my radio’s home screen. He’s a voice of America, an original, and a great writer and musician. But never was it so evident that he has things to say, which to him (at least in this song) are more important than the music itself. On this song he was a novelist poet trying to force a book into a song. He had way too many words in it. To further mutilate this song, Bruce’s singing style is mismatched for it. Bruce has a heavy throat and a thick slower tongue. His attempt to spit out all of the words he wrote was disfunctional at best. Think Johnny Cash singing We Didn’t Start The Fire.
Manfred Mann cut some words out (with the result still being heavy on lyrics). This made the singing mechanically smoother and let the listener’s mind slow down from the frantic spewing of details. They sped up the music and lyrics as necessary to say all that, and that created a more defined melody to it. Then they used a more appropriate vocalist for this type of song. They accomplished more than a cover. It’s a whole different song, in my opinion, a better song.
This was a very forgivable growing pain for Bruce. Many artists start out something that doesn’t really fit them in the beginning. I laugh looking and/or listening to James Brown’s early crooner attempts. He took a while to cut loose and become The Godfather who invented his own style. Pink Floyd was random noise before they found a way to be both different AND construct coherent (amazing) songs. Bruce wasn’t nearly as far off as those examples. He was half rock and half folk from the very beginning. He just needed some fine tuning. If he didn’t write it we wouldn’t have this version. And though this is a better sounding, technically functioning version, which is great to hear, the meaning is even better, and that’s all Bruce.
Here’s the meaning I get from it:
There’s a girl who’s had her heart broken (wounded deep in battle), who has retreated from the world (eyes shining vacancy), and that’s why (to see (the real) her you got to look hard).
There’s a guy who sees through that and wants to love her, and he’s willing to do the work (like a soldier undaunted), but the most she’ll give back is a metaphorical card (with her regards), as if to say the princess is not here, thank you for your inquiry, regards, the attendant. He pleads telling her that her depression (blue walls) won’t allow her to see he loves her and he’s not trying to hurt her. He’s not trying to just drain himself in her, he (came for so much more). He came for her.
He’s trying to save her before she’s completely dead inside (crawl into my ambulance. Your pulse is getting weak). The only way to save yourself is to allow yourself to come back out of there (reveal yourself all to me now, while you’ve got the strength to speak). The alternative is the nut house (Bellevue). And nobody can make you, and doctors can’t help you (if only you could ask)(your heart holds your fate).
He realizes she’s not just going to come out and open herself to him. He’s going to have to fight through her walls of protection and meet her more than half way through any openings available (I’ve broken all your windows and I rammed through all your doors. Who am I to ask you to fight my wars). You just sit tight, I’m coming, because...I came for you.
I’m a middle aged straight man’s man, but that right there is love. Love that every broken hearted person secretly hopes and deep down knows is their only possible saving grace. Sadly it usually never comes. And the truth is, he may not be successful to save her, but regardless of the result the attempt is a truly valiant display of love.
Thank you Bruce for these words and thoughts. Thank you Manfred Mann for making it better to listen to.
@Nunyabizznezz , thank You! Great explanation!
@Nunyabizznezz , thank You! Great explanation!
@Nunyabizznezz fantastic! great explanation, great song, cheers!
@Nunyabizznezz fantastic! great explanation, great song, cheers!
Foolish love, if you ask me. Awesome song.
Foolish love, if you ask me. Awesome song.