Better Days (1992) – Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen in July 1992 (Human Touch Tour)

I’m backtracking a couple of songs in the alphabetical order here to resume my music library project in 2020. I am at complete loss how this song was not in my original music library catalogue, but thanks to Badfinger’s post about it here; I have since updated my collection. Backtracking in the alphabetic order of course will occur on occasion as I update my collection with new song additions.

I remember when Better Days was released on his double release albums Human Touch / Lucky Town, I heard rumors that Better Days was evidence that Bruce’s voice was shot or at least the fire (The soul as it were) so apparent in Born in the USA had all but burned out. However I begged to differ when I first heard it. Sure he might have sounded a bit rougher around the edges, but it didn’t take anything away from what he was trying to convey; on the contrary he sounded like he was going the extra yard and full -gusto upon entering a new phase of his life.

According to wikpedia: (Better Days) reached No. 16 on Billboard Hot 100 and the second position on the US Mainstream Rock chart. It was later released in the rest of the world as a stand-alone single in May and reached its highest position in Italy (No. 2). On Rolling Stone “Better Days” peaked at position #70 on their list of the 100 best Bruce Springsteen songs.

I always agreed with the Rolling Stones review of the double release that argued ‘the aims of the two albums would have been better realized by a single, more carefully shaped collection’. Their at least ten songs from both albums that could have been combined to form one classic Springsteen album to rival perhaps his best ever.

Some put down Better Days down to as some form of testament that his wife Patti Scialfa saved Bruce from himself. I always liked his brutal honesty in this song and how doesn’t let himself succumb to self loathing and the intensity of his singing drives this message that he’s going to get out his doldrums and just bring himself home. Better Days is everything I like about listening to Bruce and some fantastic lyrics to boot.

Well I took a piss at fortune’s sweet kiss
It’s like eatin’ caviar and dirt
It’s a sad funny ending to find yourself pretending
A rich man in a poor man’s shirt
Now my ass was draggin’ when from a passin’ gypsy wagon
Your heart like a diamond shone
Tonight I’m layin’ in your arms carvin’ lucky charms
Out of these hard luck bones

These are better days baby
These are better days it true
These are better days baby
There’s better days shining through

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand