The Rising (2002) – Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s music slipped off the radar for many after his much-maligned 1992 double album. Yet, in my humble opinion, if the strongest tracks from both had been combined into a single cohesive record, it could have stood as one of his greatest. Thereafter he went on a solo phase in the 1990’s and made some great tracks which featured here including Philadelphia (1994), Secret Garden (1995) The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995), Dead Man Walkin’ (1996), Happy (1998), and Loose Change (1998). So it goes without saying, Bruce was always in my field of vision.
Then Boom! The 2002 The Rising record came out with the one and only E Street Band. Saying ‘comeback to form‘ as far as the group are concerned makes big sense.

Three other songs have already featured here from the record which was dedicated to the victims of 9/1, namely: Countin’ on a Miracle, Lonesome Day and Nothing Man. Now to the title track…The Rising. It was symbolically named to praise the heroism of the firefighters and emergency teams heading up the stairwells of the Towers before they collapsed. Springsteen said he got the inspiration for the album a few days after the 9/11 attacks, when a stranger in a car stopped next to him, rolled down his window and said: “We need you now”. Songs from his Rising record projects my mind back to the impact of the events of that fateful day. And the version of the song I presented below is his live Barcelona concert for The Rising which remains one of my favourite music concerts.

To not put to finer point on it; to me this track is about as good as anything he’s done and accordingly I have it located in his top tier. Obviously that shelf is loaded, but because this is a latter career track, I think The Rising doesn’t get its just deserts regarding his career output.
Also, the ‘bridge’ in this – is spectacular, as is the one in Countin’ on a Miracle. Normally these fillers seem to labour songs, but Bruce is the ‘Master’ of turning these into magnificent beasts as he does here at 1:50. Also his guitar solo proceeding it is nothing short of penetrating, then the bridge with Steven Van Zandt’s voice zapping in with Faces gone black, eyes burning bright, is legendary stuff.

[Verse 1]
Can’t see nothing in front of me
Can’t see nothing coming up behind
Make my way through this darkness
I can’t feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I’ve gone
How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed
On my back’s a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder, a half-mile line

[Chorus]
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight

[Verse 2]
Left the house this morning
Bells were ringing and filled the air
I was wearing the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire, I come rolling down here

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
There’s spirits above and behind me
Faces gone black, eyes burning bright
May their precious blood bind me
Lord, as I stand before your fiery light

[Verse 3]
I see you Mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There’s holy pictures of our children
Dancing in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancing on the end of the line

[Bridge]
Sky of blackness and sorrow (A dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (A dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness (A dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (A dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow (A dream of life)
Your burning wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (A dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life (A dream of life)

[Chorus]

References:
1. The Rising (Bruce Springsteen song) – Wikipedia

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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