Born in the U.S.A. (song)

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"Born in the U.S.A."
BornInTheUSAsinglecover.jpg
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Born in the U.S.A.
B-side"Shut Out the Light"
ReleasedOctober 30, 1984
RecordedApril 27, 1982
StudioPower Station, New York City
GenreHeartland rock
Length4:38
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bruce Springsteen
Producer(s)
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"Cover Me"
(1984) 		"Born in the U.S.A."
(1984) 		"I'm on Fire"
(1985)
Born in the U.S.A. track listing
12 tracks
Audio sample
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"Born in the U.S.A." is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, and released in 1984 on the album of the same name. One of Springsteen's best-known singles, it was ranked 275th on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and in 2001, the RIAA's Songs of the Century placed the song 59th (out of 365). The song addresses the economic hardships of Vietnam veterans upon their return home, juxtaposed ironically against patriotic glorification of the nation's fighting forces.[1]

Recording history[]

This song was written in 1981 as the title song for a film that Paul Schrader was contemplating making and that Springsteen was considering starring in (Light of Day starring Michael J. Fox).[2] Springsteen thanks Schrader in the liner notes of the album Born in the U.S.A.

Casual home demos were made later that year, following the completion of The River Tour. A more formal solo acoustic guitar demo was made on January 3, 1982, at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, New Jersey during the long session that constituted most of the Nebraska album released later that year. Acoustic versions of several other songs that eventually appeared on the Born in the U.S.A. album were also on this demo, including "Child Bride" (an early version of "Working on the Highway") and "Downbound Train". However, Springsteen's manager/producer Jon Landau and others felt that the song did not have the right melody or music to match the lyrics, and also did not fit in well with the rest of the nascent Nebraska material. As a result, the song was shelved. (This version surfaced in the late 1990s on the Tracks and 18 Tracks outtake collections.)

Full E Street Band versions were recorded during the Electric Nebraska sessions, with the Born in the U.S.A. album take 4 completed on April 27, 1982, at the Power Station.[3][4] Much of the arrangement was made up on the spot, including Roy Bittan's opening synthesizer riff and what producer Chuck Plotkin nicknamed Max Weinberg's "exploding drums".[5] The famous snare drum sound on this record, notable for its gated reverb, was obtained by engineer Toby Scott running the top snare microphone through a broken reverb plate with a fixed four-second decay and into a Kepex noise gate.[5] This is the version that appeared on the Born in the U.S.A. album, a full two years later. The studio recording also originally ended with a lengthy jam session, which was later edited for the song's commercial release.

In a 1986 speaking engagement at the University of Georgia, Weinberg stated that "Born in the U.S.A." was his favorite song that the band had recorded. Later, in a separate question and answer session, Weinberg explained that it was his favorite because the song was not written in advance for the various instrumental parts. After a grueling studio session while members of the band were in the booth at the sound board, one member of the band at a time returned to the recording area joining in to make up their own new parts to the song that had been intended as an acoustic guitar-only song. Even Springsteen came out and started singing vocals. It sounded so good that they did it again and recorded it. Without reviewing the recording, Springsteen said, let's do that one more time. So they recorded the second take (or the third time the unwritten version had ever been played). That second studio take was the CD release on the Born in the U.S.A. album.[6][original research?]

Themes[]

"Born in the U.S.A." has been called one of the most misunderstood songs in history by NPR, the BBC and others.[7][8][9] It has been treated as a flag-waving paean to America by politicians like Ronald Reagan and Pat Buchanan, reacting to the dominant tone of the song's chorus, without seeming to acknowledge the bitter critique of American policy and society present in the lyrics as a whole.[9][7] The song presents a Vietnam veteran as a tragic figure alienated upon his return from the war.

The song's working-class protagonist joins the armed forces to "fight the yellow man" and is disaffected upon his return to the United States. His brother (or "buddy" in some live shows), also a veteran, is "all gone."

I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there; he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms, now

Though the primary enemy combatants in the Battle of Khe Sanh were the North Vietnamese Army, the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) did aid the NVA forces in the fighting. Eventually the Americans prevailed and broke the siege, only to withdraw from the outpost a couple of months later. Khe Sanh thus became one of the media symbols of the futility of the whole war effort in the States.

Two scholars writing in the journal American Quarterly explored the song as a lament for embattled American working-class identity. They wrote that "the anthemic chorus contrasted with the verses' desperate narrative," a tension which informs an understanding of the song's overall meaning: the nationalist chorus continuously overwhelms the desperation and sacrifice relayed in the verses. They offer the interpretation that the imagery of the Vietnam War could be read as metaphor for "the social and economic siege of American blue-collar communities" at large, and that lyrics discussing economic devastation are symbolic for the effect of blind nationalism upon the working class. The song as a whole, they write, laments the destabilization of the economics and politics protecting the "industrial working class" in the 1970s and early 1980s, leaving only "a deafening but hollow national pride."[1]

Political reactions[]

In late August 1984, the Born in the U.S.A. album was selling very well, its songs were frequently aired on radio stations, and the associated tour was drawing considerable press. Springsteen shows at the Capital Centre outside of Washington, D.C. thus attracted even more media attention, in particular from CBS Evening News correspondent Bernard Goldberg, who saw Springsteen as a modern-day Horatio Alger story. Conservative columnist George Will, after attending a show, published a piece on September 13, 1984, titled "A Yankee Doodle Springsteen", in which he praised Springsteen as an exemplar of classic American values.[10] He wrote: "I have not got a clue about Springsteen's politics, if any, but flags get waved at his concerts while he sings songs about hard times. He is no whiner, and the recitation of closed factories and other problems always seems punctuated by a grand, cheerful affirmation: 'Born in the U.S.A.!'"[11] The 1984 presidential campaign was in full stride at the time, and Will had connections to President Ronald Reagan's re-election organization. Will thought that Springsteen might endorse Reagan (not knowing that Springsteen did not support him), and got the notion pushed up to high-level Reagan advisor Michael Deaver. His staffers made inquiries to Springsteen's management, which were politely rebuffed.

Nevertheless, at a campaign stop in Hammonton, New Jersey, on September 19, 1984, Reagan added the following to his speech:

America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts; it rests in the message of hope in songs so many young Americans admire: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen. And helping you make those dreams come true is what this job of mine is all about.[12]

The press immediately expressed skepticism that Reagan knew anything about Springsteen, and asked what his favorite Springsteen song was; "Born to Run" was the response from staffers. Johnny Carson then joked on The Tonight Show, "If you believe that, I've got a couple of tickets to the Mondale–Ferraro inaugural ball I'd like to sell you."[13]

During a September 21 concert in Pittsburgh, Springsteen responded negatively by introducing his song "Johnny 99", a song about an unemployed auto worker who turns to murder, "The President was mentioning my name the other day, and I kinda got to wondering what his favorite album musta been. I don't think it was the Nebraska album. I don't think he's been listening to this one."[14]

A few days after that, presidential challenger Walter Mondale said, "Bruce Springsteen may have been born to run but he wasn't born yesterday", and then claimed to have been endorsed by Springsteen.[15] Springsteen manager Jon Landau denied any such endorsement, and the Mondale campaign issued a correction.

Springsteen wrote "Born in the U.S.A." about the working-class man, who in Springsteen's words was facing "a spiritual crisis, in which man is left lost. It's like he has nothing left to tie him into society anymore. He's isolated from the government. Isolated from his job. Isolated from his family ... to the point where nothing makes sense."[1] Springsteen promotes the fact that the endless search for truth is the true American way.[16]

In 2000, Reason editor and libertarian journalist Brian Doherty, noting that political song lyrics are often either misunderstood or not understood at all by fans, wrote, "But who's to say Reagan wasn't right to insist the song was an upper? When I hear those notes and that drumbeat, and the Boss' best arena-stentorian, shout-groan vocals come over the speakers, I feel like I'm hearing the national anthem."[17]

In the Donald Trump era, “Born In The USA” was heard at rallies for President Trump and outside the hospital where he was being treated for COVID-19 in October 2020. On this topic, Josh Terry of Vice wrote: “That ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ has been used for decades in political rallies for right-wing causes for four decades is confusing. Springsteen himself has gone on record calling the President ‘a flagrant, toxic narcissist,’ a ‘moron,’ and a ‘threat to our democracy.’ But more than the Boss' own views, the song is the furthest thing from a nationalist anthem.”[18]

General reaction[]

"Born in the U.S.A." peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in January 1985. It was the third of a record-tying seven Top 10 hit singles to be released from the Born in the U.S.A. album. In addition it made the top 10 of Billboard's Rock Tracks chart, indicating solid play on album-oriented rock stations. The physical single was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 23, 1999,[19] and additionally it has sold over a million digital copies in the U.S. by July 2016 after becoming available for downloads.[20] The song was also a hit in the UK, reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.

Beyond the 1984 presidential campaign, "Born in the U.S.A." was widely misinterpreted as purely nationalistic by those who heard the anthemic chorus but not the bitter verses.[8]

When Springsteen played the song live in East Berlin in 1988 the German audience widely followed the chorus line to express their bonds with the western world and their weariness with their own way of life in the communist system of the GDR.[21]

Music video[]

The music video for "Born in the U.S.A." was directed by noted filmmaker John Sayles.[22] It consisted of video concert footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band performing the song, poorly synchronized with audio from the studio recording. Released on November 28, 1984, there supposedly had not been enough time to mix the audio from the concert.

This footage was intermixed with compelling mid-1980s scenes of working-class America, emphasizing images that had some connection with the song, including Vietnam veterans, Amerasian children, assembly lines, oil refineries, cemeteries, and the like, finishing with a recreation of the album's cover, with a grizzled Springsteen posing in front of an American flag.

Live performances and subsequent versions[]

On Springsteen's 1984–1985 Born in the U.S.A. Tour, "Born in the U.S.A." almost always opened the concerts, in a dramatic, crowd-rousing fashion. One such version is included on the Live/1975–85 album.

On the 1988 Tunnel of Love Express Tour, "Born in the U.S.A." generally closed the first set, and on the 1992–1993 "Other Band" Tour, it appeared frequently at the end of the second set. These were both full band versions, although the latter stressed guitar parts more than the familiar synthesizer line.

Beginning with the 1995–1997 solo acoustic Ghost of Tom Joad Tour and associated promotional media appearances, Springsteen radically recast "Born in the U.S.A." once again, playing an acoustic guitar version that was unlike both the original Nebraska and full band performances. This was a stinging, snarling rendition that only included the title phrase twice. This was both in connection with the Tom Joad Tour's wan moods as well as Springsteen's attempt to make clear the song's original and only purpose; in his introduction to the song in this shows he said he still wasn't convinced the song had been misinterpreted, but now as the songwriter he was "going to get the last say." Fan reaction was divided, with some greatly liking the new arrangement and others thinking the song's musical ironies had been lost.

During the 1999–2000 Reunion Tour, "Born in the U.S.A." was not always played, and when it was, it was the stinging solo acoustic version, now on 12-string slide guitar. Such a performance is included on the DVD and CD Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City. Not until 2002's The Rising Tour and 2004's political Vote for Change tour did the full band "Born in the U.S.A." make a regular comeback; only in the U.S., foreign audiences still got the acoustic one, but a foreign example of "Born in the U.S.A." is heard on Live in Barcelona, in which the full band version is heard.

But then towards the end of Springsteen's solo Devils & Dust Tour in 2005, the most challenging "Born in the U.S.A." yet was unveiled, when he performed it using an amplified "stomping board" and an ultra-distorting vocal "bullet microphone", two devices designed to render any song utterly incomprehensible to all but the sharpest of ears. This slot was normally reserved for the dourest of Nebraska material, and "Born in the U.S.A."'s appearance in it solidified the impression that its origins in those sessions had not been an accident after all.

During the Magic and Working on a Dream Tours, the song was played just 15 times, even though other songs from the album, such as "Dancing in the Dark", "Bobby Jean", and "Glory Days" continued to be regulars. It was famously used as an opener on the radio broadcast July 4, 2008, show in Gothenburg, Sweden.[23]

Track listing[]

7": Columbia / 38-04680[]

  1. "Born in the U.S.A." – 4:39
  2. "Shut Out the Light" – 3:45
  • The B-side of the single, "Shut Out the Light", was another Vietnam veteran's tale.
  • also released on CD in 1988 (Columbia / 38K-04680-S1)

12": Columbia / 44-05147[]

  1. "Born In The U.S.A." (The Freedom Mix) – 7:07
  2. "Born In The U.S.A." (Dub) – 7:27
  3. "Born In The U.S.A." (Radio Mix) – 6:01

Charts[]

Sales and certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] 2× Platinum 140,000double-dagger
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[48] Gold 45,000double-dagger
Italy (FIMI)[49] Gold 25,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[52] Gold 500,000^ (physical)
1,053,000 (digital)
[51]

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers and parodies[]

The song has appeared on recordings ranging from instrumental bluegrass collections to children's music albums (sung by groups of children). Even the London Symphony Orchestra has performed their take on the song.[53]

In 1985, Patti LaBelle covered the song on her live album. Jazz-funk bassist Stanley Clarke recorded the song for his 1985 release, Find Out!. The Allmusic describes this version as "a black man's parody of white arena rock, with Springsteen's bitter lyric ground out rap-style by Clarke."[54] Eric Rigler has recorded an instrumental bagpipe version of the song that has appeared on various Springsteen tribute albums since 2001.[55] Swedish-Argentinian singer-songwriter José González performed a solo acoustic version for a time, choosing not to sing the song's title refrain. Singer-songwriter Richard Shindell covered the song in concerts, performing solo and playing bouzouki. Shindell recorded the song for his album South of Delia. This Morning presenter Matt Johnson performed the song as Bruce Springsteen on week 6 of the ITV show 'Your Face Sounds Familiar'. At the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony, the song was covered by Neil Young & Crazy Horse with the help of Nils Lofgren; this is ironic for two reasons: one, Neil Young was born in Canada and Lofgren was a member of both Crazy Horse and the E Street Band.

There are a number of "Born in the U.S.A." parodies. For example, Cheech and Chong's 1985 comic-political "Born in East L.A." and Mad featured a parody written by Frank Jacobs in its July 1985 issue, called "Porn in the U.S.A.". A group of Sesame Street characters (billed as "Bruce Stringbean and the S. Street Band") performed a version of the song called "Barn in the U.S.A." for the album Born to Add.[53] In Canadian Bacon, a Michael Moore film about a Cold War scenario between Canada and the United States, a group of Americans are travelling across Canada while singing along to "Born in the U.S.A.". In an apparent nod to the widespread misunderstanding of the lyrics, the characters are only capable of singing the chorus of the song and trail off during the verse. With Springsteen's permission, rap group 2 Live Crew released "Banned in the U.S.A.", a parody of "Born in the U.S.A." released to draw attention to 2 Live Crew's First Amendment troubles.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jefferson R. Cowie; Lauren Boehm (June 2006). "Dead Man's Town: "Born in the U.S.A.," Social History, and Working-Class Identity". Project MUSE – American Quarterly. Muse.jhu.edu (Johns Hopkins University Press). 58 (2): 353–378. doi:10.1353/aq.2006.0040. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  2. ^ Konow, David (November 14, 2015). "Transformation in Art: The Films of Paul Schrader". Creative Screenwriting. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  3. ^ Heylin, Clinton (2012). Song By Song. London: Penguin. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Hiatt, Brian (March 24, 2019). "How Bruce Recorded Born In the USA". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bruce Springsteen Born In The USA | Classic Tracks". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  6. ^ personal communication when asking question to Max Weinberg after lecture in Georgia Hall, Tate Student Center, University of Georgia 1986.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Inskeep, Steve (March 26, 2019), "What Does 'Born In The U.S.A.' Really Mean?", Morning Edition, NPR.com
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Kot, Greg (October 21, 2014), "Born in the USA: Misunderstood songs", BBC.com
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Cha, Eveline (July 8, 2015). "Stop Using My Song: 35 Artists Who Fought Politicians Over Their Music; From Springsteen vs. Reagan to Neil Young vs. the Donald". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ Inskeep, Steve (March 26, 2019). "What Does 'Born In The U.S.A.' Really Mean?". NPR News. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  11. ^ "george will on bruce – rec.music.artists.springsteen". Google Groups. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  12. ^ "Ronald Reagan Rock, Hammonton, New Jersey". Roadsideamerica.com. September 19, 1984. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  13. ^ Marsh, Dave (2004). Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts, the Story. Routledge. p. 375. ISBN 9781135880484.
  14. ^ "RRC: Archives". rockrap.com. October 1984. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  15. ^ "Capitol Rocks to Springsteen's Beat". The Times-News. Associated Press. August 5, 1985. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  16. ^ "Project MUSE – Reviews in American History – The Intellectual as Fan". Muse.jhu.edu. doi:10.1353/rah.2004.0023. Retrieved June 1, 2011. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ^ Doherty, Brian. Rage On, Reason (October 2000)
  18. ^ "Politicians Have Always Misunderstood Springsteen's 'Born In The U.S.A.' - VICE". www.vice.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  19. ^ "American single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." Recording Industry Association of America.
  20. ^ "Nielsen Soundscan Chart". Nielsen. July 11, 2016.
  21. ^ See the German "Pop 2000" Episode 9 (#5/5) at 04:20.
  22. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob; Marks, Craig (2012). I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution. Plume. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-452-29856-9. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  23. ^ "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) by Bruce Springsteen Song Statistics". setlist.fm. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  25. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  27. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9577." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  28. ^ "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 27. July 8, 1985. p. 12. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  29. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm on Fire / Born in the USA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  31. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  32. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  33. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.". VG-lista. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)".
  37. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  39. ^ "Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  40. ^ "Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  41. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLVII no. 32. January 19, 1985. p. 4. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  43. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  45. ^ "End of Year Charts 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  46. ^ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  48. ^ "Danish single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  49. ^ "Italian single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 3, 2020. Select "2016" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Born in the U.S.A." in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  50. ^ "British single certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A." British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  51. ^ "Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 7/6/2017" (PDF). Nielsen SoundScan. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2017.
  52. ^ "American single certifications – Springsteen, Bruce – Born in the U.S.A." Recording Industry Association of America.
  53. ^ Jump up to: a b "Covers of Bruce Springsteen songs" Archived February 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine from a fansite by Matt Orel.
  54. ^ Find Out! review at Allmusic.
  55. ^ Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Made in the U.S.A. review at Allmusic.

Further reading[]

  • Born in the U.S.A. The World Tour (tour booklet, 1985), Tour chronology.
  • Marsh, Dave. Glory Days: Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s. Pantheon Books, 1987. ISBN 0-394-54668-7.

External links[]

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