I have a theory that Springsteen’s most common lyric is “it’s all right.” In addition to saying it about 100 very soothing times in Lonesome Day, he says variations in songs as diverse as Thunder Road (that’s all right) and Jack of All Trades (we’ll be all right.) 1/3 - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

trampslikeme.bsky.social • 13 days ago

I have a theory that Springsteen’s most common lyric is “it’s all right.” In addition to saying it about 100 very soothing times in Lonesome Day, he says variations in songs as diverse as Thunder Road (that’s all right) and Jack of All Trades (we’ll be all right.) 1/3

Comments

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

A couple of other examples: Incident is explicit: (good night, it’s all right Jane.) And for another implicit example Waiting on a Sunny Day (Everything will be okay…. Don’t worry we will find a way.)

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

It’s implicit even in songs that don’t use the words, like Rosalita (someday we will look back on this and it will all be funny.) And Born to Run (we’ll get to that place where we really want to go and we’ll walk in the sun.” 2/3

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

I think this is a key reason Springsteen fans keep coming back to his music when things are hard, because the songs are about hard things, but also about the hope that it’s going to be all right. When I retire, I’m going to get a spreadsheet going on this & prove it. (It’s good to have goals! 😂) 3/3

lindsayhere.bsky.social•13 days ago

You reminded me that even when I was a kid listening to Bruce's 1st LP, I thought the song "Mary Queen of Arkansas" was somewhat too "poetic," but that the one totally honest line in the song was, "But I know a place where we can go Mary, Where I can get a good job, and start all over again clean."

ruthbadley.bsky.social•13 days ago

‘Come on rise up’

ruthbadley.bsky.social•13 days ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣

flickris.bsky.social•13 days ago

Just about all of Bruce's songs are open ended, there's always the possibility of redemption or things getting better even in his darkest lyrics. Admittedly Nebraska (the song) does push it to the extreme.

richdfirth72.bsky.social•13 days ago

Zooming out a bit, though, even after the bleakness of Nebraska and Johnny 99, "people find some reason to believe."

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

Yes, I feel like in that example you have to take the hope from the whole body of work or something. 😀

jude-brucemoll.bsky.social•13 days ago

It's alright alright alright...good plan 😁

sevenpitches.bsky.social•13 days ago

Kitty's Back. Whoa whoa whoa whoa oh oh alright it's alright.

Personal favourite, especially for dancing.

trampslikeme.bsky.social•12 days ago

It’s really grown on me with time!

hop24.bsky.social•13 days ago

Or, "Meet me" somewhere

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

Oh that is a very good point! There is a lot of that… and it’s all wonderful. “Meet me out on the street,” “meet me in the land of hope and dreams,” “meet me at Mary’s place.”

hop24.bsky.social•13 days ago

Across the river

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

We will “meet there across the border.” And “meet me tonight at Liberty Hall.” And, naturally, “Atlantic City.”

hop24.bsky.social•13 days ago

Meet me in the city tonight

ejwolf.bsky.social•13 days ago

Or “Mary”

trampslikeme.bsky.social•13 days ago

Yes, and he throws in a Maria here or there for good measure.

ejwolf.bsky.social•13 days ago

Ooh, and you’re “waves” person! Many bonus points for you!

trampslikeme.bsky.social•12 days ago

I always was, but I’ve just about given that up now! 💔

ejwolf.bsky.social•12 days ago

I hear you. I’m mostly dying on that hill for fun, now. (And I do know we are right!)

mollyjones.bsky.social•13 days ago

I like your theory. Adds up beautifully.
🩵🎸

patricklnewkirk.bsky.social•10 days ago

Nah. He’s just optimistic