Where's the Promise?
Growing up the goal of life was to believe in the promised land. The dogs on main street howl cause they understand and I believe in the promised land.
Over the last couple of weeks I've heard every song off the Bruce album, "Wrecking Ball", that will be out next week.
It's been a long ride.
In We Take Care of Our Own he asks, 'Where's the promise from sea-to-shining sea?' He also starts the song by saying he's been knocking on the door that holds the throne. A question of his own mortality or his reluctant involvement in the last presidential election?
Either way, he's pissed.
And all those things he chased down Thunder Road and seemingly found are lost again.
The music is varied and kind of wild. A Celtic song, a couple of good rockers, gospel, a lot of violins, blues, country, folk...one after another, all different.
Even a freaking rapper in what might be my favorite song: Rocky Ground. A rapper who says something bright, mind you, and in a voice that speaks the English language - Bruce doesn't rap.
Then I listened to the anger break up towards the end of the record and in the last few songs he offers an answer to economical troubles, personal difficulties and missing out on the promise because of the 'fat bankers'.
While the band was playing on Jimmy Fallon it all come crashing down on me.
"Hard times come and hard times go and hard times come and hard times go and hard times come and hard times go."
He screams and begs the listener to let go of the anger and to see the big picture. He sympathises with those having a difficult time and he presents that big picture in the backdrop of love, faith and hope...and he's always done that.
By the end of the angry record, he seems to have let go of it himself, and he redfined the promise.
I read an interview with Bruce where he talked of his motivation. He has not suffered financially lately, but he grew up in that manner and those feelings never left him.
So he tries to reach the depths where the thoughts of a common man are located.
He finds those depths easily because he's still a normal guy in a big house. This record is evidence of that.
While watching the Fallon show and seeing the passion that fueled the music, I nearly lost it.
From three years ago until now I have been lost in grief. I had given up on the promise for long stretches of time.
But there it was halfway through Wrecking Ball.
"Hold tight to your anger."
The dogs on main street howl...
(Finish it for me, Rolando).
Over the last couple of weeks I've heard every song off the Bruce album, "Wrecking Ball", that will be out next week.
It's been a long ride.
In We Take Care of Our Own he asks, 'Where's the promise from sea-to-shining sea?' He also starts the song by saying he's been knocking on the door that holds the throne. A question of his own mortality or his reluctant involvement in the last presidential election?
Either way, he's pissed.
And all those things he chased down Thunder Road and seemingly found are lost again.
The music is varied and kind of wild. A Celtic song, a couple of good rockers, gospel, a lot of violins, blues, country, folk...one after another, all different.
Even a freaking rapper in what might be my favorite song: Rocky Ground. A rapper who says something bright, mind you, and in a voice that speaks the English language - Bruce doesn't rap.
Then I listened to the anger break up towards the end of the record and in the last few songs he offers an answer to economical troubles, personal difficulties and missing out on the promise because of the 'fat bankers'.
While the band was playing on Jimmy Fallon it all come crashing down on me.
"Hard times come and hard times go and hard times come and hard times go and hard times come and hard times go."
He screams and begs the listener to let go of the anger and to see the big picture. He sympathises with those having a difficult time and he presents that big picture in the backdrop of love, faith and hope...and he's always done that.
By the end of the angry record, he seems to have let go of it himself, and he redfined the promise.
I read an interview with Bruce where he talked of his motivation. He has not suffered financially lately, but he grew up in that manner and those feelings never left him.
So he tries to reach the depths where the thoughts of a common man are located.
He finds those depths easily because he's still a normal guy in a big house. This record is evidence of that.
While watching the Fallon show and seeing the passion that fueled the music, I nearly lost it.
From three years ago until now I have been lost in grief. I had given up on the promise for long stretches of time.
But there it was halfway through Wrecking Ball.
"Hold tight to your anger."
The dogs on main street howl...
(Finish it for me, Rolando).
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