Bruce Springsteen and his countless classics are about as American as they come. But while he’s known for his singing voice, Springsteen has also ventured into the realm of politics from time to time. Sitting with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, Springsteen discussed the current political landscape in the country.
In short, the singer believes it’s “harrowing.”
Bruce Springsteen was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss his upcoming book, Renegades. The book serves as a companion piece to the podcast that Springsteen created with former president Barak Obama. At one point, Colbert and Springsteen were discussing the introduction of the book. The talk show host said, “You say these are treacherous times with much at stake…I agree with you, but what do you mean about that, specifically? I mean, it’s harrowing,” according to The Daily Mail.
Bruce Springsteen replied, “Oh, it’s harrowing.” The rock icon went on to posit the question, “Do you want Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis, and our ex-fearless leader deciding the fate of the American experiment?”
However, Bruce Springsteen isn’t all doom and gloom. He referred to himself as a “fighting optimist” when Colbert asked him how he kept his spirits up. The “Wasted Days” singer said that much of his hope rests on the next generation. “I think there’s a great generation of young people coming up who will be interested in protecting American democracy and things like the fundamental right to vote,” and that, he said, helps him keep hope alive.
Bruce Springsteen Has Always Had a Political Message
Some folks think that Bruce Springsteen is just now getting political. It really came to light while Trump was in office. Springsteen was an outspoken critic of Trump’s administration. He continues to be critical of the new stripe of conservativism that the former president left in his wake.
However, many of Springsteen’s songs are politically charged pro-working-class or pro-veteran anthems. For instance, let’s look at his biggest hit “Born in the USA.”
Most of us only remember the chorus. It’s all sound, fury, and pride. However, the real story is in the song’s verses. They tell the tale of a man who came back from Vietnam to find a lack of opportunity. If you really listen to the lyrics, you’ll hear a story of a man who came back from the war and couldn’t find a job nor could he get help from the VA. By the end of the song, the guy is doing hard time.
The Boss has always had a political leaning to his words. He’s just being more clear about his message these days.
