Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.

About the song

Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen’s seventh studio album released in 1984, stands as a definitive cultural artifact of its era, blending rock and roll with pop influences against a backdrop of poignant storytelling. Co-produced by Springsteen alongside Jon Landau, Steven Van Zandt, and Chuck Plotkin, the album was meticulously crafted over a span of two years in New York City with the legendary E Street Band.

The album’s genesis traces back to Springsteen’s introspective period following his previous acoustic effort, Nebraska (1982). Many of the songs on Born in the U.S.A. emerged from the same prolific demo tape that inspired Nebraska, though this time with a sonic shift towards a more mainstream rock sound infused with synthesizers—a hallmark of 1980s music production.

Lyrically, the album delves into themes familiar to Springsteen’s oeuvre—working-class struggles, disillusionment, patriotism, and personal relationships—set against a vibrant musical backdrop that juxtaposes the album’s deeper themes with an energetic, accessible sound. Annie Leibovitz’s iconic cover photograph of Springsteen draped in front of the American flag crystallizes the album’s exploration of complex American identities and values.

Born in the U.S.A. catapulted Springsteen into global superstardom, supported by an extensive promotional campaign that spawned seven singles, multiple music videos, and remixes. Songs like “Dancing in the Dark,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” “I’m on Fire,” and “Glory Days” dominated charts worldwide, cementing the album as a commercial juggernaut and Springsteen’s best-selling work to date, with over 30 million copies sold globally.

Critically, Born in the U.S.A. received acclaim for its storytelling prowess and musical innovation, although some reviewers noted thematic similarities to Springsteen’s previous albums. Despite Springsteen’s later reservations about the album’s massive fame, retrospective assessments consistently rank Born in the U.S.A. as one of the greatest records of all time, with its impact resonating well beyond its initial release.

The album’s enduring legacy is marked by its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012 and its inclusion on numerous lists of the greatest albums in music history by publications like Rolling Stone and NME. Born in the U.S.A. not only solidified Springsteen’s place as a preeminent musical storyteller but also captured a pivotal moment in American rock and roll, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the 1980s and beyond.

Video

Lyrics

Born down in a dead man’s town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much
‘Til you spend half your life just coverin’ up

Born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
Born in the U.S.A

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says, “Son if it was up to me”
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said, “Son, don’t you understand”

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

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I’m ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain’t got nowhere to go

Born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A
I’m a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A
Born in the U.S.A
Born in the U.S.A
I’m a cool rockin’ Daddy in the U.S.A. now