Springsteen fans picked the best song on 'Born to Run,' and boy was it close
- Pete Chianca
- 31 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Much like golf is considered a game of inches, picking the best song on Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” is apparently a game of decimal points. Asked to rank each song on a five-star scale for the album's 50th anniversary, picking only one song as five stars, the responses from 300+ Blogness readers yielded a miniscule 1.12 difference between the lowest and highest-ranked tracks. And a .06 difference (!) between the top two finishers. Let’s face it, it’s all good.
Below, the list from lowest to highest rank, along with our take on each song and key reader comments. As for the whole album, if you remove the one joker who gave it 1 (what are you even doing here, pal?), it finished with a rating of 4.9375 stars out of 5. Not a bad showing.
8) Night (3.44 ⭐)
Blogness take: Rollicking, explosive, and heralding what would become one of Bruce’s most longstanding themes: the numbing effect of oppressive labor and the need to escape it, even for a brief moment. Not a classic, per se, but definitely a strong part of the glue that holds the album together.
Reader comments:
“Over the past couple decades, Night has grown on me more than any other pre-USA song. Very underrated … Night is perfect as a show opener. Just a rolling tour de force that sets the pace.” — Kyle, Bowling Green, KY
7) Meeting Across the River (3.54 ⭐)
Blogness take: Stands out for its melancholy quiet among the boisterousness of the rest of the record, and could be a blueprint for much of what would later become Nebraska. In the context of the album, though, its main role is as a prelude to “Jungleland” (and it performs that role perfectly).
Reader comments:
“Haunting, desperate, beautiful narrative, which is the absolutely perfect segue into ‘Jungleland.’ Brings characters to life in a way he hadn’t done since ‘Lost in the Flood.’ Any artist that can create such empathy in such a short, stark song is a true genius. Almost never played, live or on the radio. And such a shame.” — Jonathan W., Pennsylvania
“It’s gritty. It’s a tiny musical noir that tells such a big story in such a short time. The music is like the score of a movie. Without it there’s no ‘Jungleland’ and no ‘Atlantic City.’” — Kelly, Maine
“It’s a visual masterpiece. A black-and-white film from the ’50s. And rarely played live. I’ve been lucky enough to hear it live multiple times.” — Ivan C., Georgia, USA (native of NYC)
6) She’s the One (3.66 ⭐)
Blogness take: With its Bo Diddley beat, it’s pure and simple rock ’n’ roll, and offers a fine transition between the intensity of “Born to Run” and the quiet of “Meeting Across the River.” But I’d have switched it with “Night” on this list in terms of overall impact.
[No reader comments]
5) Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out (3.83 ⭐)
Blogness take: It’s almost impossible now to separate the original song as it appeared on the album from what it’s come to represent: the unlikely longevity of the E Street Band, the salvation that can come from decades of friendship and comradery (however rocky it may have been at times), and of course the Big Man joining the band. Now it’s a classic for all those reasons, but in terms of its role on Born to Run, it’s mostly a fun pick-me-up after the emotional heft of “Thunder Road,” with a great horn arrangement. (Thanks, Stevie!)
[No reader comments]
4) Backstreets (4.23 ⭐)
Blogness take: You can make a case that “Backstreets” is the most emotionally resonant song on the whole album. The way the protagonists are allies against an oppressive world, until they’re not, is simply heartbreaking — and Bruce’s howling groan and frantic guitar capture the feeling of that heartbreak perfectly. Worth noting, though, that without Roy’s piano it wouldn’t be half as moving.
Reader comments:
“That song F’s me up, man. Hits real hard.” — Rob, Philadelphia
“There are three epic songs on what is probably my favorite album by any artist ever. But for me, ‘Backstreets’ is almost always the answer to my favorite song on the album. The lyrics are astonishing. The friendship, betrayal, connection — all set to music that is exactly appropriate to the themes. The piano introduction always captivates.” — Anonymous
“Bruce's vocal in this particular song is phenomenal and it brings out the emotion the song tries to capture.” — Karthik, India
“Professor Roy's piano intro, the build, the release, the honesty, the rawness. Perfection.” — Mick D., Dublin, Ireland
“The song's bridge is the greatest recorded moment in Springsteen's studio catalog.” — John, Amherst MA
“Feels very personal to me and I believe it tells two stories at once. Lyrically beautiful.” — Craig, Peterborough Ontario Canada
3) Born to Run (4.35 ⭐)
Blogness take: That it continues to stun and soar, sounding as fresh as ever despite its near-constant airplay over the last 35 years, shows that the meticulous effort Bruce put into it was worth it. It’s a song that will never die.
Reader comments:
“It’s not just a song, it’s an anthem.” — Barry, Long Newton, England
“Classic riff, the sax and euphoric feeling of escape.” — Anonymous
“BTR has such passion and urgency and energy and there is nothing better than singing it with 60,000 close personal friends anywhere!” — Anonymous
"I would have to pick Born to Run for the message at the end, ‘We're gonna get to that place we really wanna go and we'll walk in the sun.’ Plus, the sheer power of 50,000 people singing it.” — Rich, Nottingham, UK
“It was the first song that I heard on the radio and made me a Springsteen fan for life.” — Anita, Tampa FL
“Iconic / emotional / thrilling.” — Doug, UK
2) Jungleland (4.5 ⭐)
Blogness take: I said in my book “Glory Days: Springsteen’s Greatest Albums” that “Jungleland” “unleashes some of the most striking tableaus ever concocted by a rock artist,” and I stand by that: The barefoot girl and Magic Rat and their seedy world are forever burned into our collective memories. Combine that imagery with the song’s glorious, operatic arrangement and Clarence’s stunning sax solo, and “Jungeland” remains miraculous and perfect, and maybe the best album closer ever. (Certainly Bruce’s.)
Reader comments:
“The imagery in jungleland is genius and Clarence’s solo never fails to evoke tears … you can just feel everything in the song.” — Anonymous
“The music and words work perfectly together. The musicians in the band work together so well and attuned to one another. It is just the best song that brings everything to a good ending.” — Rebecca L., Maryland
“It’s the best 9.35 minutes ever recorded.” — Anthony E., Manchester, UK
“Because the poets around here don't write nothing at all anymore.” — Conor, Brooklyn NY
“There's nothing else like it. (Great story-telling, melodies and the best rock sax solo bar none!)” — Kevin, Bradenton, FL
"My personal favourite Springsteen song, it has everything! Rapturous sax and operatic lyrics.” —
Harry, Aberdeen, Scotland
“It's the most romantic song of all time and the mix between Bruce's voice and Clarence's sax is pure heaven. In one song Bruce captures what ‘West Wide Story’ does in 2 hours 30.” — Philippe, Paris, France
“Jungleland takes me back to the summery teen years of love, lust, adventures of who I was meant to be, shrouded in a mist of purple haze, wind in my hair, in a convertible, wth my beloved boyfriend! That's a great vision.” — Marsha, Forest Hills, NY
1) Thunder Road (4.56 ⭐)
Blogness take: Kind of hate to admit it, but I’ve never been a tremendous fan of live versions of this song because, let’s face it, the studio version as it appears on Born to Run was and remains one of the most perfectly recorded tracks of the rock era. Everything about it — the evocative opening image, the glorious build, Clarence’s blaring sax over Roy’s impassioned piano to bring it in for a stunning close — is perfect. Chills.
Reader comments:
“This was really tough. I went back and forth between ‘Jungleland’ and ‘Thunder Road.’ I chose ‘Thunder Road’ because I just want to drive fast with all my windows open when I hear it. It is the essence of summer and longing and being young.” — Sharonm Leominster, MA USA
“It makes me feel every emotion during its runtime and reminds me of being young.” — Harry, Whitehaven, England
“Not only my favorite song on the album, it has remained my favorite Springsteen song for almost 50 years.” — Dave, North River, Nova Scotia, Canada
"Might be his best song full stop.” — Niklas, Sweden
“I simply love it and always become emotional at concerts when the crowd sings ‘Show a little faith…’ 🥹🥰” — Nadine, Switzerland
“A hymn to youth and courage.” — David, Barcelona
“It describes life.” — Alex, UK
“It encompasses everything that's classic Bruce: hope, faith, a will to make it, and although that's basically the same themes as 'Born To Run,' it adds the killer sax solo at the end, as well as the build-up to the end. Bruce at his BEST!” — Francisco, Spain.
“Topic could not be further away from the upbringing of a middle class boy from rural England and yet it still resonates.” — Andrew M., Reading UK
“Best song ever written.” — David, Israel
Bonus question: You can go back in time and convince Bruce to add one outtake to the Born to Run album. Which one do you pick?
Most (just over half) of readers said they wouldn’t bother: Why mess with perfection? But of the ones who would dare, “The Fever” is the one that came out on top. Here were the other top choices (although maybe “Lonely Night in the Park” would have finished higher if we asked now, since it’s finally gotten an official release).
None, it’s perfect as is (50.8%)
The Fever (13.3%)
Seaside Bar Song (10.1%)
Janey Needs a Shooter (8.5%)
Zero and Blind Terry (5.2%)
A Love So Fine/So Young and In Love (3.2%)
TOMORROW: Why Born to Run may be Springsteen’s greatest album.