Today (Saturday, May 29) is a big day here in Massachusetts (one of the most vaccinated areas of the country, ahem) -- it’s the day most COVID restrictions end, meaning people will be venturing out into fully open stores, packed movie theaters and full-capacity stadiums, often without masks. It will be weird.
But after 15 long months of another kind of weirdness, it’s a welcome one -- and what better way to celebrate it than with a playlist of music by Bruce Springsteen? But not just any playlist -- one that traces our pandemic odyssey from its earliest days through our current vaccine-fueled recovery. [Editor's note: Yes, I know it's a little cheesy. Give me a break, I've been inside for 15 months.]
So listen, enjoy, and get ready for a packed pit when Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band hit the road in 2022 (fingers crossed). And if you still want to wear your mask, that’s OK.
THE PLAYLIST:
Set 1: Denial, Shock and Anger
First we thought it would never reach us, then that it would “just go away.” (That’s what somebody supposedly in charge was saying, after all.) Then as things got worse, we got sad -- and mad. Who’ll be the last to die for a mistake?
The Time That Never Was
Livin’ In The Future
Roulette
Streets of Fire
Last to Die
Set 2: Life in Lockdown
Lonely, anxious, depressed … Did we leave anything out? As we learned that when you’re alone, you’re alone, everybody had their own way way of dealing with a lack of human touch.
We Take Care of Our Own
Life Itself
How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live
When You’re Alone
You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
Human Touch
Living On The Edge of the World
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day
Set 3: Hope for the Future
As the vaccine rolled out and cases dropped, we dared to work on a dream: Is the long international nightmare finally coming to an end? There finally seemed to be cause for high(er) hopes.
Long Walk Home
We Shall Overcome
Janey Don’t You Lose Heart
High Hopes
The Power of Prayer
Working On a Dream
Save My Love
Countin’ On a Miracle
Land of Hope and Dreams
Reason to Believe
Tougher Than the Rest
The Rising
Wrecking Ball
I’ll Work for Your Love
My Love Will Not Let You Down
The Ties That Bind
No Surrender
We Are Alive
Set 4: A Prayer for The Lost
Even as we head back toward “normal,” many have been struggling with long goodbyes. Thinking of those we’ll be seeing in our dreams.
Souls of the Departed
Ghosts
Further On (Up the Road)
The Long Goodbye
The Price You Pay
My Beautiful Reward
I’ll See You In My Dreams
Set 5: Reunited And It Feels So Good
Slowly we step out in the street … Masks come off … Bells ring out through churches and jails … Stadiums echo with the sounds of a roaring crowd … LIVE MUSIC COMES BACK … These are better days!
O Mary Don’t You Weep No More
For You
Long Time Comin’
Hello Sunshine
My Lucky Day
Jacob’s Ladder
Kingdom of Days
Better Days
Back in Your Arms
Glory Days
Lucky Town
Kitty’s Back
Two Hearts
Out in the Street
Born to Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)