Independence Day (Bruce Springsteen song)
"Independence Day" | |
---|---|
Single by Bruce Springsteen | |
from the album The River | |
A-side | "The River" |
Released | May 1981 |
Recorded | April 24–25, 1980[1] |
Studio | Power Station, New York City |
Length | 4:50 |
Label | Columbia Records |
Songwriter(s) | Bruce Springsteen |
Producer(s) | Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt |
"Independence Day" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. It was originally released on his fifth album, The River, in 1980. It was recorded at The Power Station in New York, on April 24–25, 1980.[2]
Content
In 2015, Springsteen stated that he regards "Independence Day," "
Wreck on the Highway" and "Point Blank", is one of the verse-chorus songs on The River that was essentially a short story or character sketch.[4] It is one of the darker hued songs on The River.[5] The lyrics are about a home that can no longer hold both father and son.[6] The song is sung by the son to the father, opening with the line "Papa go to bed now, it's getting late", reversing the usual command of a father to a son.[7] The son recognizes that despite their similarities, the father and son would never agree but just continue to argue constantly, and so it was time for the son to leave home.[7] AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann said "Independence Day is an unusually sad, beautiful and private song, with a slow piano and a languid saxophone solo,[7] as well as delicate organ and acoustic guitar work".[8] The song has been described as Springsteen's best recorded vocal, with an unerring sincerity which fuels the song.[9]
Although released on The River in 1980, "Independence Day" was written in 1977Live/1975–85.[7]
"Independence Day" was released as the B-side on the single release of "The River" in several countries and as the B-side of "Sherry Darling" in others.[13][14]
Personnel
According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[15]
- Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitars
- Roy Bittan – piano
- Clarence Clemons – saxophone, tambourine
- Danny Federici – organ
- Garry Tallent – bass
- Steven Van Zandt – guitars
- Max Weinberg – drums
References
- ^ Heylin, Clinton (2012). Springsteen Song by Song A Critical Look. New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA) Inc. pp. 42–46. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ "Independence Day (Bruce Springsteen song)Brucebase, On The Tracks: The River". brucebase.wikidot.com. July 24, 2013.
- ^ Zimny, Thom (2015). The Ties That Bind. HBO.
- ISBN 0-7432-0120-5.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 1578591570.
- ISBN 1578591570.
- ^ a b c d Ruhlmann, William. "Independence Day". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- ISBN 0-7119-5304-X.
- ISBN 0-7119-5304-X.
- ISBN 0-440-10694-X.
- ISBN 1578591570.
- ^ "Bruce Springsteen Tour Statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "Bruce Springsteen: The River". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ "Bruce Springsteen: Sherry Darling". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ISBN 978-1-78472-649-2.
External links