"Dollhouse" - recorded 1979, from 1998's Tracks: One of Springsteen's most urgent tracks, it conveys a sense of nervousness present in very little of his work. The vocals are edgy, the instrumentation taut, and the lyrics direct as the narrator addresses the woman he's in love with.
Relatively fast-paced, it's an immediately catchy track, but what's most impressive is Springsteen's vocal. He approaches shouting at several points, but it doesn't sound out of place in the song's context: This man's relationship is on the line.
The metaphor of the dollhouse, representing how his girl wants to feel in control — "I'm just another doll in your dollhouse to you" — works not only for the image it conjures of a childlike authority over possessions, but also because dollhouses are traditionally perceived as fragile structures.
Ultimately, this relationship is on the rocks and close to sinking. Things have to change or a break-up is imminent. Intense music and cautionary lyrics rarely work as well as they do here. That this song wasn't deemed worthy of inclusion on a regular album — instead laying dormant for two decades — is criminal.
"Downbound Train" - from 1984's Born in the USA: How I can justify including a track from a work I already cited as critically and commercially acclaimed? Because removed from the context of the album — wherein the overall bombast overshadows its modest tempo, slight melody and chugging rhythm — the song gains new power.
Underscoring the working-man ethic of its lyrics, the repetitive progression in the music reflects the drudgery of the narrator's day-to-day existence. Vague, train-like effects echo throughout, adding an eerie, disquieting feel to the whole piece.
Yet it's with the dark-themed lyrics that the song truly shines. The image of a "downbound train" is used as a metaphor for the protagonist's life: He "got laid off down at the lumberyard" just as his "love went bad" and "times got hard." He tells of her leaving him on a train, the haunting vision of the "Central Line" reverberating throughout the song as well as the narrator's thoughts.
Circumstances don't improve as he hallucinates and dreams of his lost lover, his lost job; neither are coming back. The narrator, in the end, resigns himself to a fate on that proverbial "downbound train." It's an immensely powerful song.
"Leap of Faith" - from 1991's Lucky Town: As mentioned previously, Springsteen's double-act of Human Touch and Lucky Town received quite the critical drubbing — recording with musicians other than the E Street Band didn't help — but therein lay a few gems and this one shines the most. An all-out rocker, it celebrates the joy of sex, life and religion. And while other artists have crossed the profane with the sacred, rarely has it been done with this much style.
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
Interesting choice of Downbound Train - most critics consider it one of his weakest attempts - almost a throwaway piece. I myself always thought it was decent enough.
2 - Me and Wayne
I also like Downbound Train a lot. A song that seems like it connects the Nebraska and Born in the USA albums.
You'll be Comin' Down took a while to sneak up on me, but now it's a favorite. I often think of it as "that color song" because of all the different colors mentioned in the verses (I don't know what "daisy grey-blue" is exactly, but I like how it sounds). I also now sometimes think of Sarah Palin when listening to it. Her head was spinning in diamonds and clouds alright, and she sure had her hopes on high.
3 - Wesley Mead
Thanks for the comments. Good to know I'm not the only fan of "Downbound Train"!
I love all the colours used in "You'll Be Comin' Down". It evokes some great imagery.
4 - Tsafrir
nice and interesting choices. I must comment that Racing in the streets and to some extent Leap offace@ are obviously very much cherished by many fans.
I would have probably added Lost in the flood and candy's room to such list (and probably many more :)), but i guess thats totally personal.
great reading. ty!
5 - acoolromeo
"...I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door
My head pounding hard, up the stairs I climbed
The room was dark, our bed was empty
Then I heard that long whistle whine
And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried.."
That is a killer lyric and a very powerful image.
It is a screen play in 46 words. Not many artists can do that.
Thanks for a great article.
6 - Me and Wayne
Hidden gems from Devils & Dust: "Maria's Bed" and "Black Cowboys".
7 - Wesley Mead
Thanks for all of the additional comments, very kind!
Devils & Dust: Definitely "Maria's Bed", though I'm not big on "Black Cowboys".
8 - fridaybrucefix
Great topic and great post, Wesley.
No disagreements with your choices. I'd add 'Two Faces' off Tunnel of Love, 'I Wish I Were Blind' off Human Touch, and 'Jesus Was An Only Son' off Devils & Dust. So many great songs to choose from.