Happy Birthday, Bruce Springsteen

Today (September 23) is Bruce Springsteen's birthday. I want to recognize him on this day as someone who's music has meant a lot to me for a lot of years. I think he's a master of characterization. Every so often he writes a love song, or something that's topically political, but the huge majority of his songs are stories he writes about some character he's made up. Here are two from his first album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ" and two from his last, "Devils and Dust".

Growin' Up
I stood stone-like at midnight suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "Sit down" I stood
up.
Ooh-ooh growin' up

The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate, she couldn't sail but she sure could
sing,
I pushed B-52 and bombed 'em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on
standing
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school, never once gave thought to
landing,
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "Come down" I threw
up
Ooh-ooh growin' up

I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to
hold your breath.
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full
costume dress
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little
place in the stars
And I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd but when they said "Pull down" I pulled up
Ooh-ooh, growin' up