Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

170 Top Quotes By Bruce Springsteen That You Don’t Want To Miss

Famous As: One of the Best-Selling Rock Singer-Songwriters and Founder of the Rock Band 'E Street Band'
Born On: September 23, 1949
Born In: Long Branch, New Jersey, United States
Age: 73 Years
Bruce Springsteen is an American singer and songwriter who is popular across the globe for the poetic style of his lyrics. He is also renowned for his association with the ‘E Street Band’ and the music they produce. His never ending love for music truly reflects in his work. Bruce Springsteen's journey as a musician began when his mother bought him a ‘Kent guitar’. His discography is sought after, and he continues to excite his listeners by his talent. It is not surprising that he has bagged 20 Grammy Awards of the 49 that he was nominated for. In recent times, he made news by playing for Hilary Clinton at her campaign, and also received the Presidential ‘Medal of Freedom’. His quotations and thoughts will surely help you sail through rough times with a smile on your face and a song on your lips. Here are some of his quotes that introduce his life and passion better!
Listed In:
Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny.

Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny.

Bruce Springsteen
When it comes to luck, you make your own.

When it comes to luck, you make your own.

Bruce Springsteen

I looked at myself, and I just said, 'Well, you know, I can sing, but I'm not the greatest singer in the world. I can play guitar very well, but I'm not the greatest guitar player in the world.' So I said, 'Well, if I'm going to project an individuality, it's going to have to be in my writing.'

Bruce Springsteen
I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream.

I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream.

Bruce Springsteen
Getting an audience is hard. Sustaining an audience is hard. It demands a consistency of thought, of purpose, and of action over a long period of time.

Getting an audience is hard. Sustaining an audience is hard. It demands a consistency of thought, of purpose, and of action over a long period of time.

Bruce Springsteen
The past is never the past. It is always present. And you better reckon with it in your life and in your daily experience, or it will get you. It will get you really bad.

The past is never the past. It is always present. And you better reckon with it in your life and in your daily experience, or it will get you. It will get you really bad.

Bruce Springsteen
We all have stories we're living and telling ourselves.

We all have stories we're living and telling ourselves.

Bruce Springsteen
Adult life is dealing with an enormous amount of questions that don't have answers. So I let the mystery settle into my music. I don't deny anything, I don't advocate anything, I just live with it.

Adult life is dealing with an enormous amount of questions that don't have answers. So I let the mystery settle into my music. I don't deny anything, I don't advocate anything, I just live with it.

Bruce Springsteen
If you're good, you're always looking over your shoulder.

If you're good, you're always looking over your shoulder.

Bruce Springsteen
You can't have a United States if you are telling some folks that they can't get on the train. There is a cracking point where a society collapses.

You can't have a United States if you are telling some folks that they can't get on the train. There is a cracking point where a society collapses.

Bruce Springsteen
The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.

The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.

Bruce Springsteen
You make your music, then you try to find whatever audience is out there for it.

You make your music, then you try to find whatever audience is out there for it.

Bruce Springsteen
I was the only person I'd ever met who had a record contract. None of the E Street Band, as far as I know, had been on an airplane until Columbia sent us to Los Angeles.

I was the only person I'd ever met who had a record contract. None of the E Street Band, as far as I know, had been on an airplane until Columbia sent us to Los Angeles.

Bruce Springsteen
Talk about a dream, try to make it real.

Talk about a dream, try to make it real.

Bruce Springsteen
I'm always in search of something, in search of losing myself to the music.

I'm always in search of something, in search of losing myself to the music.

Bruce Springsteen
Anyone who's grown up or lived on the Jersey Shore knows the place is unique.

Anyone who's grown up or lived on the Jersey Shore knows the place is unique.

Bruce Springsteen
There is a real patriotism underneath the best of my music but it is a critical, questioning and often angry patriotism.

There is a real patriotism underneath the best of my music but it is a critical, questioning and often angry patriotism.

Bruce Springsteen
I grew up with a very big extended family, with a lot of aunts. We had about five or six houses on one street.

I grew up with a very big extended family, with a lot of aunts. We had about five or six houses on one street.

Bruce Springsteen
Pessimism and optimism are slammed up against each other in my records, the tension between them is where it's all at, it's what lights the fire.

Pessimism and optimism are slammed up against each other in my records, the tension between them is where it's all at, it's what lights the fire.

Bruce Springsteen
Most bands don't work out. A small unit democracy is very, very difficult.

Most bands don't work out. A small unit democracy is very, very difficult.

Bruce Springsteen
In the third grade, a nun stuffed me in a garbage can under her desk because she said that's where I belonged. I also had the distinction of being the only altar boy knocked down by a priest during mass.

In the third grade, a nun stuffed me in a garbage can under her desk because she said that's where I belonged. I also had the distinction of being the only altar boy knocked down by a priest during mass.

Bruce Springsteen

Steve Van Zandt, the poor guy, doesn't get to play enough as it is with me hogging a lot of the solos. Steve has always been a fabulous guitarist. Back from the day when we were both teenagers together, he led his band and played lead and was always a hot guitar player.

Bruce Springsteen

I played in front of every conceivable audience you could face: an all-black audience, all-white, firemen's fairs, policemen's balls, in front of supermarkets, bar mitzvahs, weddings, drive-in theaters. I'd seen it all before I ever walked into a recording studio.

Bruce Springsteen
The drummer in my first band was killed in Vietnam. He kind of signed up and joined the marines. Bart Hanes was his name. He was one of those guys that was jokin' all the time, always playin' the clown.

The drummer in my first band was killed in Vietnam. He kind of signed up and joined the marines. Bart Hanes was his name. He was one of those guys that was jokin' all the time, always playin' the clown.

Bruce Springsteen

I had tried to go to college, and I didn't really fit in. I went to a real narrow-minded school where people gave me a lot of trouble, and I was hounded off the campus - I just looked different and acted different, so I left school.

Bruce Springsteen
And whether you're drawn to gospel music or church music or honky-tonk music, it informs your character and it informs your talent.

And whether you're drawn to gospel music or church music or honky-tonk music, it informs your character and it informs your talent.

Bruce Springsteen
When I was growing up, there were two things that were unpopular in my house. One was me, and the other was my guitar.

When I was growing up, there were two things that were unpopular in my house. One was me, and the other was my guitar.

Bruce Springsteen
The release date is just one day, but the record is forever.

The release date is just one day, but the record is forever.

Bruce Springsteen
Until I realized that rock music was my connection to the rest of the human race, I felt like I was dying, for some reason, and I didn't know why.

Until I realized that rock music was my connection to the rest of the human race, I felt like I was dying, for some reason, and I didn't know why.

Bruce Springsteen

If you listen to the great Beatle records, the earliest ones where the lyrics are incredibly simple. Why are they still beautiful? Well, they're beautifully sung, beautifully played, and the mathematics in them is elegant. They retain their elegance.

Bruce Springsteen
It's a sad man my friend who's livin' in his own skin and can't stand the company.

It's a sad man my friend who's livin' in his own skin and can't stand the company.

Bruce Springsteen
I never felt I had enough personal style to pursue being just a guitarist.

I never felt I had enough personal style to pursue being just a guitarist.

Bruce Springsteen
A good song takes on more meaning as the years pass by.

A good song takes on more meaning as the years pass by.

Bruce Springsteen
There is something about the melody of 'Thunder Road' that just suggests 'new day.' It suggests morning; it suggests something opening up.

There is something about the melody of 'Thunder Road' that just suggests 'new day.' It suggests morning; it suggests something opening up.

Bruce Springsteen
When you get fat and lose your hunger. That is when you know the sellout has happened.

When you get fat and lose your hunger. That is when you know the sellout has happened.

Bruce Springsteen
But I think that your entire life is a process of sorting out some of those early messages that you got.

But I think that your entire life is a process of sorting out some of those early messages that you got.

Bruce Springsteen

I'm interested in what it means to live in America. I'm interested in the kind of country that we live in and leave our kids. I'm interested in trying to define what that country is. I got the chutzpa or whatever you want to say to believe that if I write a really good about it, it's going to make a difference.

Bruce Springsteen
Somebody who can reckon with the past, who can live with the past in the present, and move towards the future - that's fabulous.

Somebody who can reckon with the past, who can live with the past in the present, and move towards the future - that's fabulous.

Bruce Springsteen

I was looking for some way to put my music to some service on a nightly basis. You go into a town, you play a little music, you leave something behind. That idea connected us to the local community. It was a very simple idea, but it really resonated with me.

Bruce Springsteen
You can't be afraid of getting old. Old is good, if you're gathering in life. Our band is good at understanding that equation.

You can't be afraid of getting old. Old is good, if you're gathering in life. Our band is good at understanding that equation.

Bruce Springsteen
You have to create the show anew, and find it anew, on a nightly basis.

You have to create the show anew, and find it anew, on a nightly basis.

Bruce Springsteen

You're always in a box, and you're an escape artist if you do what I do - or if you're a creative person, period. You build your box, and then you escape from it. You build another one, and you escape from it. That's ongoing.

Bruce Springsteen
You can go from doing something quite silly to something dead serious in the blink of an eye, and if you're making those connections with your audience then they're going to go right along with it.

You can go from doing something quite silly to something dead serious in the blink of an eye, and if you're making those connections with your audience then they're going to go right along with it.

Bruce Springsteen
I think you can get to a point where nihilism, if that's the right word, is overwhelming, and the basic laws that society has set up - either religious or social laws - become meaningless.

I think you can get to a point where nihilism, if that's the right word, is overwhelming, and the basic laws that society has set up - either religious or social laws - become meaningless.

Bruce Springsteen

I've had an experience through music that has touched almost every part of me. It educated me in ways that I didn't get educated in school. So we try to lay on a bit of that, through being funny, being serious, playing hard.

Bruce Springsteen
I can sing very comfortably from my vantage point because a lot of the music was about a loss of innocence, there's innocence contained in you but there's also innocence in the process of being lost.

I can sing very comfortably from my vantage point because a lot of the music was about a loss of innocence, there's innocence contained in you but there's also innocence in the process of being lost.

Bruce Springsteen
While I wasn't very good at much else in school, in my creative-writing classes or when we had to do some writing in my English classes, I tended to do better at it.

While I wasn't very good at much else in school, in my creative-writing classes or when we had to do some writing in my English classes, I tended to do better at it.

Bruce Springsteen
My image had always been very heterosexual, very straight. So it was a nice experience for me, a chance to clarify my own feelings about gay and lesbian civil rights.

My image had always been very heterosexual, very straight. So it was a nice experience for me, a chance to clarify my own feelings about gay and lesbian civil rights.

Bruce Springsteen
Your success story is a bigger story than whatever you're trying to say on stage. Success makes life easier. It doesn't make living easier.

Your success story is a bigger story than whatever you're trying to say on stage. Success makes life easier. It doesn't make living easier.

Bruce Springsteen
My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. I was interested in re-shaping the Rising material for live shows, so people could hear the bare bones of that.

My only general rule was to steer away from things I played with the band over the past couple of tours. I was interested in re-shaping the Rising material for live shows, so people could hear the bare bones of that.

Bruce Springsteen
'Darkness on the Edge of Town' came out of a huge body of work that had tons of very happy songs.

'Darkness on the Edge of Town' came out of a huge body of work that had tons of very happy songs.

Bruce Springsteen

The wonderful thing about rock music is even if you hate the other person, sometimes you need him more, you know. In other words if he's the guy that made that sound, he's the guy that made that sound, and without that guy making that sound, you don't have a band, you know.

Bruce Springsteen
Walk tall, or baby don't walk at all.

Walk tall, or baby don't walk at all.

Bruce Springsteen
For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who didn't do very well in school. The basic system of education, I didn't fit in; my intelligence was elsewhere.

For me, I was somebody who was a smart young guy who didn't do very well in school. The basic system of education, I didn't fit in; my intelligence was elsewhere.

Bruce Springsteen

The E Street band casts a pretty wide net. Our influences go all the way back to the early primitive garage music, and also, we've had everything in the band from jazz players to Kansas City trumpet players to Nils Lofgren, one of the great rock guitarists in the world.

Bruce Springsteen
I hadn't performed by myself in a while. It feels very natural to me, and I assume people come for the very same reasons as they do when I'm with the band: to be moved, for something to happen to them.

I hadn't performed by myself in a while. It feels very natural to me, and I assume people come for the very same reasons as they do when I'm with the band: to be moved, for something to happen to them.

Bruce Springsteen
This music is forever for me. It's the stage thing, that rush moment that you live for. It never lasts, but that's what you live for.

This music is forever for me. It's the stage thing, that rush moment that you live for. It never lasts, but that's what you live for.

Bruce Springsteen
I like narrative storytelling as being part of a tradition, a folk tradition.

I like narrative storytelling as being part of a tradition, a folk tradition.

Bruce Springsteen
The audiences are there as a result of my history with the band but also as a result of my being able to reach people with a tune.

The audiences are there as a result of my history with the band but also as a result of my being able to reach people with a tune.

Bruce Springsteen
It's always felt natural, because I'm generally very comfortable with people.

It's always felt natural, because I'm generally very comfortable with people.

Bruce Springsteen
I have my ideas, I have my music and I also just enjoy showing off, so that's a big part of it. Also, I like to get up onstage and behave insanely or express myself physically, and the band can get pretty silly.

I have my ideas, I have my music and I also just enjoy showing off, so that's a big part of it. Also, I like to get up onstage and behave insanely or express myself physically, and the band can get pretty silly.

Bruce Springsteen
Your spoken voice is a part of it - not a big part of it, but it's something. It puts people at ease, and once again kind of reaches out and makes a bridge for what's otherwise difficult music.

Your spoken voice is a part of it - not a big part of it, but it's something. It puts people at ease, and once again kind of reaches out and makes a bridge for what's otherwise difficult music.

Bruce Springsteen
I do a lot of curiosity buying; I buy it if I like the album cover, I buy it if I like the name of the band, anything that sparks my imagination.

I do a lot of curiosity buying; I buy it if I like the album cover, I buy it if I like the name of the band, anything that sparks my imagination.

Bruce Springsteen
Plus, you know, when I was young, there was a lot of respect for clowning in rock music - look at Little Richard. It was a part of the whole thing, and I always also believed that it released the audience.

Plus, you know, when I was young, there was a lot of respect for clowning in rock music - look at Little Richard. It was a part of the whole thing, and I always also believed that it released the audience.

Bruce Springsteen
But then I go through long periods where I don't listen to things, usually when I'm working. In between the records and in between the writing I suck up books and music and movies and anything I can find.

But then I go through long periods where I don't listen to things, usually when I'm working. In between the records and in between the writing I suck up books and music and movies and anything I can find.

Bruce Springsteen
I tend to be a subscriber to the idea that you have everything you need by the time you're 12 years old to do interesting writing for most of the rest of your life - certainly by the time you're 18.

I tend to be a subscriber to the idea that you have everything you need by the time you're 12 years old to do interesting writing for most of the rest of your life - certainly by the time you're 18.

Bruce Springsteen

Yeah, my son likes a lot of guitar bands. He gave me something the other day which was really good. He'll burn a CD for me full of things that he has, so he's a pretty good call if I want to check some of that stuff out... The other two aren't quite into that yet.

Bruce Springsteen
From the beginning, I imagined I would have a long work life.

From the beginning, I imagined I would have a long work life.

Bruce Springsteen
I didn't know if it would be a success-ful one, or what the stages would be, but I always saw myself as a lifetime musician and songwriter.

I didn't know if it would be a success-ful one, or what the stages would be, but I always saw myself as a lifetime musician and songwriter.

Bruce Springsteen
I always wanted my music to influence the life you were living emotionally - with your family, your lover, your wife, and, at a certain point, with your children.

I always wanted my music to influence the life you were living emotionally - with your family, your lover, your wife, and, at a certain point, with your children.

Bruce Springsteen
I was always concerned with writing to my age at a particular moment. That was the way I would keep faith with the audience that supported me as I went along.

I was always concerned with writing to my age at a particular moment. That was the way I would keep faith with the audience that supported me as I went along.

Bruce Springsteen
In the past, some of the songs that were the most fun, and the most entertaining and rocking, fell by the wayside because I was concerned with what I was going to say and how I was going to say it.

In the past, some of the songs that were the most fun, and the most entertaining and rocking, fell by the wayside because I was concerned with what I was going to say and how I was going to say it.

Bruce Springsteen

In the early years, I found a voice that was my voice and also partly my father's voice. But isn't that what you always do? Why do kids at 5 years old go into the closet and put their daddy's shoes on? Hey, my kids do it.

Bruce Springsteen
I'm a synthesist. I'm always making music. And I make a lot of different kinds of music all the time. Some of it gets finished and some of it doesn't.

I'm a synthesist. I'm always making music. And I make a lot of different kinds of music all the time. Some of it gets finished and some of it doesn't.

Bruce Springsteen
Basically, I was pretty ostracized in my hometown. Me and a few other guys were the town freaks- and there were many occasions when we were dodging getting beaten up ourselves.

Basically, I was pretty ostracized in my hometown. Me and a few other guys were the town freaks- and there were many occasions when we were dodging getting beaten up ourselves.

Bruce Springsteen
When I first started in rock, I had a big guy's audience for my early records. I had a very straight image, particularly through the mid '80s.

When I first started in rock, I had a big guy's audience for my early records. I had a very straight image, particularly through the mid '80s.

Bruce Springsteen
Yeah, I had gay friends. The first thing I realized was that everybody's different, and it becomes obvious that all of the gay stereotypes are ridiculous.

Yeah, I had gay friends. The first thing I realized was that everybody's different, and it becomes obvious that all of the gay stereotypes are ridiculous.

Bruce Springsteen
No, I always felt that amongst my core fans- because there was a level of popularity that I had in the mid '80s that was sort of a bump on the scale- they fundamentally understood the values that are at work in my work.

No, I always felt that amongst my core fans- because there was a level of popularity that I had in the mid '80s that was sort of a bump on the scale- they fundamentally understood the values that are at work in my work.

Bruce Springsteen
Certainly tolerance and acceptance were at the forefront of my music.

Certainly tolerance and acceptance were at the forefront of my music.

Bruce Springsteen

The only thing I can say about having this type of success is that you can get yourself in trouble because basically the world is set open for you. People will say yes to anything you ask, so it's basically down to you and what you want or need.

Bruce Springsteen
The best music, you can seek some shelter in it momentarily, but it's essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.

The best music, you can seek some shelter in it momentarily, but it's essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.

Bruce Springsteen
In America everything's about who's number one today.

In America everything's about who's number one today.

Bruce Springsteen
If they had told me I was the janitor and would have to mop up and clean the toilets after the show in order to play, I probably would have done it.

If they had told me I was the janitor and would have to mop up and clean the toilets after the show in order to play, I probably would have done it.

Bruce Springsteen
Some of the greatest blues music is some of the darkest music you've ever heard.

Some of the greatest blues music is some of the darkest music you've ever heard.

Bruce Springsteen
I still like to go to record stores, I like to just wander around and I'll buy whatever catches my attention.

I still like to go to record stores, I like to just wander around and I'll buy whatever catches my attention.

Bruce Springsteen
But the star thing I can live with. The music I can't live without. And that's how it lays out for me, you know. I got as big an ego and enjoy the attention.

But the star thing I can live with. The music I can't live without. And that's how it lays out for me, you know. I got as big an ego and enjoy the attention.

Bruce Springsteen
Every good writer or filmmaker has something eating at them, right? That they can't quite get off their back . And so your job is to make your audience care about your obsessions.

Every good writer or filmmaker has something eating at them, right? That they can't quite get off their back . And so your job is to make your audience care about your obsessions.

Bruce Springsteen
I think politics come out of psychology.

I think politics come out of psychology.

Bruce Springsteen

Work creates an enormous sense of self and I saw that in my mother. She was an enormous, towering figure to me in the best possible way. I picked up a lot of things from her in the way that I work... I also picked up a lot of the failings of when your father doesn't have those things and that results in a house that turns into a minefield.

Bruce Springsteen

If I have a song that I feel is really one of my best songs, I like it to have a formal studio recording because I believe that something being officially released on a studio record gives it a certain authority that it doesn't quite have if it comes out on a live album or is just a part of your show, you know.

Bruce Springsteen
An outgrowth of having a long career is that I have a lot of interesting things around that I get to revisit, and someday get to the place where they become something that I want to do next.

An outgrowth of having a long career is that I have a lot of interesting things around that I get to revisit, and someday get to the place where they become something that I want to do next.

Bruce Springsteen

When I was very, very young, I decided that I was gonna catalogue my times because that's what other people who I admired did. That's what Bob Dylan did, that's what Frank Sinatra did, Hank Williams did, in very different ways.

Bruce Springsteen
I'm not in any rush. I'm not somebody who, if I write a song, I get it out. That's not something I've ever really quite done.

I'm not in any rush. I'm not somebody who, if I write a song, I get it out. That's not something I've ever really quite done.

Bruce Springsteen
I was signed to a record label at the same time as my friend Elliot Murphy, who makes great records to this day.

I was signed to a record label at the same time as my friend Elliot Murphy, who makes great records to this day.

Bruce Springsteen
You need two things to remain very, very present. You need to continue to write well and engage yourself in the issues of the day. And you have to continue to make good, relevant records.

You need two things to remain very, very present. You need to continue to write well and engage yourself in the issues of the day. And you have to continue to make good, relevant records.

Bruce Springsteen
You can't start a fire
Worrying 'bout your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark

You can't start a fire Worrying 'bout your little world falling apart This gun's for hire Even if we're just dancing in the dark

Bruce Springsteen
I had a ten-piece band when I was 21 years old, the Bruce Springsteen Band. This is just a slightly expanded version of a band I had before I ever signed a record contract. We had singers and horns.

I had a ten-piece band when I was 21 years old, the Bruce Springsteen Band. This is just a slightly expanded version of a band I had before I ever signed a record contract. We had singers and horns.

Bruce Springsteen
Now everyone dreams of a love faithful and true,
But you and I know what this world can do.
So let's make our steps clear so the other may see.
And I'll wait for you...should I fall behind wait for me.

Now everyone dreams of a love faithful and true, But you and I know what this world can do. So let's make our steps clear so the other may see. And I'll wait for you...should I fall behind wait for me.

Bruce Springsteen
I have to write and play. If I became an electrician tomorrow, I'd still come home at night and write songs.

I have to write and play. If I became an electrician tomorrow, I'd still come home at night and write songs.

Bruce Springsteen

The name 'Boss' started with people that worked for me... It was not meant like Boss, capital B, it was meant like 'Boss, where's my dough this week?' And it was sort of just a term among friends. I never really liked it.

Bruce Springsteen

Think of it this way: performing is like sprinting while screaming for three, four minutes. And then you do it again. And then you do it again. And then you walk a little, shouting the whole time. And so on. Your adrenaline quickly overwhelms your conditioning.

Bruce Springsteen
For an adult, the world is constantly trying to clamp down on itself. Routine, responsibility, decay of institutions, corruption: this is all the world closing in.

For an adult, the world is constantly trying to clamp down on itself. Routine, responsibility, decay of institutions, corruption: this is all the world closing in.

Bruce Springsteen