Downbound Train (3:36)
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“Downbound Train” is a song that appears on the 1984 Bruce Springsteen album Born in the U.S.A… The song is a lament to a lost spouse, and takes on a melancholy tone.
The song was recorded in March or April of 1982 at the Power Station in one of the first sessions for the Born in the U.S.A. album. Like several other Born in the U.S.A. songs, including “Working on the Highway” and the title track, a solo acoustic version of “Downbound Train” was originally recorded on the demo that eventually became the Nebraska album.
Though it was not one of the seven singles released from said album, the song nevertheless gained something of a following, with some album-oriented rock radio airplay and being featured fairly regularly on the Born in the U.S.A. Tour and sporadically in tours since. It has been played about 130 times through 2008. Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh did not approve, calling “Downbound Train” in his volume Glory Days “the weakest song ‘s released since the second album, … incredibly sloppy … The protagonist’s three jobs in five verses are only symptomatic of its problems.” Other observers analysed it in retrospect as a harbinger, with naturalistic imagery lacing the song throughout in an approach that Springsteen would return to heavily in his Dylan-“Series of Dreams”-influenced early 1990s.
The song was recorded in March or April of 1982 at the Power Station in one of the first sessions for the Born in the U.S.A. album. Like several other Born in the U.S.A. songs, including “Working on the Highway” and the title track, a solo acoustic version of “Downbound Train” was originally recorded on the demo that eventually became the Nebraska album.
Though it was not one of the seven singles released from said album, the song nevertheless gained something of a following, with some album-oriented rock radio airplay and being featured fairly regularly on the Born in the U.S.A. Tour and sporadically in tours since. It has been played about 130 times through 2008. Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh did not approve, calling “Downbound Train” in his volume Glory Days “the weakest song ‘s released since the second album, … incredibly sloppy … The protagonist’s three jobs in five verses are only symptomatic of its problems.” Other observers analysed it in retrospect as a harbinger, with naturalistic imagery lacing the song throughout in an approach that Springsteen would return to heavily in his Dylan-“Series of Dreams”-influenced early 1990s.
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Shouts
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EdwardVedder wrote:
" I still can't believe how beautiful this song is; it rips my heart to pieces everytime I hear it; it should be much more famous than what it is! " hell yeah! the most underrated song of Born in the U.S.A. along with Bobby Jean.
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Beatpolizei wrote:
Me too.!!!!!!
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maghat wrote:
I agree too!
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frkcarlsson wrote:
I still can't believe how beautiful this song is; it rips my heart to pieces everytime I hear it; it should be much more famous than what it is!
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BossLion wrote:
My favorite Boss song
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manfred55 wrote:
I totally agree
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foxmusicbox wrote:
I completely agree!
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LisaKaizer wrote:
I agree!
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docpojo wrote:
Amazing song, possibly the best of Born in the U.S.A.
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owlsarecute wrote:
love love love this song so much
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r00dris wrote:
The singles on Born In The USA are overrated. THIS and other songs in the album are underrated.
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tummelv wrote:
"I've actually heard someone refer to this as filler on Born in the USA... I couldn't disagree more. ". Wow, it amazes me anyone could think like that. Awesome song.
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pjb808 wrote:
timeless lyrics, heartbreaking song
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MikeySchenker wrote:
What poët, his voice and words, the clean honest instrument production, this guy can touch me within an instant. Not crying, but hard to keep it dry somehow....... PERFECT song...
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kerplunkin wrote:
I love his heart felt blue collar songs in his earlier days before he became more of an activist and secular; although he does a lot of good things for charities, etc.
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musi4buetti wrote:
not a very famous song, but still one of the best of "U.S.A"-album
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edumata wrote:
The boss, sense cap tipus de dubte !!!!
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bojack wrote:
The room was dark, our bed was empty, then I heard that long whistle whine... One of the great scenes in the history of rock.
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freezerguy1219 wrote:
we've all been on that train at least once in our lives. The Boss can tell a story better than anyone !!!!
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silentmcbob wrote:
Any one whose ever been laid off will know how it feels to be a rider on a downbound train..
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Downbound Train
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