Wrecking Ball (Special Edition)

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Label:  Columbia

Release Date: March 6, 2012

Duration:  13 tracks, 1:01:23

Crossover in CCM talks to Christian artists writing / performing outside the Christian realm. For as long as this modern era has been with us, this crossover has gone both ways. Secular artists have long added Christian / faith-based values to their music. This is particularly true for artists reaching a maturity in their years and in their art.

Bruce Springsteen’s latest release, Wrecking Ball, portrays this crossover well. This, his 17^th release, boasts all of the classic ‘Boss’ his fans expect with songs of Americana shown in both folk and rock offerings. Wrecking Ball boasts both his early E-Street Band-like rockers and later solo folk-style offerings leaving the listener with a wide breath of Springsteen’s art.

Like Bob Dylan and others, Springsteen offers reflections of faith in his lyrics. While songs “We Take Care Of Our Own”,  “Land Of Hope And Dreams” (complete with a tribute to Clarence Clemons with the signature classic sax which the ‘Big Man’ provided prior to his recent passing), “American Land”, “We Are Alive” display classic Springsteen national patriotism, his spiritual side also shines in the lyrics of others.

“Jack Of All Trades”, a slow, sorrow-filled ballad of taking what live gives you and accepting your fate shares thoughts of compassion with,

‘We’ll start caring for each other like Jesus said we might’.

The lyrics of “Rocky Ground” lay the foundation of faith and hope with:

We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)

Rise up shepherd, rise up

Your flock has roamed far from the hills

The stars have faded, the sky is still

The angels are shouting "Glory Hallelujah"

We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)

Forty days and nights of rain have washed this land

Jesus said the money changers in this temple will not stand

Find your flock, get them to higher ground

Flood waters rising and we're Canaan bound

We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)

Tend to your flock or they will stray

We'll be called for our service come Judgment Day

Before we cross that river wide

Blood on our hands will come back on us twice

Rise up shepherd, rise up

Your flock has roamed far from the hills

Stars have faded, the sky is still

Sun's in the heavens and a new day's rising

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You use your muscle and your mind and you pray your best

That your best is good enough, the Lord will do the rest

You raise your children and you teach 'them to walk straight and sure

You pray that hard times, hard times, come no more

You try to sleep, you toss and turn, the bottom's dropping out

Where you once had faith now there's only doubt

You pray for guidance, only silence now meets your prayers

The morning breaks, you awake but no one's there

We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground

There's a new day coming

We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)

“Swallowed Up (In The Belly Of The Whale)” is one of two bonus tracks on the Wrecking Ball special edition, telling a story similar to that of Jonah and the Whale with :

I fell asleep

on a dark and starry sea

with nothing but the cloak

of God's mercy over me

…

We've been swallowed up

we've been swallowed up

Disappeared from this world

we've been swallowed up

Trust at our skills

and our good sails

put our faith back with God

the righteous in this world prevail

Wrecking Ball is classic Springsteen offering much to the listener. Raw and guttural American spirit, classic Springsteen rockers, his signature version of American folk music, and yes faith all are present here. Hats off to a popular musician with the gravitas to share his spiritualism in his music.

http://brucespringsteen.net/

Scott S Mertens

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