posted 06-15-2000 04:22 PM PT (US) 
I love this song. It's haunting. It's beautiful!! I also think the lines "Is it a gun?, Is it a knife?, Is it a wallet?, This is your life" could be describing the officer's point of view. That idiot that called Bruce a fag probably didn't even listen to it.
This song, along with Further On Up The Road, makes me so anxious for a new album from Bruce and the boys!!
posted 06-15-2000 04:55 PM PT (US)
I agree with you Fred. This song is haunting and beautiful. The day the news hit the New York Post, they had a lay out of all the lyrics ( I have yet to hear it, but hopefully Tues.)and as I was reading it chills went up and down my skin...especially the line -- and I'm not sure if this is verbatim -- 41 shots and we'll take that ride across this bloody river to the other side.
Wow, his poetry is endless and I hope if it isn't played the night I go it's at least on a new album
posted 06-15-2000 06:24 PM PT (US)
I cant stop listening either. Theres been talk here of Bruce losing his muse or whatever. Thats a bunch of shit when he sings "41 shots my boots caked in mud" the way he sings it the way the music moves, man it could be 78 again. And I dont mean that nostalgically(?). He has never lost anything its just what he choses to put out that is the problem. Hopefully with the band back that wont be as much as a problem.
posted 06-15-2000 07:44 PM PT (US)
Hello! I'm on in my French' country and I share your fashion for this song........
From 2 days, this "litanie" trough my head.
I'd never heard so painfuf song before.
"Un hymne" to the Justice!
posted 06-16-2000 05:44 AM PT (US)
Reminds me in atmosphere of 'streets of philly' w/o the cheesy drum machine [i always hated that!]
The '41 shots' sounds like a funeral candelight march. Very haunting.
The man just proves that age is no excuse for lost passion. You can be just as passionate artistically at 80 yrs old as you can at 18.
posted 06-16-2000 10:43 AM PT (US)
I posted this in another forum a couple of days ago. It got a good response, so I'd like to share it here. Please don't be offended if it's a little too political for your liking:
I think it's interesting that an "over the hill oldies act", which is what non-fans have been labelling this tour, could come up with by far the most political moment the music world has seen this year.
I saw Springsteen last November, and it was much more than just a bunch of aging boomers revelling in their past. Most of the music was infused with new meaning, knowledge and wisdom gained with the passing of time, and still concerned itself with the concept of justice in the world. The best of Bruce Springsteen's music has always been concerned with these issues. If some (most?) in attendance didn't get it, well most people don't get most things...
Anyone who ever thought that Bruce Springsteen made happy flag-waving music is an idiot, and if they've heard the solo versions of "Born In The USA" from either "Tracks" or live on this tour, they'd know that.
The real subversive thing about Bruce Springsteen is that, unlike modern political music like hip-hop, he's not preaching to the converted. Let me explain. It's my contention that the average listener of NWA is already down with much of their message, although I'm sure the average frat-boy might pick up a bit of enlightenment.
This is not to fault the hip-hop musicians in any way; it's not their fault that they're preaching to the converted.
A typical Springsteen fan, on the other hand, is one of these aging boomers who think of nothing beyond their stock portfolios and the value of law and order to society. The average Springsteen fan thinks "Born In The USA" IS a flag-waving anthem. The fanatic Springsteen fan loathes these people, but the fact is, they're out there in great numbers.
So for Bruce Springsteen to have the balls to throw songs like "American Skin (41 Shots)" or "Code Of Silence" in their faces is about as subversive as popular music can get these days.
Does this make Bruce Springsteen a hero? Hell no, I don't believe in heroes. But to say, as Howard Stern did, that just because he's rich he must live in an ivory tower is ludicrous. You have to look at actions, not bank accounts. It is possible to be wealthy and still have a social conscience.
Bruce Springsteen founded a charitable organization called The Foundation a few years ago. Every year it spends hundreds of thousands of dollars giving grants to ordinary people in New Jersey and surrounding areas to do things like make repairs to furnaces, roofs, etc. - things that are important to making life liveable, but are too expensive for many people to do. Most of the people receiving these grants don't even know Bruce Springsteen has anything to do with it. Everywhere he plays, he urges people to make donations to local food banks, which he allows to set up at the shows. His own donations to these food banks are substantial.
What we have here is a man who struck it lucky in the business, achieved phenomenal wealth, but has tried to do the right thing with it. Yet he's either ignored or spoken of with contempt by many, who either don't like that he's not a patriotic, flag-waving Ronald Reagan clone, or who dismiss him for the mortal sin of aging, and no longer being relevant to your average 20 year old.
Police representatives who call him a "fucking dirtbag" and a "floating fag" should be fired. These are the kind of people who believe Ronald Reagan was a great American, but Woody Guthrie wasn't. They're beneath contempt.
posted 06-16-2000 04:09 PM PT (US)
LOVED your comments JT. I get tingly at the thought of Bruce being subversive; I love him for it. Still causin' trouble after all these years
Oh, and by your definition, I guess I am NOT the "average fan". :)
SD
posted 06-16-2000 10:12 PM PT (US)
Wow, JT, that was stated so eloquently and I agreed 100 percent with your comments. It was utterly hysterical (as everyone probably remembers ) back in the early '80s when Ronald Reagan made that comment about Bruce Springsteen and Born in the USA. He was nearly laughed out of office on that one...Dolt.
Anyway, just wanted to say that I loved reading your post and I'm sure not only me but everyone else agrees with you wholeheartedly.
Nicole
posted 06-17-2000 12:58 PM PT (US)
Hi there,
I'm from Holland.
Haven't been to any US Show!
I followed the discussion on this song and...well it's Bruce!
The discussion serves the song and makes people think about social issues, racial hate, police violence etc.
Briliant Song!!
You can download it from napster or Mp3board.com!
And indeed, you can't stop listening!
Hope Bruce comes to Europe again soon!
posted 06-17-2000 11:22 PM PT (US)
JT Great Post. I think many of Bruce's fans are as you described but there are many of us here who do get the message and Bruce knows that. It IS important and relevant to the message of his music that he has again become a REGULAR guy. I don' think he was for awhile back in the BinUSA days when I believe he did lose his way. But everyone goes through changes and he now certainly lives his life as normally and accessibly as possilbe as evidenced by the tales of those regular folk who have met him in video stores, in hotels, at ball games, etc. So Bruce knows who he is reaching. And if he can convert a few along the way, more power to him.
posted 06-17-2000 11:32 PM PT (US)
Little Steven being around Bruce sure helps
him get into these issues.
posted 06-17-2000 11:35 PM PT (US)
Jeroen...YOU'RE the guy with the great website...Thanks!
posted 06-18-2000 10:02 AM PT (US)
Right on Tom with your comment about Steve. How proud must Steve be?? I think he's a great influence on Bruce, personally and professionally.
Go STEVIE!!
Cheryl