Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City

About the song

Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” is a poignant ballad that paints a vivid picture of despair and longing set against the backdrop of the declining American Dream. Released in 1982 as part of his stark and introspective album Nebraska, the song has become one of Springsteen’s most enduring and beloved anthems.

Atlantic City, once a bustling seaside resort, had fallen on hard times by the early 1980s. The city’s casinos, once symbols of glamour and prosperity, were now struggling, and unemployment was rampant. Springsteen’s lyrics capture the desolation of this era, painting a picture of abandoned boardwalks, empty hotels, and down-and-out workers.

In the midst of this bleakness, Springsteen finds a glimmer of hope. The song’s narrator, a young man struggling to make ends meet, dreams of a better life for himself and his lover. He sees Atlantic City not as it is now, but as it once was and could be again – a place of possibility and promise.

“Atlantic City” is a powerful and moving song that has resonated with listeners for decades. It is a song about lost dreams and dashed hopes, but it is also a song about the enduring power of the human spirit. Springsteen’s music has always been about the struggles of ordinary people, and “Atlantic City” is one of his most poignant and heartfelt expressions of this theme.

The song’s melancholy melody and Springsteen’s haunting vocals perfectly capture the despair of the lyrics. The sparse arrangement, featuring just Springsteen’s acoustic guitar and harmonica, adds to the song’s intimate and emotional feel.

“Atlantic City” is a masterpiece of songwriting that has rightfully earned its place among Bruce Springsteen’s greatest works. It is a song that will continue to move and inspire listeners for generations to come.

Here are some of the key themes of the song:

• The decline of the American Dream: Atlantic City was once a symbol of the American Dream, but by the early 1980s, it had become a symbol of its decline. The song’s narrator is a victim of this decline, and his story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked capitalism.
• The power of hope: Despite the bleakness of his surroundings, the song’s narrator never gives up hope. He dreams of a better life for himself and his lover, and this dream gives him the strength to keep going.
• The importance of community: The song’s narrator finds solace in his relationship with his lover. Their love is a beacon of hope in a world of darkness.

“Atlantic City” is a complex and multifaceted song that can be interpreted in many different ways. However, at its core, it is a song about the human spirit’s ability to endure even in the darkest of times.

Video

Lyric

Well, they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night
And they blew up his house, too
Down on the boardwalk they’re ready for a fight
Gonna see what them racket boys can do

Now there’s trouble busin’ in from outta state
And the D.A. can’t get no relief
Gonna be a rumble on the promenade
And the gamblin’ commissioner’s hangin’ on by the skin of his teeth

Everything dies, baby, that’s a fact
But maybe everything that dies some day comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Well, I got a job and I put my money away
But I got the kind of debts that no honest man can pay
So I drew out what I had from the Central Trust
And I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus

Everything dies, baby, that’s a fact
But maybe everything that dies some day comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Now our luck may have died and our love may be cold
But with you forever I’ll stay
We’ll be goin’ out where the sand turn to gold
But put your stockings on ’cause it might get cold

Oh, everything dies, baby, that’s a fact
But maybe everything that dies some day comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Now I’ve been a-lookin’ for a job, but it’s hard to find
There’s winners and there’s losers
And I am south of the line
Well, I’m tired of gettin’ caught out on the losin’ end
But I talked to a man last night
Gonna do a little favor for him

Well, everything dies, baby that’s a fact
But maybe everything that dies some day comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
And meet me tonight in Atlantic City

Oh, meet me tonight in Atlantic City
Oh, meet me tonight in Atlantic City