About the song
As the final notes of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” fade into silence, the opening chords of “Jungleland” erupt, heralding a sonic odyssey that has captivated listeners for nearly five decades. This nine-minute epic, the longest song on the album, is a Springsteen masterpiece that showcases his unparalleled storytelling ability, his knack for crafting vivid imagery, and his mastery of rock and roll bombast.
“Jungleland” is more than just a song; it’s a cinematic journey that transports listeners to the heart of the American experience. The lyrics paint a picture of a young man, “the narrator”, on a late-night drive through the New Jersey backlands, seeking escape from his dead-end life. Along the way, he encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including “the saxophone player” and “the angel”, who offer him glimpses of hope and possibility.
The song’s title, “Jungleland”, is a metaphorical reference to the urban sprawl that surrounds the narrator. It’s a place of both danger and opportunity, where dreams can be made or shattered. The narrator is drawn to this world, despite its risks, because it represents a chance to break free from his stifling existence.
“Jungleland” is a complex and multifaceted song that has been interpreted in many different ways. Some listeners hear it as a story of hope and redemption, while others see it as a more cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing dreams. However, there is no doubt that “Jungleland” is a powerful and moving work of art that has resonated with millions of listeners around the world.
Springsteen’s vocals on “Jungleland” are some of the most impassioned and expressive of his career. He captures the narrator’s desperation, longing, and hope with raw emotion. The E Street Band provides a thunderous backdrop for Springsteen’s vocals, with Clarence Clemons’s saxophone solo being a particular highlight.
“Jungleland” is a fitting conclusion to “Born to Run”. It’s a sprawling, ambitious song that captures the album’s themes of escape, redemption, and the search for meaning. It’s a song that has stood the test of time, and it’s sure to continue to be enjoyed by fans for many years to come.
Key takeaways:
- “Jungleland” is a nine-minute rock and roll epic that showcases Bruce Springsteen’s songwriting and musical prowess.
- The song tells the story of a young man who is searching for escape from his dead-end life.
- “Jungleland” is a complex and multifaceted song that has been interpreted in many different ways.
- Springsteen’s vocals on “Jungleland” are some of the most impassioned and expressive of his career.
- “Jungleland” is a fitting conclusion to “Born to Run” and a song that is sure to continue to be enjoyed by fans for many years to come.
Video
Lyrics
The Rangers had a homecoming in Harlem late last night
And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine
Over the Jersey state line
Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge
Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain
The Rat pulls into town rolls up his pants
Together they take a stab at romance
And disappear down Flamingo Lane
Well the maximum lawman run down Flamingo
Chasing the Rat and the barefoot girl
And the kids round here look just like shadows
Always quiet, holding hands
From the churches to the jails
Tonight all is silence in the world
As we take our stand down in Jungleland
Well the midnight gangs assembled
And picked a rendezvous for the night
They’ll meet ‘neath that giant Exxon sign
That brings this fair city light
Man there’s an opera out on the turnpike
There’s a ballet being fought out in the alley
Until the local cops, cherry tops, rips this holy night
The street’s alive as secret debts are paid
Contact’s made, they vanished unseen
Kids flash guitars just like switch-blades
Hustling for the record machine
The hungry and the hunted
Explode into rock’n’roll bands
That face off against each other out in the street
Down in Jungleland
In the parking lot the visionaries dress in the latest rage
Inside the backstreet girls are dancing to the records that the DJ plays
Lonely-hearted lovers struggle in dark corners
Desperate as the night moves on
Just one look and a whisper, and they’re gone
Beneath the city two hearts beat
Soul engines running through a night so tender
In a bedroom locked in whispers
Of soft refusal and then surrender
In the tunnels uptown the Rat’s own dream guns him down
As shots echo down them hallways in the night
No one watches when the ambulance pulls away
Or as the girl shuts out the bedroom light
Outside the street’s on fire in a real death waltz
Between what’s flesh and what’s fantasy
And the poets down here
Don’t write nothing at all
They just stand back and let it all be
And in the quick of the night they reach for their moment
And try to make an honest stand
But they wind up wounded, not even dead
Tonight in Jungleland