Backstreets (song)
Encyclopedia
"Backstreets" is a song by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Born to Run
, which was released in 1975. In the original vinyl release, it concludes side one of the record.
playing both piano and organ, with only occasional traces of any other instruments being heard. In his review of Born to Run for Rolling Stone
, writer Greil Marcus
said:
The real beauty of the song is in its consistency of content and form, meaning that the music reflects the emotional tension of the lyrics. The song opens with perhaps some of the most beautiful and captivating piano playing in any rock music, reflecting the confidence the Boy protagonist has in his relationship with Terry: he is trusting and secure in his relationship with her. But soon the guitar enters, playing a strong, contrasting melody. Even though it's different, it fits, combining perfectly with Bittan's piano. This, too, seems to be reflective of the relationship with Terry and so there seems to be a contrasting, "opposites attract" type of relationship developing that the two lovers have made work: "me and Terry became friends trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in." Finally, still only in the introduction, enters the organ. This is the most dissonant part of the opening, and although buried deeply in the arrangement, it provides a very different rhythm and tone to the piano and guitar playing in the foreground. The organ here seems to reflect the "other man" who has entered the love triangle and stolen Terry away from the boy protagonist: "I hated him, and I hated you, when you went away." In this way, Springsteen has utilized his musicianship in a very mature and complex way to reflect his lyrics through arrangement and instrumentation in perhaps the best song in his canon.
"Backstreets" has also been interpreted as a narrative about a homosexual relationship, since the name Terry is sexually ambiguous. It may also represent a platonic but intense friendship between two men. It is widely known that Springsteen originally intended the album Born to Run to reflect one day in the life of the male and female protagonists. Note, for example, that the album begins in the morning with Thunder Road and ends late at night in Jungleland. As such, most of the songs featuring a girl used the name "Mary" for the protagonist. As the original concept was modified, Springsteen simply changed the name of the girl in several songs to rhyme with Mary. For example in "Meeting Across the River", the original "Mary" became "Cherry". In Backstreets, "Mary" became "Terry". The original Mary of Thunder Road simply remained the same.
The melody, and organ bear a striking resemblance to Positively 4th Street
by Bob Dylan
, an influence of Springsteen's.
, Springsteen would often add a semi-improvised interlude in between the final chorus and the outro. It usually involved Springsteen singing solo accompanied by the piano. The other instruments would then join in as the interlude built to a climax. It elaborated on the story of the protagonist and Terry. It differed from performance to performance but frequently involved the protagonist reminiscing about a good time he and Terry had shared, followed by an emotional condemnation of her subsequent betrayal.
This interlude has become known to Springsteen fans as the "Sad Eyes" interlude (not to be confused with the Springsteen song of the same name) due to frequently occurring lyrics stating that Terry had sad eyes or should dry her tears. It has also been referred to as the "Baby I remember you" or "Little girl don't cry" interlude. Parts of the interlude later materialized in recast form as the song "Drive All Night" on The River album in 1980. The interlude version of "Backstreets" has not been performed live since, however it can be heard on numerous fan bootlegs from that tour.
In 2007, during Springsteen and the E Street Band
's Magic Tour
, "Backstreets" frequently found its way into the set list
, most likely as a tribute to Springsteen's longtime friend, Terry Magovern, who died earlier that year. It also opened the first show in 2008 following the death of longtime band member Danny Federici
. During the 2009 Working on a Dream Tour
, "Backstreets" performances sometimes teased the interlude.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
from the album Born to Run
Born to Run
The album's release was accompanied by a $250,000 promotional campaign by Columbia directed at both consumers and the music industry, making good use of Landau's "I saw rock 'n' roll's future—and its name is Bruce Springsteen" quote. With much publicity, Born to Run vaulted into the top 10 in its...
, which was released in 1975. In the original vinyl release, it concludes side one of the record.
Structure
"Backstreets" begins with a minute-long instrumental introduction that features pianist Roy BittanRoy Bittan
Roy Bittan is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974...
playing both piano and organ, with only occasional traces of any other instruments being heard. In his review of Born to Run for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, writer Greil Marcus
Greil Marcus
Greil Marcus is an American author, music journalist and cultural critic. He is notable for producing scholarly and literary essays that place rock music in a much broader framework of culture and politics than is customary in pop music journalism.-Life and career:Marcus was born in San Francisco...
said:
- "Backstreets" ... begins with music so stately, so heartbreaking, that it might be the prelude to a rock & roll version of The Iliad.
The real beauty of the song is in its consistency of content and form, meaning that the music reflects the emotional tension of the lyrics. The song opens with perhaps some of the most beautiful and captivating piano playing in any rock music, reflecting the confidence the Boy protagonist has in his relationship with Terry: he is trusting and secure in his relationship with her. But soon the guitar enters, playing a strong, contrasting melody. Even though it's different, it fits, combining perfectly with Bittan's piano. This, too, seems to be reflective of the relationship with Terry and so there seems to be a contrasting, "opposites attract" type of relationship developing that the two lovers have made work: "me and Terry became friends trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in." Finally, still only in the introduction, enters the organ. This is the most dissonant part of the opening, and although buried deeply in the arrangement, it provides a very different rhythm and tone to the piano and guitar playing in the foreground. The organ here seems to reflect the "other man" who has entered the love triangle and stolen Terry away from the boy protagonist: "I hated him, and I hated you, when you went away." In this way, Springsteen has utilized his musicianship in a very mature and complex way to reflect his lyrics through arrangement and instrumentation in perhaps the best song in his canon.
"Backstreets" has also been interpreted as a narrative about a homosexual relationship, since the name Terry is sexually ambiguous. It may also represent a platonic but intense friendship between two men. It is widely known that Springsteen originally intended the album Born to Run to reflect one day in the life of the male and female protagonists. Note, for example, that the album begins in the morning with Thunder Road and ends late at night in Jungleland. As such, most of the songs featuring a girl used the name "Mary" for the protagonist. As the original concept was modified, Springsteen simply changed the name of the girl in several songs to rhyme with Mary. For example in "Meeting Across the River", the original "Mary" became "Cherry". In Backstreets, "Mary" became "Terry". The original Mary of Thunder Road simply remained the same.
The melody, and organ bear a striking resemblance to Positively 4th Street
Positively 4th Street
"Positively 4th Street" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, first recorded by Dylan in New York City on July 29, 1965. It was released as a single by Columbia Records on September 7, 1965, reaching #1 on Canada's RPM chart, #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #8 on the UK Singles Chart...
by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, an influence of Springsteen's.
Live performance history and interlude
During the 1978 Darkness TourDarkness Tour
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Darkness Tour was a concert tour of North America that ran from May 1978 through the rest of the year, in conjunction with the release of Springsteen's album Darkness on the Edge of Town...
, Springsteen would often add a semi-improvised interlude in between the final chorus and the outro. It usually involved Springsteen singing solo accompanied by the piano. The other instruments would then join in as the interlude built to a climax. It elaborated on the story of the protagonist and Terry. It differed from performance to performance but frequently involved the protagonist reminiscing about a good time he and Terry had shared, followed by an emotional condemnation of her subsequent betrayal.
This interlude has become known to Springsteen fans as the "Sad Eyes" interlude (not to be confused with the Springsteen song of the same name) due to frequently occurring lyrics stating that Terry had sad eyes or should dry her tears. It has also been referred to as the "Baby I remember you" or "Little girl don't cry" interlude. Parts of the interlude later materialized in recast form as the song "Drive All Night" on The River album in 1980. The interlude version of "Backstreets" has not been performed live since, however it can be heard on numerous fan bootlegs from that tour.
In 2007, during Springsteen and the E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
's Magic Tour
Magic Tour (Bruce Springsteen)
The Magic Tour was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2007–2008 concert tour of North America and Western Europe.The tour began October 2, 2007, in Hartford, Connecticut, and concluded August 30, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
, "Backstreets" frequently found its way into the set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
, most likely as a tribute to Springsteen's longtime friend, Terry Magovern, who died earlier that year. It also opened the first show in 2008 following the death of longtime band member Danny Federici
Danny Federici
Daniel Paul "Danny" Federici was an American musician, best known as the longtime organ, glockenspiel, and accordion player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.- Career :...
. During the 2009 Working on a Dream Tour
Working on a Dream Tour
The Working on a Dream Tour was a concert tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which began in April 2009 and ended in November 2009...
, "Backstreets" performances sometimes teased the interlude.