Meeting Across the River
Encyclopedia
"Meeting Across the River" was the seventh track on Bruce Springsteen
's breakthrough 1975 album, Born to Run
; it also appeared as the b-side of "Born to Run
", the lead single from that album.
The song is a dark character sketch featuring a soft, haunting trumpet
played by Randy Brecker
and piano
backing and upright bass from jazz
veteran Richard Davis. Brecker's jazz-inspired horn part adds poignancy to the song and suggests a film noir
feel. The lyrical, understated tune forms a bridge between the powerful "She's the One" and the album's epic finale "Jungleland
". It also forms a bridge between the New Jersey
-based songs throughout the Born to Run album and the New York City
setting of "Jungleland". Presumably, the hoods in "Meeting Across the River" are heading over the Hudson River
from New Jersey to New York to meet their connection.
The lyrics describe a low-level criminal, down on his luck but with one last chance at success for him and his friend, Eddie, that involves meeting a man across the river. Springsteen portrays his characters sympathetically. The narrator appears to be desperate; he needs to bum some money and a ride from Eddie, and his girlfriend is threatening to leave because he has pawned her radio. The details are vague, but the consequences if they fail at their task seem to be very serious, and the song's sombre tone does not imply that they will succeed. Lyrics also imply that the man has never really been qualified for crime; however, the promise of a big payoff, and the thought that this might make his girlfriend stay with him, has caused him to get in over his head. Original pressings of Born to Run
billed the song as "The Heist", suggesting what the man across the river was employing the narrator and Eddie for. In some ways similar in theme to The Velvet Underground
's "Waiting for the Man", "Meeting Across the River" has less urgency but is a more detailed depiction of a drug deal.
The song is often paired with "Jungleland" in concert, though without the Randy Brecker
trumpet part from the record and with regular bass guitarist Garry Tallent
.
The song was covered by Syd Straw
in 1997.
This song led to the creation in 2005 of a book titled Meeting Across the River: Stories Inspired by the Haunting Bruce Springsteen Song.
The book is a collection of 21 fictional short stories by various authors edited by Jessica Kaye and Richard Brewer. Each story expands on the spare 215 word sketch of a world created in the Springsteen song by detailing a unique and wide ranging collection of divergent and unexpected times, places and characters.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's breakthrough 1975 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...
; it also appeared as the b-side of "Born to Run
Born to Run (song)
"Born to Run" is a song by American singer songwriter Bruce Springsteen, and the title song of his album Born to Run.- Songwriting :Written at in Long Branch, New Jersey in early 1974, the song was Bruce Springsteen's last-ditch effort to make it big. The prior year, Springsteen had released two...
", the lead single from that album.
The song is a dark character sketch featuring a soft, haunting trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
played by Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
backing and upright bass from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
veteran Richard Davis. Brecker's jazz-inspired horn part adds poignancy to the song and suggests a film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
feel. The lyrical, understated tune forms a bridge between the powerful "She's the One" and the album's epic finale "Jungleland
Jungleland
"Jungleland" is an almost ten-minute long closing song on Bruce Springsteen's 1975 album Born to Run, and tells a tale of love amid a backdrop of gang violence. It contains one of E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons' most recognizable solos...
". It also forms a bridge between the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-based songs throughout the Born to Run album and the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
setting of "Jungleland". Presumably, the hoods in "Meeting Across the River" are heading over the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
from New Jersey to New York to meet their connection.
The lyrics describe a low-level criminal, down on his luck but with one last chance at success for him and his friend, Eddie, that involves meeting a man across the river. Springsteen portrays his characters sympathetically. The narrator appears to be desperate; he needs to bum some money and a ride from Eddie, and his girlfriend is threatening to leave because he has pawned her radio. The details are vague, but the consequences if they fail at their task seem to be very serious, and the song's sombre tone does not imply that they will succeed. Lyrics also imply that the man has never really been qualified for crime; however, the promise of a big payoff, and the thought that this might make his girlfriend stay with him, has caused him to get in over his head. Original pressings of 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...
billed the song as "The Heist", suggesting what the man across the river was employing the narrator and Eddie for. In some ways similar in theme to The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
's "Waiting for the Man", "Meeting Across the River" has less urgency but is a more detailed depiction of a drug deal.
The song is often paired with "Jungleland" in concert, though without the Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
trumpet part from the record and with regular bass guitarist Garry Tallent
Garry Tallent
Garry Wayne Tallent , sometimes billed as Garry W. Tallent, is an American musician and record producer, best known for being the longtime bass player in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band....
.
The song was covered by Syd Straw
Syd Straw
Syd Straw is an American rock singer and songwriter. The daughter of actor Jack Straw , she began her career singing backup for Pat Benatar, then took her distinct voice to the indie/alternative scene and joined the Golden Palominos...
in 1997.
This song led to the creation in 2005 of a book titled Meeting Across the River: Stories Inspired by the Haunting Bruce Springsteen Song.
The book is a collection of 21 fictional short stories by various authors edited by Jessica Kaye and Richard Brewer. Each story expands on the spare 215 word sketch of a world created in the Springsteen song by detailing a unique and wide ranging collection of divergent and unexpected times, places and characters.