(Year two. The first anniversary is always hardest. You know it\u2019s coming, you keep thinking about it, and you long to get it over with. The second is easier. You\u2019ve hopefully started to put things into perspective. Perhaps found ways to begin moving on. The pain is still there, but it\u2019s a different pain than it was a year ago\u2026)<\/p>\n
In the weeks and months following the attacks of September 11, 2001, there were countless musical tributes to the victims and relief workers. The Tribute for Heroes concert, the Concert for New York, Paul McCartney\u2019s well intentioned but absolutely awful \u201cFreedom\u201d, and other ad hoc tribute songs were all immediate attempts to honor those lost and attempt to repair the country\u2019s psyche. There have been numerous songs since that first wave that directly or indirectly deal with 9\/11 and its aftermath (And some which have nothing to do with 9\/11 but are widely thought to. Wilco\u2019s \u201cAshes of American Flags\u201d most notably). I don\u2019t think any of the acknowledgements have come close to what Bruce Springsteen accomplished with his phenomenal album The Rising.<\/p>\n
At its surface, The Rising is a return to the classic Boss sound of the mid-80s, in large part due to his reunion with the E. Street Band. However, even a cursory attempt to listen to the lyrics reveals the stark, vivid imagery that immediately brings back all the memories of that awful day. If I knew someone who had died in New York, Washington, or Pennsylvania that day, I don\u2019t think I could listen to the album. Even without that connection, it\u2019s still difficult to listen to at times.<\/p>\n
The Rising is a truly brilliant album on several levels. It\u2019s one of the most thematically cohesive, mainstream albums in many years. There are a few carefully placed songs written before 9\/11 that lighten the mood temporarily, but even those are quite good. From start to finish there\u2019s no question what Springsteen\u2019s motivation was or what his message is. Often being influenced by a single, powerful event like 9\/11 can be difficult, even for great artists. Springsteen strikes a careful balance between grief, anger, horror, and hopefulness and rebirth. The music plays a perfect counter-balance to the incredibly distinct and vibrant lyrics. If you never listened to the lyrics, you would hear rockers recalling Born in the USA tracks, and thoughtful songs that challenge the tone of the best songs from Tunnel of Love.<\/p>\n
The Toby Keith\u2019s of the world responded to the events of 9\/11 by writing angry, vengeful songs full of narrow-minded, jingoistic nationalism. Springsteen, on the other hand, created a work that not only honored those lost in a tasteful, perfectly suited manner, but also unified and forced the listener to look ahead. The album builds to the final three songs, \u201cThe Rising\u201d, \u201cParadise\u201d, and \u201cMy City of Ruins\u201d. \u201cThe Rising\u201d which has been called by some Springsteen\u2019s best ever single, is told from the perspective of a fire fighter entering the World Trade Center (see below). \u201cCome on up for the Rising, come on up lay your hands in mine.\u201d The buildings fell, but that doesn\u2019t mean we have to. \u201cParadise\u201d is a haunting song sung from the perspective of a suicide bomber preparing to detonate their deadly device. Finally, \u201cMy City of Ruins\u201d serves as the dramatic, uplifting closing chapter. Bruce screams out, with a gospel choir behind him, \u201cCome on rise up! Come on rise up!\u201d over and over. After 70 minutes of being devastated by reminders of everything we saw and learned that day, sixty seconds put us back together and make us able and eager to consider the future.<\/p>\n
The Rising will stand as a testament to all those who\u2019s lives were affected by what happened on September 11, 2003. It just happens to arguably be Bruce Springsteen\u2019s greatest album of his rich career. I\u2019ve put some selected lyrics below as they can tell the story better than me. Be warned, if you\u2019re already somber about the anniversary, these aren\u2019t going to improve your mood. (For full lyrics, you can go to Springsteen Lyrics )<\/p>\n
\u201cInto the Fire\u201d
\nThe sky was falling and streaked with blood
\nI heard you calling me than you disappeared into the dust
\nUp the stairs, into the fire<\/p>\n
\u201cNothingman\u201d
\nI don\u2019t remember how I felt
\nI never thought I\u2019d live
\nTo read about myself
\nIn my hometown paper
\nHow my brave young life
\nWas forever changed
\nIn a misty cloud of pink vapor<\/p>\n
\u201cEmpty Sky\u201d
\nI woke up this morning
\nI could barely breathe
\nJust an empty impression
\nIn the bed where you used to be<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re Missing\u201d
\nShirts in the closet, shoes in the hall
\nMama\u2019s in the kitchen, baby and all
\nEverything is everything
\nEverything is everything
\nBut you\u2019re missing<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rising\u201d
\nCan\u2019t see nothin\u2019 in front of me
\nCan\u2019t see nothin\u2019 coming up behind
\nI make my way through this darkness
\nI can\u2019t feel nothing but this chain that binds me
\nLost track of how far I\u2019ve gone
\nHow far I\u2019ve gone, how high I\u2019ve climbed
\nOn my back\u2019s a sixty pound stone
\nOn my shoulder a half mile of line<\/p>\n
\u201cParadise\u201d
\nIn the crowded marketplace
\nI drift from face to face
\nI hold my breath and close my eyes
\nI hold my breath and close my eyes
\nAnd I wait for paradise
\nAnd I wait for paradise<\/p>\n
\u201cMy City of Ruins\u201d
\nNow there\u2019s tears on the pillow
\nDarlin\u2019 where we slept
\nAnd you took my heart when you left
\nWithout your sweet kiss
\nMy soul is lost, my friend
\nTell me how do I begin again?
\nMy city\u2019s in ruins<\/p>\n
Come on, rise up!
\nCome on, rise up!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(Year two. The first anniversary is always hardest. You know it\u2019s coming, you keep thinking about it, and you long to get it over with. The second is easier. You\u2019ve hopefully started to put things into perspective. Perhaps found ways to begin moving on. The pain is still there, but it\u2019s a different pain than it was a year ago\u2026) In the weeks and months following the attacks of September 11, 2001, there were countless musical tributes to the victims and relief workers. The Tribute for Heroes concert, the Concert for New York, Paul McCartney\u2019s well intentioned but absolutely awful \u201cFreedom\u201d, and other ad hoc tribute songs were all immediate attempts to honor those lost and attempt to repair the country\u2019s psyche. There have been numerous songs since that first wave that directly or indirectly deal with 9\/11 and its aftermath (And some which have nothing to do with 9\/11 but are widely thought to. Wilco\u2019s \u201cAshes of American Flags\u201d most notably). I don\u2019t think any of the acknowledgements have come close to what Bruce Springsteen accomplished with his phenomenal album The Rising. At its surface, The Rising is a return to the classic Boss sound of the mid-80s, in large part due to his reunion with the E. Street Band. However, even a cursory attempt to listen to the lyrics reveals the stark, vivid imagery that immediately brings back all the memories of that awful day. If I knew someone who had died in New York, Washington, or Pennsylvania that day, I don\u2019t think I could listen to the album. Even without that connection, it\u2019s still difficult to listen to at times. The Rising is a truly brilliant album on several levels. It\u2019s one of the most thematically cohesive, mainstream albums in many years. There are a few carefully placed songs written before 9\/11 that lighten the mood temporarily, but even those are quite good. From start to finish there\u2019s no question what Springsteen\u2019s motivation was or what his message is. Often being influenced by a single, powerful event like 9\/11 can be difficult, even for great artists. Springsteen strikes a careful balance between grief, anger, horror, and hopefulness and rebirth. The music plays a perfect counter-balance to the incredibly distinct and vibrant lyrics. If you never listened to the lyrics, you would hear rockers recalling Born in the USA tracks, and thoughtful songs that challenge the tone of the best songs from Tunnel of Love. The Toby Keith\u2019s of the world responded to the events of 9\/11 by writing angry, vengeful songs full of narrow-minded, jingoistic nationalism. Springsteen, on the other hand, created a work that not only honored those lost in a tasteful, perfectly suited manner, but also unified and forced the listener to look ahead. The album builds to the final three songs, \u201cThe Rising\u201d, \u201cParadise\u201d, and \u201cMy City of Ruins\u201d. \u201cThe Rising\u201d which has been called by some Springsteen\u2019s best ever single, is told from the perspective of a fire fighter entering the World Trade Center (see below). \u201cCome on up for the Rising, come on up lay your hands in mine.\u201d The buildings fell, but that doesn\u2019t mean we have to. \u201cParadise\u201d is a haunting song sung from the perspective of a suicide bomber preparing to detonate their deadly device. Finally, \u201cMy City of Ruins\u201d serves as the dramatic, uplifting closing chapter. Bruce screams out, with a gospel choir behind him, \u201cCome on rise up! Come on rise up!\u201d over and over. After 70 minutes of being devastated by reminders of everything we saw and learned that day, sixty seconds put us back together and make us able and eager to consider the future. The Rising will stand as a testament to all those who\u2019s lives were affected by what happened on September 11, 2003. It just happens to arguably be Bruce Springsteen\u2019s greatest album of his rich career. I\u2019ve put some selected lyrics below as they can tell the story better than me. Be warned, if you\u2019re already somber about the anniversary, these aren\u2019t going to improve your mood. (For full lyrics, you can go to Springsteen Lyrics ) \u201cInto the Fire\u201d The sky was falling and streaked with blood I heard you calling me than you disappeared into the dust Up the stairs, into the fire \u201cNothingman\u201d I don\u2019t remember how I felt I never thought I\u2019d live To read about myself In my hometown paper How my brave young life Was forever changed In a misty cloud of pink vapor \u201cEmpty Sky\u201d I woke up this morning I could barely breathe Just an empty impression In the bed where you used to be \u201cYou\u2019re Missing\u201d Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall Mama\u2019s in the kitchen, baby and all Everything is everything Everything is everything But you\u2019re missing \u201cThe Rising\u201d Can\u2019t see nothin\u2019 in front of me Can\u2019t see nothin\u2019 coming up behind I make my way through this darkness I can\u2019t feel nothing but this chain that binds me Lost track of how far I\u2019ve gone How far I\u2019ve gone, how high I\u2019ve climbed On my back\u2019s a sixty pound stone On my shoulder a half mile of line \u201cParadise\u201d In the crowded marketplace I drift from face to face I hold my breath and close my eyes I hold my breath and close my eyes And I wait for paradise And I wait for paradise \u201cMy City of Ruins\u201d Now there\u2019s tears on the pillow Darlin\u2019 where we slept And you took my heart when you left Without your sweet kiss My soul is lost, my friend Tell me how do I begin again? My city\u2019s in ruins Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-63","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-music"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15746,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63\/revisions\/15746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}