Bruce Springsteen: “I’m Here To Take You Out Of Time” – A Journey Through Music and Personal Struggles
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Bruce Springsteen, affectionately known as “The Boss,” has long been a towering figure in rock music, blending raw energy with profound storytelling. In a recent heartfelt interview on a late-night talk show, while promoting his memoir Born to Run, the icon opened up about the driving forces behind his marathon live performances, his personal battles with mental health, and the transformative power of fatherhood. Beyond the music, Springsteen’s candid reflections reveal a man who has used his art as both a shield against personal demons and a bridge to connect with millions. This article delves into the essence of his philosophy on performance, his struggles with night terrors and depression, and the poignant moments of redemption and renewal that have shaped his life and work.
The Magic of Marathon Shows: Taking Audiences “Out of Time”
One of the most striking aspects of Springsteen’s career is his legendary live performances, often stretching beyond four hours. During the interview, he recounted playing his longest U.S. show at four hours, three minutes, and 46 seconds—a feat that leaves both fans and band members in awe. When asked why he performs such lengthy sets, Springsteen admitted he doesn’t plan for them to go on so long. Instead, they evolve organically, driven by a desire to create a transformative experience. “I’m here to take you out of time,” he declared, emphasizing his mission to transport audiences to a different realm, where the constraints of clocks and daily life dissolve into the magic of music.
This philosophy underscores Springsteen’s approach to live shows as more than entertainment—they are a communal journey. He described how, after a certain point in a performance, time ceases to matter. Both he and his audience enter a shared space where emotions and stories reign supreme. Even as his band, the E Street Band, occasionally grumbles about the final grueling minutes of a four-hour set, Springsteen remains committed to chasing that elusive “magic” moment. This dedication to altering “time and space” for his fans reveals the depth of his connection to performance as a form of transcendence, a way to escape the mundane and touch something eternal.
Music as Medicine: Fighting Off the Night Terrors
Springsteen’s marathon shows are not just about fan service; they are deeply personal. He revealed that performing has been a lifelong coping mechanism, a way to “fight off the night terrors.” As a young man, plagued by anxiety and neuroses, he found solace only after stepping off stage, feeling centered and calm. “It was medicinal,” he explained, likening music to a drug that soothes his inner turmoil. This need to play, to lose himself in the act of creation, may explain why his concerts stretch so long—each note and lyric a balm against the darkness that lurks when the stage lights dim.
These “night terrors” are not merely metaphorical for Springsteen. He spoke openly about being “inside my head a lot” when he doesn’t perform regularly, admitting that he’s not always his own best company. This vulnerability paints a picture of an artist who, despite his larger-than-life persona, grapples with the same inner struggles as many of his fans. Music, for Springsteen, is not just a career but a necessity—a way to quiet the mind and keep the shadows at bay. His honesty about this ongoing battle adds a layer of relatability to his stardom, reminding us that even icons face their own silent wars.
A Family Legacy of Depression
Delving deeper into his personal challenges, Springsteen discussed his struggles with depression, a condition that runs through his family, particularly on the Irish side. He shared that his father suffered severely from mental illness, a burden that cast a shadow over their relationship and affected other family members as well. While Springsteen acknowledges having his own “tussles” with depression, he emphasized that his experience pales in comparison to his father’s intense battles. This familial history of mental health struggles has clearly shaped his understanding of himself and his art, infusing his music with themes of struggle, resilience, and empathy for the downtrodden.
Springsteen’s openness about depression in Born to Run serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of addressing mental health, even for someone of his stature. By sharing his story, he destigmatizes these issues, offering solace to others who may feel alone in their struggles. His ability to channel this pain into his music—whether through the raw desolation of albums like Nebraska or the hopeful uplift of The Rising—demonstrates how art can transform personal hardship into universal connection. His journey with mental health is not just a footnote but a core part of what makes his work so impactful.
Redemption and Understanding: A Bond with His Father
One of the most moving moments of the interview came when Springsteen recounted a poignant exchange with his father, a man with whom he had a complicated and often strained relationship due to his father’s manic behavior and mental illness. The day before Springsteen’s first child was born, his father made a 500-mile journey just to say hello. Over a couple of beers on a quiet Sunday morning, his father admitted, “I was a little rough on you,” to which Springsteen replied, “Yeah, I know. But you did the best you could.” This small, understated moment of acknowledgment was all Springsteen needed—a flicker of redemption that bridged years of misunderstanding.
As he grew older, Springsteen gained deeper insight into his father’s struggles, recognizing the loving, sweet man beneath the illness. He also shared how his songs became a way to communicate with his father, writing tracks inspired by their relationship and playing them for him, often to no response. Yet, in a touching final moment near his father’s death, when asked about his favorite songs, his father replied, “The ones about me.” This revelation, met with applause from the audience, highlighted the quiet power of music to heal familial wounds, even if the healing comes late.
The Transformative Power of Fatherhood
Becoming a father himself marked a profound shift for Springsteen, an experience he described as halting all his defensive mechanisms. Holding his first child, he felt an overwhelming urge to proclaim a messiah had arrived, a testament to the instantaneous love and vulnerability parenthood brings. “Everything stopped,” he recalled, noting how all self-protection and personal worries vanished in that moment. This chapter of his life, beautifully detailed in his memoir, not only changed him personally but also influenced his work, shifting his perspective on what he wanted to create.
Fatherhood stripped away the barriers Springsteen had built over years of battling inner demons, replacing them with a raw openness. This transformation likely deepened the emotional resonance of his later music, as themes of legacy, family, and protection began to weave into his storytelling. His humorous concern during the birth—wondering if his wife Patti would be the only woman to feel no pain—further humanizes him, showing a nervous, caring side beneath the rockstar exterior. This pivotal life event redefined his priorities, grounding his art in new, tender dimensions.
A Legacy of Connection and Continuation
Springsteen’s interview encapsulates a career built on connection—whether through marathon shows that defy time, songs that wrestle with personal and familial pain, or life-changing moments like fatherhood. His philosophy of taking audiences “out of time” reflects a broader mission to create spaces of shared humanity, where struggles and joys are felt collectively. His openness about mental health and family challenges adds depth to his public image, proving that vulnerability and strength can coexist in art.
Bruce Springsteen’s reflections during this interview, tied to the release of Born to Run, offer a profound look at the man behind the music. From his four-hour concerts that transport fans beyond the constraints of time to his battles with night terrors and depression, he reveals the personal stakes of his artistry. His journey of understanding with his father and the transformative impact of becoming a parent further enrich his narrative, showing how life’s complexities fuel his songs. As he continues to perform and create, Springsteen remains a beacon of resilience and connection, reminding us that music can be both a personal lifeline and a universal language. His story is one of enduring passion, proving that even at 67, “The Boss” still has much to give, taking us all out of time with every chord and lyric.
