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I Just Saw Stars: “Western Stars”
I just walked out of a ‘movie house’ — as we used to say — and I saw stars; Western Stars that is, from Bruce Springsteen. It is hard to pin down how to describe it: a spiritual symphony of horns, violins, drums, pianos, an accordion, and that gorgeous guitar I have never seen him play before. I guess the album and this live concert were literally about time. Buddy, can I relate.
Having taught English for 32 years, I found that one way I could nudge my students into an appreciation of literature and its powerful themes was to use songs, “a three minute record, baby” (as Springsteen reminds us in “No Retreat, No Surrender”). One particular Springsteen song from the 1980’s connected viscerally with my high school students: “The River.”
“The River” tells the story of young high school lovers whose passion leads to unexpected, let predictable consequences. Pregnancy, dropping out of school, a marriage of conscience, and the eventual regret these forlorn lovers feel would imprint on my high school students especially when the lovers eventually see their dreams fade away as deeply as the wrinkles that line their faces. It was a good lesson for seventeen- year olds…it is a lesson for us all. But one thing I do know for sure: Bruce Springsteen has not lost his touch with his latest work: Western Stars.
