Meeting Across the River by Bruce Springsteen

Album: Born to Run (1975)

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This is one of Springsteen's character songs where he examines the psyche of someone down on his luck. The main character is a common criminal who has worked himself into a bit of trouble.
This song was the inspiration for the 2005 book titled Meeting Across the River: Stories Inspired by the Haunting Bruce Springsteen Song, which is a collection of 21 short stories. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Laura - New York, NY
The haunting Jazz-inspired flugelhorn was played by Randy Brecker, formerly of Blood Sweat and Tears. Jazz veteran Richard Davis contributed the upright bass. He also played on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks album.

Comments: 5

H from Pacific NorthwestThis is a extraordinarily powerful, compelling vocal performance. The poignancy of this song has somehow touched my soul - I'm unexpectedly crying a bit playing this song again this morning. Wasn't sure I still could. I hadn't listened to this album until yesterday since my roommate Mike played it on his reel-to-reel deck when we were in college in '82. I'm glad to read Private User's comment, but still wish to retain my own interpretation, and the hazy scenes I've built in my mind of street lights and shadows, of cars and clandestine meetings amid bridge abutments and old brick industrial buildings. I imagine that Eddie was the better man, but ended up on the wrong end of things, and the lead character lived his life with the sorrow of knowing it was his fault, and could have all been avoided if he'd just found a way to satisfy the guys who 'don't dance' and never smile, and backed away from the criminal life while he still had a chance and reconciled with his girl and buckled down to a small but legit life on his side of the river.
Private User from Boston, MaThis song is about a friend of my father-in-law, both of who were concert promoters and close friends with Springsteen in the 70s. And no, “Eddie” (name changed and I won’t reveal it) was not a criminal, but someone who put on a lot of events in the Trenton, NJ area but did fall on hard times. In fact, “Eddie” appears in at least one other of Springsteen’s songs under a different name. My father-in-law isn’t alive (he passed in the 70s) but “Eddie” still is and is currently living on a beach down in Jamaica. :D
Mippy724 from Ashland OrLOVE this song, always have from the first listen. The rhythm is so damn cool
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Daniel from Seattle, WaTom Waits said that he wished HE had written this song. Springsteen repaid the complement by doing Waits' "Jersey Girl."
Derek from Shrewsbury, Magreat song not very well known but thats understandable because its so slow

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