Stolen Car by Bruce Springsteen

Album: The River (1980)

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Songfacts®:

"Stolen Car" tells the story of a man with a crumbling marriage who steals a car and drives it every night just waiting to get caught.
On The River, this is one of the ballads where Springsteen tells a story within the song.
The character in this was the basis for much of what Springsteen wrote for Tunnel Of Love. That character became the basis for future Springsteen songs about relationships.
A different version is available on bootlegs of The Ties That Bind, an album Springsteen recorded in 1979 but did not release. This and six other songs from it were used on The River.

The alternate version was released in 1999 on Springsteen's boxed-set Tracks. This version is commonly referred to as the "Son, you may kiss the bride" version. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Willy - Vallejo, DC
Patty Griffin covered this on her 2002 album 1,000 Kisses.

Comments: 4

Gregor 1972 from GlasgowJay from Galloway, NJ's comment nailed the best description for me. Allegory, metaphor, interpretation are universal yet immediately personal and relatable.
Bruce is a genius.
Leif from Copenhagen, DenmarkThanks Jay. It is one of my favourite songs, but I have always wondererd about the lyrics. But your interpretation sounds extremely plausibel, and at least for me, sounds just right
Ross from Offaly, Irelandstolen car on the tracks album is 1 of the best springsteen songs, he should have put that version on tunnel of love
Jay from Galloway, NjThe "stolen car" is allegorical. This is a story about a person who feels he is living a lie or "driving a stolen car." The car driving represents traveling through life. The fact that it's stolen suggests this person's life is "someone else's" or untrue (his marriage/relationship/life).Many of Springsteen's songs are allegorical. They appear to be very simple on the surface but are often quite complex. The man's a poet.

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