‘The River’: How Bruce Springsteen channelled the working class struggles of ‘On The Waterfront’
Art remains an integral part of people’s everyday lives, and because of that, people continue engaging with it, both new and old. While legendary artists such as The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen are still enjoyed by people worldwide, those same people also constantly look for new music, films, and pieces of art to engage with that resonate with them not only creatively but also on a personal level.
What is the reason for this? Simply put, it’s because art speaks to people on a profound level that doesn’t ever become less relevant. When we listen to a song or see a movie that we can directly relate to our own lives and that highlights the things we find important, those pieces of art stay with us for a long time.
Bruce Springsteen champions the ideology that music should be relatable and reflect the real world rather than being a poor representation of a fallacy. While a lot of music contributed to Bruce Springsteen’s creative process, the first artist who spoke to him on a deeper level was Bob Dylan.
“The first time that I heard Bob Dylan I was in the car with my mother, and we were listening to, I think, maybe WMCA, and on came that snare shot that sounded like somebody kicked open the door to your mind, from ‘Like a Rolling Stone’,” he said, “And my mother, who was – she was no stiff with rock and roll, she liked the music, she listened – she sat there for a minute, she looked at me, and she said, ‘That guy can’t sing.’ But I knew she was wrong. I sat there, I didn’t say nothin’, but I knew that I was listening to the toughest voice that I had ever heard.”
Dylan’s voice was tough, not just in how it sounded but also in what he said. He was making music during a period of unrest in America, and he wasn’t afraid to address that unrest in his work. He created an image of his country that was honest and true, as opposed to one that draped the states in glitz and glamour.
“I was very influenced by Dylan,” Springsteen admitted, “I always say he’s the father of my country. He initially provided me with a picture of a country that I recognised. One that feels real, feels like the truth.”
Because of Bob Dylan’s impact on him, when Bruce Springsteen committed himself to music, he made it a point to make songs that resonated with people the same way Bob Dylan’s music resonated with him. He was honest about his surroundings and created depictions of working-class life, which were equal parts brutal and beautiful. One of the best examples is his 1980 release, ‘The River’. The song was the titular track to the album, and it resonated with many listeners on a very deep level.
It is based on a conversation Springsteen had with his brother-in-law after losing his job in construction. His brother-in-law was always hardworking, trying his best to provide for his wife and kids and never complaining in the process. This is one example in many where Springsteen speaks out about income inequality and how some working-class people are often left by the wayside in times of turmoil.
People could connect with the song because it was as if Springsteen was giving them a voice, making it so that they could be heard, even if usually many people wouldn’t have been interested in listening. He took their reality and put it into art. And he isn’t the only person to ever do this, either.
Using a different medium but sharing a similar message, Elia Kazan’s 1954 release, On The Waterfront, also told the story of working-class people and the harsh realities they often faced. The movie mainly focuses on union violence and corruption among longshoremen. Similar to Springsteen’s song, it spoke about workers losing their jobs and the corruption that existed in the industry, which was never in favour of the working class.
With a star-studded cast, the movie was well-executed and a success; however, it wasn’t just the performances that drew people towards it, but the honesty of the picture. It gave people a harsh look at what was so many people’s realities, and made it so that they couldn’t turn away. In that sense, the work of both Kazan and Springsteen are interlinked.
While there will always be a place for obscure art and art that encourages people to use their imagination, there will equally always be a place for realism. When people listen to ‘The River’ or watch On The Waterfront, they are confronted by a portrayal of their reality, and that will always act as a means to keep people engaged with art.
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