The Bruce Springsteen song he wanted in a David Lynch film: “Its righteous home”
There is a respect that tends to be shared amongst songwriters. A lot of the time, this will go unsaid, as people are simply fans of the work that some people put into their craft and are happy to witness it. Alternatively, other songwriters like Bruce Springsteen have never been afraid to praise those who inspire and move them.
Whether he is talking about artists who inspired him before he picked up a guitar or artists who continue to inspire him in the modern age of music, Springsteen has never held back. For instance, when it comes to recalling those who were most influential in having Springsteen pick up a guitar and pen in the first place, he wastes no time recalling the first time he heard the Beatles.
“‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ came on the radio in 1964 — that was going to change my life because I was going to successfully pick the guitar up and learn how to play,” he recalled before describing what he did when he heard the song. “[I] Ran to the phone booth, got in the phone booth and immediately called my girl and asked, ‘Have you heard this band called The Beatles?’ After that, it was nothing but rock ‘n’ roll and guitars.”
This sentiment was shared by his band member, Steve Van Zandt, who recalls the moment that The Beatles first played on The Ed Sullivan Show, which marked a turning point not only in America but across the world. Almost overnight, any dreams of being known as a solo artist were thrown out the window as your wannabe rockstars started forming bands.
“It transformed America,” said Steve Van Zandt, “On February 8th, there were no bands in America; on February 9th, we had Ed Sullivan, and on February 10th, everybody had a band in their garage. It was literally overnight.”
While this respect is shared amongst songwriters, there is also another respect that extends beyond those who write music to those who have a deep understanding of the effect that it can have. One of these visionaries was David Lynch, as his films became not only visual spectacles but sonic triumphs. His use of sound throughout his films and how he could incorporate songs into scenes elevated his movies in a way that other directors could only dream of.
Because of this ornate understanding, a part of Springsteen always wanted to work with David Lynch, and he believed he had the perfect track for it, too. While Springsteen may never have been a huge fan of his track ‘The Way’, so much so that he tried to hide it on his own album, he did think there was a sound removed from rock ‘n’ roll that might not work on stage but would work on screen.
“The main reason it’s hidden is because I never liked it,” Springsteen conclusively declared. “I would like to see it placed in a David Lynch film over a sexually perverse scene. That, to me, is its righteous home.”
