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Rating: It is still frequently debated today whether art holds the same historical significance as politics and economics. There is also an ongoing debate among those within the enormous "agglomeration" of art as to whether painting, sculpture, music, or literature should be placed on different levels of importance. Moreover, it is a usual and highly current subject of controversy to attribute different values to so-called "serious" music and "popular" music. If we were then to label an album and "shelve" it in its belonging sector, we would come across "The Rising" or any other Springsteen album and place it on the shelf of pop music. Since pop simply means popular. And a work that critics describe as popular is inevitably destined to assume secondary importance in the vast sphere of musical art.
To understand where my analysis is headed, it is first necessary to attribute this album its spatial-temporal dimension: the United States, July 2002. That is, a few months after the terrorist attack of September 11th. And it is more important than ever to realize the role and media influence that Springsteen and his musical releases hold in America: of the singer Springsteen who remains (alongside U2) the only performer capable of selling out every appearance. Of the communicator Springsteen capable of influencing, in a way unimaginable here in Italy, the voting intentions of the electorate. Of the celebrator Springsteen and at the same time disillusioned standard-bearer of the American dream. From here, we can deduce the reasons why the importance of this work is not solely represented by the historic reunion of the E-Street Band but above all by the interest in knowing the Boss's perspective regarding the recent events in his America.
And the album is from the very first notes of "Lonesome Day" an encouragement to hold your head high, to take responsibility (the political orientation of the Boss is well-known) and to begin the reconstruction of, above all, the moral fabric of the country. Album permeated with optimism for the future ("The Rising", "Waitin' On A Sunny Day"), with love stories in an America struck in cold blood ("Into The Fire", "Paradise"), and which offers us a very particular surprise: in "Worlds Apart", for the first time in his long career, Bruce takes the sounds of his band outside Western borders, venturing into sober, exciting, chilling Islamic atmospheres. And it is not a random choice.
This album does not contain filler songs.
This album comes with a booklet featuring translations in Italian so anyone can grasp every angle of the author's thoughts.
This album brings to light every single band member in their highest artistic expressiveness since "Darkness On The Edge Of Town".
This album makes you sing, cry, dance, get angry. Yet it makes you reflect since Springsteen draws inspiration from current events, politics, civil society and channels it all into music and words, which is to say, into the art of which he is the expression.
Here is a case where art provides answers to society and in doing so influences it. And this has not happened nearly as often in many years up to this point.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
05 Countin' on a Miracle (04:44)
It's a fairytale so tragic
There's no prince to
break the spell
I don't believe in magic
But for you I will,
for you I will
if I'm a fool I'll be a fool
Darlin' for you
I'm countin on a miracle
Baby I'm countin
on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin'
on a miracle
To come through
There ain't no story book story
There's no never-ending song
Our happily ever after Darlin'
Forever come and gone
I'm movin' on
if I'm gonna believe
I'll put my faith
Darlin' in you
I'm countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle
To come through
Sleeping beauty awakes
from her dream
With her lover's kiss on her lips
Your kiss was taken from me
Now all I have is this...
Your kiss, your kiss
your touch, your touch
Your heart, your heart
your strength, your strength
Your hope, your hope,
your faith, your faith
Your face, your face
your love, your love
Your dream, your dream
your life, your life
I'm runnin' through the forest
With the wolf at my heels
My king is lost at midnight
When the tower bells peal
We've got no fairytale ending
In God's hand our
fate is complete
Your heaven's here in my heart
Our love's this dust
beneath my feet
Just this dust beneath my feet
If I'm gonna live I'll lift my life
Darlin' to you
Cause I'm countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle
To come through
Well I'm countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle
To come through
countin' on a miracle
Baby I'm countin' on a miracle
Darlin' I'm countin' on a miracle
To come through
Yea I'm countin' on a miracle
07 Worlds Apart (06:07)
I hold you in my arms,
Yeah that's where it starts
I seek faith in your kiss,
And comfort in your heart
I taste the seed upon your lips,
Lay my tongue upon your scars
I look into your eyes,
And we stand worlds apart
Where the distant oceans sing,
And rise to the plain
In this dry and troubles counntry,
Your beauty remains
Down from the mountain roads,
Where the highway rolls to dark
'Neath Allah's blessed rain,
We remain worlds apart
Sometimes the truth just ain't enough,
Or it's too much in times like this
Lets throw the truth away,
We'll find it in this kiss
In your skin upon my skin,
In the beating of our hearts.
May the living let us in,
Before the dead tear us apart.
We'll let blood build a bridge,
Over mountains draped in stars
I'll meet you on the ridge,
Between these worlds apart
We've got this moment now to live,
Then it's all just dust and dark
Let love give what it gives
Let's let love give what it gives
10 The Fuse (05:37)
Down at the court house they're ringin' the flag down
Long black line of cars snakin' slow through town
Red sheets snappin' on the line
With this ring will you be mine
The fuse is burning
Shut out the lights
The fuse is burning
Come on let me do you right
Trees on fire with the first fall's frost
Long black line in front of Holy Cross
Blood moon risin' in a sky of black dust
Tell me Baby who do you trust?
The fuse is burning
Shut out the lights
The fuse is burning
Come on let me do you right
Tires on the highway hissin' that something's coming
You can feel the wires in the tree tops hummin'
Devil's on the horizon line
Your skin and I'm alive
Quiet afternoon in the empty house
On the edge of the bed you slip off your blouse
The room is burning with the noon sun
Your bittersweet taste on my tongue
The fuse is burning
Shut out the lights
The fuse is burning
12 You're Missing (05:10)
Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall
Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing
Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair
Papers on the doorstep, you're not there
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
But you're missing
Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
For you to walk in, for you to walk in
But you're missing, you're missing
You're missing when I shut out the lights
You're missing when I close my eyes
You're missing when I see the sun rise
You're missing
Children are asking if it's alright
Will you be in our arms tonight?
Morning is morning, the evening falls I have
Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls
How's everything, everything?
Everything, everything
You're missing, you're missing
God's drifting in heaven, devil's in the mailbox
I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops
13 The Rising (04:50)
Can't see nothin' in front of me
Can't see nothin' coming up behind
I make my way through this darkness
I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I've gone
How far I've gone, how high I've climbed
On my back's a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder a half mile of line
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Left the house this morning
Bells ringing filled the air
I was wearin' the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin' down here
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
There's spirits above and behind me
Faces gone black, eyes burnin' bright
May their precious blood bind me
Lord, as I stand before your fiery light
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
I see you Mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There's holy pictures of our children
Dancin' in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mixed with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin' on the end of my line
Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow (a dream of life)
Your burnin' wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
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Other reviews
By TommasoFalc
In 'The Rising', September 11 is the starting point, not the arrival.
'The Rising' is a great album, ranking second behind Springsteen’s masterpieces alongside 'The River'.
