I love the roughness and the rock style of Bruce Springsteen.  Especially from the days of "born in the USA"
Oh I absolutely agree! I love his sarcasm in the song. He said it was about a working class man deep in a spiritual crisis. It's actually a pretty deep song.
And so many people just look at it as being a pro-america song, but the basis of it is about a soldier that came home to nothing, really.  It is very deep
It's great you get it. Not many people do. It's actually pretty funny because that song is often used during election season as a "feel good" tune
On a happier note, my favorite Christmas song of all time is his rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".  It's a live version that makes me smile every time I hear it. 
I need to check that one out. It would be interesting to hear Bruce Springsteen sing the lyrics "He's going to find out who's naughty and nice"! Haha
Clarence Clemmons was still alive.  Bruce asks him if he's been good so santa can bring him a new saxophone this year.  I love it.  I think The River was one of his best albums.
I love that album too, especially the song "The River".The part about the shotgun wedding was based on what actually happened with his litle sister who was wed as a teenager.
Interesting, I did not know that.  his concert was one of the best i've ever seen.  They played for 3 hours at least non stop.  no fanfare, no electric light show.  just music and it was amazing
Man I would have given anything to hear him play at the beginning- back in the 70s during his Born to Run Tour. But, honestly, I wasn't even born yet.