As Bruce wrote “Vietnam,” he gradually realized he had two stories to tell, one external and one internal. The external one dealt with the way American society recognized (or more accurately, failed to recognize) the sacrifices made by its veterans in Vietnam and their mistreatment upon returning home. That song became one of Bruce’s all-time greatest hits: “Born in the U.S.A.”<\/p>\n
The internal one dealt with the lasting psychological effects caused by the horror and trauma our veterans experienced in Vietnam. That song served as the B-side to “Born in the U.S.A.,” a paring so perfect that I’m compelled to clarify that I’m speaking literally about Bruce’s 1984 single and not merely metaphorically.<\/p>\n
Despite its third-person narration, “Shut Out the Light” takes us deep into the haunted psyche of its protagonist in a way that the first-person “Born in the U.S.A.” never attempts. The two songs are opposites in other ways, too: the A-side rings out a like a clarion call; the B-side is quiet and contemplative. Yet both songs are thematically linked by a common empathy.<\/p>\n
Let’s take a listen to the under-recognized and under-appreciated “Shut Out the Light,” one of Bruce Springsteen’s most sensitive songs.<\/p>\n