The biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere has shined a global spotlight on Bruce Springsteen’s intense personal battles during 1981 and 1982. After completing The River tour, Springsteen returned to New Jersey and rented a secluded house in Colts Neck. In this solitude, he confronted decades of buried trauma, guilt, and sorrow.
During these restless nights and isolated days, Springsteen began writing songs that were unlike anything he had released in his first five albums. These compositions eventually formed his first album without the E Street Band, Nebraska.
Nebraska was recorded on a simple 4-track recorder in Springsteen’s bedroom. It tells stories about hardship, American history, humanity, and curiosity. With sparse arrangements—vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, and occasional mandolin or glockenspiel—the album’s low-fidelity sound creates an intimate atmosphere, letting listeners focus fully on the characters and their tales.
If you enjoyed the soundtrack in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, consider these 10 songs, which echo the essence of Nebraska and its profound storytelling. For example, “Downbound Train” was penned during the same era as many tracks from Nebraska.
“Downbound Train” was written during the same time period as many of the songs from Nebraska.
These songs together reflect the deep emotional and thematic layers that made Nebraska a unique milestone in Springsteen's career.
Author’s summary: Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska captures raw, personal stories through simple recordings made during a reclusive phase, offering a powerful glimpse into his inner struggles and American life.