A voz do cantor sempre foi e continua muito influente. Quando os Estados Unidos sofreram o maior ataque terrorista ao seu território, em 11 de setembro de 2001, em Nova York, a resposta do cantor foi o disco The Rising, que trazia letras fortes e também inspiradoras para serem ouvidas por uma nação assustada e atônita diante da tragédia sofrida. E o que dizer dos temas "Streets of Philadelphia" e "American Skin (41 shots)"? Ambas tocam em assuntos espinhosos e que foram muito bem arquitetados pelo talento indiscutível do cantor de colocar sua visão por meio da música.
O cantor também colocou em suas letras seus medos, alegrias, tristezas, esperanças e angustias. Ouvir temas como "Born in the U.S.A", "The River", "My Hometown", "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)", "Growin' Up", "Independence Day", "Blood Brothers" e "Long Walk Home" fazem o fã ficar ainda mais próximo do cantor. Suas letras quase autobiográficas são um retrato de quem é e de como pensa o filho, o cidadão, o pai e o marido Bruce Springsteen.
Mas em sua coleção de canções, há duas que são explicitamente autobiográficas e compostas com o objetivo de prestar uma homenagem ao personagem escolhido: "The Wish" e "Freehold". A primeira foi escrita para sua mãe Adele. Na música, ele canta sobre seu cotidiano e como sua mãe foi importante em sua infância. Fala sobre a guitarra que sua mãe comprou e da lembrança de ver sua mãe arrumada para ir trabalhar todas as manhãs.
Como cronista nato e talentoso músico, Bruce sempre consegue colocar em suas músicas suas impressões e sentimentos. A música saiu oficialmente na caixa Tracks, lançada em 1998, mas a canção foi gravada originalmente em fevereiro de 1987, durante as sessões do disco Tunnel of Love.
Em "Freehold", Bruce volta no tempo e canta as lembranças de sua cidade Freehold. Ele fala sobre seu primeiro beijo, sua primeira cerveja, seu primeiro coração partido, a primeira vez que teve dinheiro em seu bolso e da gravidez da irmã aos 17 anos. No decorrer da canção, ele lembra de quando seu pai deixou a cidade para viver na Califórnia e da viagem que seu pai fez de carro para visitar a antiga cidade natal.
A parte mais divertida da música está no final, quando Bruce lembra que teve uma boa educação católica, mas que se masturbou muito em Freehold. Ele diz que fez isso - a masturbação - apenas por um sorriso e que até hoje, ás vezes, ainda faz isso e dedica a Freehold. A canção foi executada pela primeira vez em Saint Rose Of Lima School, em Freehold, Nova Jersey, em 8 de novembro de 1996, durante a turnê do disco The Ghost Of Tom Joad. O show completo foi lançado pelo site oficial do cantor em 2018 (foto acima). Neste mesmo show Bruce também cantou "The Wish".
Dirty old street all slushed up in the rain and snow
Little boy and his ma shivering outside a rundown music store window
That night on top of a Christmas tree shines one beautiful star
And lying underneath a brand-new Japanese guitar
I remember in the morning, ma, hearing your alarm clock ring
I'd lie in bed and listen to you gettin' ready for work
The sound of your makeup case on the sink
And the ladies at the office, all lipstick, perfume and rustlin' skirts
And how proud and happy you always looked walking home from work
If pa's eyes were windows into a world so deadly and true
You couldn't stop me from looking but you kept me from crawlin' through
And if it's a funny old world, mama, where a little boy's wishes come true
Well I got a few in my pocket and a special one just for you
It ain't no phone call on Sunday, flowers or a mother's day card
It ain't no house on a hill with a garden and a nice little yard
I got my hot rod down on Bond Street, I'm older but you'll know me in a glance
We'll find us a little rock 'n roll bar and baby we'll go out and dance
Well it was me in my Beatle boots, you in pink curlers and matador pants
Pullin' me up of the couch to do the twist for my uncles and aunts
Well I found a girl of my own now, ma, I popped the question on your birthday
She stood waiting on the front porch while you were telling me to get out there
And say what it was that I had to say
Last night we all sat around laughing at the things that guitar brought us
And I layed awake thinking 'bout the other things it's brought us
Well tonight I'm takin's requests here in the kitchen
This one's for you, ma, let me come right out and say it
It's overdue, but baby, if you're looking for a sad song, well I ain't gonna play it
I was born right here on Randolph Street in Freehold
Here right behind that big red maple in Freehold
Well I went to school right here
Got laid and had my first beer
In Freehold
Well my folks all lived and worked right here in Freehold
I remember running up the street past the convent to the church here in Freehold
I chased my daddy down in these bars
First fell in love with this guitar
Here in Freehold
Well I had my first kiss at the YMCA canteen on a Friday night
Maria Espinosa tell me where are you tonight
You were thirteen but way ahead of your time
I walked home with a limp but I felt fine
That night in Freehold
Well the girls at Freehold Regional they looked pretty fine
Had my heart broke at least half a dozen times
I wonder if they missed me, if they still get the itch
Would they had dumped me if they knew I’d strike it rich
Straight out of Freehold
Tex rest in peace and Marion gave us a hand in Freehold
Georgie, we started up a Rock And Roll band in Freehold
But we learned pretty quick how to rock it
I’ll never forget the feeling of that first five bucks in my pocket
That I earned in Freehold
Well I got outta here really hard and fast in Freehold
Everybody wanted to kick my ass back there in Freehold
Well if you were different, black or brown
It was a bit of a redneck town
Back then in Freehold
Well something broke my daddy’s back in Freehold
In ’69 he left and he never come back to Freehold
Except once he drove from California 3000 miles in three days
Called my relatives some dirty names
And pulled straight out of Freehold
Sister had her first little baby at seventeen in Freehold
Well people they can be pretty mean
Honey you had a rough road to go but you ain’t made of nothin’ but soul
I love you more that you’ll ever know
We both survived Freehold
Well my buddy Mike well he’s the mayor now in Freehold
I remember when we used to have a lot more hair in Freehold
Well I left and swore I’d never walk these streets again Jack
Tonight all I can say is “holy shit, I’m back”
Back in Freehold
Well this summer everything was green in Freehold
Rode my kids on the fire engine through the streets of Freehold
I showed them where dad was born and raised
And first felt the sun on his face
There in Freehold
Well I still got a lot of good friends right here in town
I can usually find me a free beer somewhere
With offers of free meals I am blessed
Should I go crazy, blow all my money and ruin my life, but at least I’ll never go hungry I guess
Here in Freehold
Well I got a good Catholic education here in Freehold
Led to an awful lot of masturbation here in Freehold
Father it was just something I did for a smile
Hell I still get a good one off once in a while
And dedicate it to Freehold
Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t putting anybody down
Hell in the end it all just goes and comes around
It’s one hell of a town
Freehold
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