Thu 15 Mar 2007
I Aint Here on Business Baby, I’m Only Here for Fun….
Posted by mamae under Jersey , Sappy RamblingsAnd that, in a nutshell, is why I am listening to the “Essential Bruce Springsteen”.
Little known fact about Mama… I LOVE Bruce Springsteen. I know… there are others who love him more and better than I ever could.
But, alas, I love him.
I am from New Jersey. Like, really from New Jersey. I can use the “F-bomb” as an adjective, verb, and even a noun. I know what exit I live off of and what exit all of my family (that still reside there) live off of. I love bagels. I love pizza. I do believe it is not a joke that it is called the “Garden State” (state tree… Dogwood). I know every entrance in to the city and call it “Manhattan” (not New York. New York has 5 boroughs… not one.)
Bruce is our hometown hero. We know the in Asbury Park that he sings about. We find home and familiarity in the simple lines of a harmonica and a solo piano crooning through the speakers.
We all knew we were “Jersey Girls”. We love the boardwalk (Seaside, Point Pleasant, and Wildwood). We know that we are fast and sometimes blunt.
But, the thing is, there is no guessing where we stand. United on E Street. At the end of Thunder Road…..
I love Bruce because it reminds me of some very important guys in my life.
My dad. A Chevy Chevette. Trying to throw dimes (YES DIMES!) in the toll baskets on the Parkway out of the passenger side window, over the roof, hook-shot fashion. On the way to the beach… Island Beach State park… eating whole cherries and singing.
It reminds me to be happy, feel young, and live it up. My dad was always so happy hearing Bruce.
Bruce also reminds me of G-Tiddy, my big brother. The one I adored and annoyed my entire childhood. I remember the year we got our Bruce cassette box sets. I remember wanting to find connection to him through music. (I also remember, painfully, that I was too young to see the Born in the USA Tour in ‘85… he could because he was older. I was heartbroken.) I know most of my music because of him and my dad.
I think of them both… and where I come from. And what home and family is. There are times that it feels hard. I feel stressed. I am over committed (or should be committed!). I am ambitious…. but.. tonight… as I dye far to many skeins of yarn to count… I am from New Jersey, dammit.
Play my damn anthem. Because tonight my friends… this baby is Born to Run!
March 15th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Not related to your post but…. the first installment of the project spectrum sock club is to die for. Well done!
March 15th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
From one (older) Jersey girl to another…fun post. I used to do the toll booth hook-shot too, but with quarters. Thanks for helping me remember!
March 15th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Ah, the days before ez pass lanes ruled the parkway…I’m not sure what i’d do without it these days…i couldn’t even get on from my exit without exact change (154 or 145 depending on the direction you’re coming from) !!!
March 16th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Born in the USA Tour was in 1985 - I was a freshman in high school. Just a correction.
It’s already in the 90’s here in Tempe.
March 16th, 2007 at 11:36 am
I SO miss the hook shot!!!!
March 16th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I’m not from Jersey but I do love Bruce and I can use the f-word in as many ways as you can;-)
March 17th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Yes! Be proud of where you are from, and blast Bruce out the car windows! The memories those older songs bring out. Taping Born to Run from my older sister and Born in the USA as my very first popular music purchase. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.