Song #52: Bruce Springsteen - The Wrestler

 Inducted on April 1, 2016

I love ALL of these songs that make my hall of fame (with the exception of Bob The Builder, but you'll have to read that later), but sometimes I don't have a LOT to say about a song. I'm not particularly detail oriented, and I'm not fluent in music theory, so I have a limited vocabulary to describe what I truly love musically about a song. And I don't have specific memories attached to songs, so I don't always get into how a song connects with my life. But sometimes I have a LOT to write about a song. And this is one of them. 

To be honest, there aren't any Springsteen albums that I've listened to in full. And there aren't many songs off his full LPs that I really like (Dancing in the Dark might be an exception). However, I am a HUGE fan of his movie soundtrack songs. Philadelphia and Secret Garden are incredible and certainly Hall of Fame contenders in my book. But this song. Wow. As a wrestling fan and a fan of The Wrestler, I appreciate how Springsteen truly captured the heart of the movie and the pro wrestling profession. So many wrestlers give it ALL for the sport, and they end up being shells of themself. 

The whispered count-in to the song, and the intro chording sets the tone. The fact that this is a song of questions draws in the listener. "Have you ever seen a One Trick Pony in the field so happy and free?" And then he points the people back to himself "If you've ever seen a One Trick Pony then you've seen me". It's a beautiful writing method that I haven't heard a lot of before. 

The refrain is passionate.. with the theme sticking out clearly  "I always leave with less than I had before. Tell me brother can you ask for anything more". He sacrifices himself for the fans, and that becomes his identity.

The song trails out with chording and piano layered on top. Such a gorgeous song with a gorgeous ending. 

The movie/song came out in 2008, and I think I watched the movie in 2009/2010. There are some very adult parts to the movie, but it frankly is one of my favorites, and this song has a LOT to do with it. 
No other major memories, but it's another song I put on when I kind of feel sorry for myself, feel like I let people down. I'm not saying it's healthy to do this, but it's definitely what happens. 

Great song. Springsteen might not ALWAYS be my favorite, but he is clearly one of the best at what he does.