The Grace of God and the Grace of Man: The Theologies of Bruce Springsteen, Yadin-Israel Azzan

Bruce Springsteens words and music have been part of the American landscape for nearly half a century, and are today cherished by millions worldwide. Indeed, Springsteen has been known to inspire religious devotion among his fans, and his shows with the E Street Band are often compared to a revivalist congregation. However, there has not been a comprehensive scholarly study of the biblical and theological motifs in Springsteens lyrics.

Until now.

Reading Springsteens songs as one would a poem, The Grace of God and the Grace of Man sheds new light on Springsteens work. The books first section examines the theological overtones of Springsteens early albums, focusing on his critique of traditional religious institutions and the promise of this-worldly salvation through romantic love and the open road. This trajectory in Springsteens writing reaches an exhilarating apex in Born to Run, only to be methodically dismantled in the subsequent Darkness on the Edge of Town. The second section of the book examines the ways in which Springsteen reworks three traditional terms in his work after Darkness on the Edge of Town sin, grace, and the struggle within. Drawing on songs from across Springsteens later work, the book demonstrates that Springsteen consistently situates these terms in the lived struggle to overcome the forces that pull us away from our better selves. Sin is the surrender to these forces, and grace the blessings that come from overcoming them; both result from the struggle within. The third and final section, Springsteens Midrash, examines songs that explicitly interpret biblical passages, including Into the Fire, Adam Raised a Cain, and the hauntingly beautiful Jesus Was an Only Son. The Grace of God and the Grace of Mans close readings of Springsteens songs provide a wealth of local insights as well as a new critical framework for the appreciation of this major American artist.