Springsteen and Mary

[Sydneyfan]

Has anyone ever read or heard an explanation from Bruce Springsteen about his lyrical obsession with women named Mary? I've googled and searched several Springsteen boards, but can't find anything.

I'd appreciate any insights people might have and blueone will probably offer to have your baby. :upyours

[FrigidRoses]

:lol

[nakedlune]

this is from a book called "the mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael Chabon, the guy who wrote "wonder boys"--the movie dylan won a oscar for:

"We were discussing Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen. I said that it was the most Roman Catholic record album ever made.
""Look what you've got," I said. "You've got Mary dancing like a vision across the porch while the radio plays. You've got people trying in vain to breath the fire they was born in, riding through mansions of glory, and hot-rod angels, virgins and whores--"
""And 'She's the One'" said Arthur. "it' Mariolatry city."
"Right."
"'Killer graces and secret Places.'"

having said that, something about waiting for a savior to walk down these streets and their riding out tonight to something the promise land. just a thought, obviously not my own, but ever since i read that, that's what i always think of

[SkortBrun]

this is from a book called "the mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael Chabon, the guy who wrote "wonder boys"--the movie dylan won a oscar for:

"We were discussing Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen. I said that it was the most Roman Catholic record album ever made.
""Look what you've got," I said. "You've got Mary dancing like a vision across the porch while the radio plays. You've got people trying in vain to breath the fire they was born in, riding through mansions of glory, and hot-rod angels, virgins and whores--"
""And 'She's the One'" said Arthur. "it' Mariolatry city."
"Right."
"'Killer graces and secret Places.'"

having said that, something about waiting for a savior to walk down these streets and their riding out tonight to something the promise land. just a thought, obviously not my own, but ever since i read that, that's what i always think of

Michael Chabon is the bomb yo! Kavalier and Clay is my favorite book.

Sorry I don't have any answers to the original question, I just had to give some love to Mr. Chabon.

[nakedlune]

i dont know anything about the Kavalier and Clay book. For some reason i think of comic books.
sydneyfan, who is on you're avatar? it reminds me of duncan sheik every time i see it.

[Sydneyfan]

this is from a book called "the mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael Chabon, the guy who wrote "wonder boys"--the movie dylan won a oscar for:

"We were discussing Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen. I said that it was the most Roman Catholic record album ever made.
""Look what you've got," I said. "You've got Mary dancing like a vision across the porch while the radio plays. You've got people trying in vain to breath the fire they was born in, riding through mansions of glory, and hot-rod angels, virgins and whores--"
""And 'She's the One'" said Arthur. "it' Mariolatry city."
"Right."
"'Killer graces and secret Places.'"

having said that, something about waiting for a savior to walk down these streets and their riding out tonight to something the promise land. just a thought, obviously not my own, but ever since i read that, that's what i always think of

That's very interesting, thanks. :upyours I once read a very worthy and brain numbingly dull essay about Roman Catholic imagery and motifs in BTR, but not by Chabon sadly.
Perhaps Mary is the whole Catholic virgin/whore thing. It's just funny that more people haven't questioned him about it over the years.

[Sydneyfan]

i dont know anything about the Kavalier and Clay book. For some reason i think of comic books.
sydneyfan, who is on you're avatar? it reminds me of duncan sheik every time i see it.

It's the always-smiling Josh Ritter. Great singer/songwriter if you're not familiar with him.

[nakedlune]

i'm familiar with josh ritter, but i don't know what he looks like. 3 years ago i heard an interview with him on npr and a couple songs and i really liked them, off of hello starling? since then i've been doing the starving artist bohemian thing so ryan cds are the only one's i've bought. but i've wanted to check out mr ritter. Oh, i also bought lucinda williams west.

but yeah, the whole virgin/whore thing. doesn't mary loose her dress somewhere in the song?
the whole born to run album seems to be about salvation or redemption, but thats just what i think

[Sydneyfan]

i'm familiar with josh ritter, but i don't know what he looks like. 3 years ago i heard an interview with him on npr and a couple songs and i really liked them, off of hello starling? since then i've been doing the starving artist bohemian thing so ryan cds are the only one's i've bought. but i've wanted to check out mr ritter. Oh, i also bought lucinda williams west.

but yeah, the whole virgin/whore thing. doesn't mary loose her dress somewhere in the song?
the whole born to run album seems to be about salvation or redemption, but thats just what i think

If you want to hear more Ritter, I would recommend getting The Animal Years album to start with.

As for Mary, no she doesn't lose her dress, but she does wave it around a bit at one stage. :) And I agree with your redemption theory about BTR.

EDIT: actually, I overlooked the "your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet" line. So yes, she does lose her dress, kind of.

[nakedlune]

thank you sydneyfan, im listening to BTR now, it's just saturated with religious allusions and imagery, thunder road and night are my favorite songs off the album

[Sydneyfan]

thank you sydneyfan, im listening to BTR now, it's just saturated with religious allusions and imagery, thunder road and night are my favorite songs off the album

Thunder Road and Backstreets are my personal favourites. Enjoy it. :upyours

[nakedlune]

oh, and i just got champs like us were born to run.
my whole life i thought it was jam sly gus? etc

[nakedlune]

or is it "tramps like us"--nevertheless i was wrong, but which is it?
"im scared and lonely..and i want to know how it feels..i want to know if love is wild and i want to know how it feels"

[Sydneyfan]

It's tramps.

[nakedlune]

together wendy we can live with the sadness and i'll love you with all the maddness in my soul...someday wendy i dont know when, but we'll get to that place where we really want to go,and we'll walk in the sun,"
"the sun also sets"

[nakedlune]

thank you sydneyfan

[blueone]

This thread has got way too deep for me. :ok

[Sydneyfan]

This thread has got way too deep for me. :ok

You just worry about keeping yourself healthy for the baby, okay?

[nakedlune]

sorry blueone, it's an affliction that i have, but you should be in tune with that.

[nakedlune]

sorry, didn't know about the baby. love to you and child

[blueone]

You just worry about keeping yourself healthy for the baby, okay?

I called her Mary, or Wendy, or Rosalita or Red Headed Woman. I can't remember which.





Don't worry nakedlune, it's me that's rubbish. :lol
I don't really have a baby. :lol

[nakedlune]

sorry, i guess that's funny. nice to meet you anyway, blueone, you were in the first thread.

[blueone]

Nice to meet you too, nakedlune. You seem like a cool dude/dudette. :cool:

[nakedlune]

not very cool, just very tired. you in england? it's very late here and i must sleep. but again, very nice to meet you all. i live in the middle of kansas, america, and that's not cool at all. im glad i found all of you

[foggy]

Perhaps Mary is the whole Catholic virgin/whore thing. .

I always thought it was a religious thing too.

[blueone]

Yup, I'm in England. And you should stick arooooound. :)

[nakedlune]

i plan to, but i must sleep. i have no sense of things, is it morning for you there?
thanks to everyone again. it has been my pleasure to meet all of you. good-nite
love--lune

[blueone]

Yea, 9.30am.

See you Lune. :wave

[nakedlune]

that's so cute. i can barely work my computer. but thank you for that. and sydneyfan, thank you. good-nite everyone,

[Starlite]

Goodnight, lune :wave