Bruce Springsteen is a music legend in his own right. Known as “The Boss,” the American singer boasts an impressive career spanning six decades, during which he has released 21 studio albums. Since the arrival of his debut record, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., in 1973, the Grammy-winning musician quickly established a reputation for vivid, character-driven storytelling rooted in everyday American life. His songs often read like short stories, celebrated for their characters, settings, and emotional weight. Still, behind Springsteen’s distinctive voice and unmistakable songwriting style lies a profound influence — one of them being none other than one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Bob Dylan.
Springsteen has been around for quite some time and has been at it — doing what he does best — to this day. Known for his exceptional, electrifying performances, the singer-songwriter is, of course, still best known for crafting deeply narrative-driven songs. Throughout his catalog, he explores a wide range of themes, including working-class life, the American dream, love, loss, resilience, and beyond. From time to time, Springsteen has never been shy about acknowledging the influences behind his songwriting, particularly Dylan, whom he once referred to as “the father of my country.” Dylan’s impact on Springsteen runs deep, shaping not only how he writes songs but how he views music in general. At the core of it all, Dylan’s influence on Springsteen has always been his songwriting.
Bob Dylan’s Profound Influence on Bruce Springsteen
Dylan is one of the greatest singer-songwriters the world has ever seen — and so is Springsteen. And it’s not surprising that the voice behind timeless hits like “Dancing In The Dark,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” and “I’m On Fire” drew inspiration from Dylan, whose poetic and literary lyrics proved that both folk and rock could also be poetic, thought-provoking, artistically ambitious, and even political. Dylan showed that songs could be more than just a string of words, crafted merely for entertainment. It’s safe to say he’s one of the figures who greatly revolutionized music. And that innovative approach to songwriting has influenced a lot of artists, including Springsteen, who revealed that he’s very much inspired by the “Like A Rolling Stone” hitmaker.
In a conversation with Rolling Stone, Springsteen credited Dylan as an influence, saying, “I was very influenced by Dylan. I always say he’s the father of my country. He initially provided me with a picture of a country that I recognised. One that feels real, feels like the truth.” And that is evident in most of the songs he has written with characters, including beloved tracks like “The River,” “Thunder Road,” “Sherry Darling,” “Bobby Jean,” “Spirit in the Night,” “Zero and Blind Terry,” “Lost in the Flood,” and “Song for Orphans,” to mention only a few. While early in his career, some fans of Dylan accused him of imitating the style of the renowned singer-songwriter, he eventually found his own distinctive voice in music and in crafting his songs. But that also doesn’t change the fact that Dylan, whether in a small or significant way, contributed greatly to Springsteen’s musical genius.
“I want people to get the same experience from listening to one of my records as I had when I listened to Highway 61 Revisited. The idea that something was revealed to them that was fundamentally true and essential, and gave you a view of your world, your country, your town, your neighbours, your family,” said Springsteen.
60 Years Ago, Bob Dylan Released His All-Time Greatest Album
Bob Dylan’s masterpiece is perhaps even more relevant today, on its 60th birthday, than it was in 1965.
Bruce Springsteen’s Admiration for Bob Dylan Goes Way Back
Springsteen, sure, isn’t the first or only artist who speaks of Dylan fondly. But The Boss is definitely one of the biggest figures to do so. When Dylan rose to fame in the 1960s, Springsteen was still figuring out his place in the industry, until he ultimately broke through in the 1970s. The singer, who was still a teenager when he first heard Dylan and was immediately inspired by his undeniable brilliance in the craft, had a full-circle moment when he was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to induct Dylan at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. “The first time that I heard Bob Dylan I was in the car with my mother, and we were listening to, I think, maybe WMCA, and on came that snare shot that sounded like somebody kicked open the door to your mind, from ‘Like a Rolling Stone,'” said Springsteen. “And my mother, who was – she was no stiff with rock and roll, she liked the music, she listened – she sat there for a minute, she looked at me, and she said, ‘That guy can’t sing.’ But I knew she was wrong. I sat there, I didn’t say nothin’, but I knew that I was listening to the toughest voice that I had ever heard.
