BORN TO RUN BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Reviewed by Lou Columbus

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FENDER

Lou Columbus is a retired military veteran who now works as a professional photographer. He is a native Floridian, originally hailing from St. Petersburg. When he’s not working on home repairs he enjoys reading, listening to music, and watching movies. While he still appreciates the allure of books that are printed on paper, he prefers reading on his electronic reader. It allows him to read in bed without having a light on, and he enjoys being able to look words up on the fly with its built-in dictionary. Lou’s greatest accomplishment is staying young at heart.

“Born to Run” is the title of what is arguably Bruce Springsteen’s most well-known song. It is also the title of his 2016 autobiography. The book explores his memories of growing up in a small New Jersey factory town, starting his journey in music to escape a life like his father’s, and on through a successful musical career that continues to this day.
I was 11 years old when Bruce Springsteen’s first album was released in 1973, but I can’t say I was aware of him until 1975 when his breakthrough “Born to Run” album came out. It seemed like the title song was on the radio every hour that year. Even so, I wasn’t a fan. At the time, his music sounded “old school” to me, with its lyrics about cars, and extended saxophone solos. The first song of his that I can recall moderately liking was “The River,” from the album of the same name. That song’s lyrics about a young guy getting his girlfriend pregnant, and them having to forsake their dreams, really resonated with me because it felt so real. After that, though, I’d have to admit I almost despised his music. I’d change the radio station whenever his songs came on.
So, why did I choose to read his book? The answer dates back almost 20 years to 2002 when I was on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. I was enroute to Arizona for a short-term assignment, when I decided to purchase a new CD to listen to on the trip. In the base exchange store, I came upon a new release from Bruce
and his E-Street Band, called “The Rising.” I’d recently read an article about this record and was intrigued, knowing it was his reaction to the horrible events of September 11, 2001. Long story short, his lyrics and music on that album were moving and beautiful. It was then that I finally became a Springsteen convert.
Over the next several months, I immersed myself in his back catalog. The albums I once dismissed were now revealing their gifts to me. Along with details of how his albums were created, and his struggles within the music business, his book reveals his personal and intimate fight through depression, and his struggle to finally reach a sense of peace with his father, who also spent many years with an undiagnosed mental illness of his own.
Coming to appreciate Springsteen’s lyrical songwriting talents as I have, there is little surprise that this book is such a compelling read. He can write, whether it’s a song or this book. I recommend it.