Song of the Day 3/3: Bruce Springsteen, “My City of Ruins”

Springsteen sang this at the 9/11 memorial concert, and its gospel inflections and its message of hope amid the wreckage fit the moment so well that most people thought it was written for the occasion. It was actually written for, and debuted, the previous December at a charity concert for Asbury Park. His performance, backed by what was then known as the Max Weinberg 7, is less polished than the more famous version from the 9/11 concert, and the horns have that ragged early-Springsteen sound that disappeared when he got famous. Springsteen’s vocal is also more heartfelt than in later recordings.

The song has been used as a rallying anthem after various disasters since. Given that we’re in a permanent disaster mode these days, it’s worth listening to again.