Springsteen dedicates song to"President Bystander.":"How Can A Poor Man...

[dajoki]

AP
http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/articles/_a/springsteen-expresses-new-orleans-pain/20060501070609990001

Updated:2006-05-01 11:22:45
Springsteen Expresses New Orleans' Pain

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
AP

NEW ORLEANS (May 1) - New Jersey's favorite son was adopted by New Orleans on Sunday, as Bruce Springsteen - through speeches and song - vocalized the anger, frustration, pain and resilience of this hurricane-battered city at the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival.


Decrying what he called "criminal ineptitude" in Hurricane Katrina's wake, Springsteen jabbed at the political powers he deemed responsible for New Orleans' slow recovery.


Perhaps the most pointed moment came as he prepared to sing an old song that he had rewritten lyrics to for New Orleans. Noting that he visited the city's ninth ward, perhaps the most devastated area in the city, Springsteen said: "I saw sights I never thought I'd see in an American city," and added: "The criminal ineptitude makes you furious."


With that, he launched into a song titled "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live ?" and dedicated the song to "President Bystander." Its lyrics included the lines: "There's bodies floatin' on Canal and the levees gone to hell ... them who's got out of town, and them who ain't got left to drown, tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?"

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But perhaps no song was as bittersweet as "We Shall Overcome." As Springsteen somberly performed the tune, some people embraced each other, others dabbed their eyes. Another emotional moment came as he dedicated one of his old tunes to New Orleans: "My City in Ruins." Though he wrote it for his favorite town of Asbury Park, N.J., its lyrics resonated with the crowd: "Young men on the corner, like scattered leaves, the boarded up windows, the hustlers and thieves, while my brother's down on his knees. My city of ruins."
By the time he sang the chorus, "Come on rise up!" the audience spontaneously rose their hands in their air, symbolizing the pain and the hope of the city.


Not all of Springsteen's two-hour long set was downbeat; his huge band at times sounded like a boisterous New Orleans brass band, with its booming horn system, while he later injected some boogie and swing with another jazzy tune. But he ended his performance on a tender note, sweetly singing, "When The Saints Go Marching In."

[DanCa]

1. You can here the song and view the lyrics at this link

www.brucespringsteen.net

Trust me it's a great song.

[dajoki]

3. Thanks for the link!!

[wisteria]

2. Thanks for posting. You can always trust Springsteen to know just

how to handle a sad situation.