“Pessimism and optimism are slammed up against each other in my records, the tens…” — Bruce Springsteen

I don't like to write rhetorically or get on a soapbox. I try to make the stuff multi-layered, so that it always has a life outside its social context. I don't believe that you can tell people anything; you can only draw them in.

'Darkness on the Edge of Town' came out of a huge body of work that had tons of very happy songs.

I have to write and play. If I became an electrician tomorrow, I'd still come home at night and write songs.

Steve Van Zandt, the poor guy, doesn't get to play enough as it is with me hogging a lot of the solos. Steve has always been a fabulous guitarist. Back from the day when we were both teenagers together, he led his band and played lead and was always a hot guitar player.