Springsprint paints portraits of difficult situations that people - often blue collar people - face. For example, "41 shots" is not so much a protest against police actions as it is a portrait of the delicate situation that both the police and poor minorities in urban areas find themselves in. "Born in the USA" is a portrait of a returning vet. Etc.
I find Springsteens work FAR more compelling than any of the so called "protest" singers. Perhaps it's because he help me remember the difficulties that regular folk face, in employment, finances, romance, or just finding their place in the world. Sometimes I relate, big time, while others I'm just reminded to be grateful for what I do have.
Sprinsteens paints a colorful portrait of such situations ("57 channels and nothin' on!") and then he (usually) stays out of the way of any direct political implications.
And his fast rock and roll stuff is great for getting my feet moving on the treadmill!
As for Kerry, I still can't get over the vision of Michael Moore sitting in the front row at the Democratic convention; a vision as tragic (IMHO) as any ever conjured up by Springsteen.
Art
