Okay, I have to write a response to this because its criminal a song this good would only have 8 comments.
What makes this song so incredibly good, and like many of the songs on Nebraska is that the characters, which are usually so richly illustrated by Springsteen, are obscured and left open to interpretation. In "Atlantic City", its not entirely clear what the "little favor" is, but its clear that its something horrible. Even still, "Atlantic City" and "Johnny 99" illustrate their character much more than "State Trooper" where any details are vague. We only know that they're dark and foreboding.
This song is only two chords over and over. This creates an atmosphere of haunting repetition, so much that creates a feeling of anxiety, so you feel exactly what you think the main character is feeling. The Police did almost the same thing with "Every Breath You Take" which is kinda stalkerish.
The simplicity and repetition in this song is genius. "talk, talk, talk, talk, till you lose your patience".
Everybody else has hit the nail on the head, especially mirrorsreflection, but that's really the amazing thing about the song. EVERYBODY knows what its about, although it doesn't explicitly say what its about. The fact that you can FEEL the meaning of this song and know it in your soul says more about the incredible songwriting here than you can analyze with your mind.
Okay, I have to write a response to this because its criminal a song this good would only have 8 comments.
What makes this song so incredibly good, and like many of the songs on Nebraska is that the characters, which are usually so richly illustrated by Springsteen, are obscured and left open to interpretation. In "Atlantic City", its not entirely clear what the "little favor" is, but its clear that its something horrible. Even still, "Atlantic City" and "Johnny 99" illustrate their character much more than "State Trooper" where any details are vague. We only know that they're dark and foreboding.
This song is only two chords over and over. This creates an atmosphere of haunting repetition, so much that creates a feeling of anxiety, so you feel exactly what you think the main character is feeling. The Police did almost the same thing with "Every Breath You Take" which is kinda stalkerish.
The simplicity and repetition in this song is genius. "talk, talk, talk, talk, till you lose your patience".
Everybody else has hit the nail on the head, especially mirrorsreflection, but that's really the amazing thing about the song. EVERYBODY knows what its about, although it doesn't explicitly say what its about. The fact that you can FEEL the meaning of this song and know it in your soul says more about the incredible songwriting here than you can analyze with your mind.