I am surprised that there aren't more comments about this song other than those noting its simplicity. I couldn't disagree more. For over 30 years I've pondered the last verse. The first three verses set up the theme clearly enough: mortality, love, superstition, ritual.
But the last verse breaks the narrative. We have a wedding scene, which combines all four elements of the early verses. But then suddenly he's alone, lamenting some kind of metaphoric loss. His freedom? His youth?
It's like in the 4th verse, Springsteen takes the song and turns it upside down. The "reason to believe" is no longer ironic, but nihilistic. "Struck me kinda funny" no more.
i like your takes. and i agree with them in large part. but i'm not sure i find the last verse to be so miffing. to me, the man is lost. his bride to be never showed, which leaves only so many inferences for him to make. but why? and where is she? when i hear that verse, and i put myself in the shoes of that man by the river, it's the not knowing that gets to me. the loss of stability, trust, companionship, of that unnoticed steady footing you gain...
i like your takes. and i agree with them in large part. but i'm not sure i find the last verse to be so miffing. to me, the man is lost. his bride to be never showed, which leaves only so many inferences for him to make. but why? and where is she? when i hear that verse, and i put myself in the shoes of that man by the river, it's the not knowing that gets to me. the loss of stability, trust, companionship, of that unnoticed steady footing you gain when in a solid relationship. and then to be by the river while all this happens...the allegorical, to me, is obvious. just like the river keeps on moving, no matter what, so also his reason to believe keeps on keepin on.
@ZFT This song is just about hard stuff in life. Methinks there are few things more personally devastating to a man than his bride failing to show at the wedding. To discover the betrayal of love and trust in this setting hurts the head, the heart and the ego. It's hard enough to call off a wedding off before the event, it's just plain brutal to do a no-show the day of, when people have gathered to celebrate love.
@ZFT This song is just about hard stuff in life. Methinks there are few things more personally devastating to a man than his bride failing to show at the wedding. To discover the betrayal of love and trust in this setting hurts the head, the heart and the ego. It's hard enough to call off a wedding off before the event, it's just plain brutal to do a no-show the day of, when people have gathered to celebrate love.
I am surprised that there aren't more comments about this song other than those noting its simplicity. I couldn't disagree more. For over 30 years I've pondered the last verse. The first three verses set up the theme clearly enough: mortality, love, superstition, ritual.
But the last verse breaks the narrative. We have a wedding scene, which combines all four elements of the early verses. But then suddenly he's alone, lamenting some kind of metaphoric loss. His freedom? His youth?
It's like in the 4th verse, Springsteen takes the song and turns it upside down. The "reason to believe" is no longer ironic, but nihilistic. "Struck me kinda funny" no more.
I think "the loss of the groom" is that his bride never showed up for their wedding. Now he lost the love of his life and feel miserable and sad.
I think "the loss of the groom" is that his bride never showed up for their wedding. Now he lost the love of his life and feel miserable and sad.
i like your takes. and i agree with them in large part. but i'm not sure i find the last verse to be so miffing. to me, the man is lost. his bride to be never showed, which leaves only so many inferences for him to make. but why? and where is she? when i hear that verse, and i put myself in the shoes of that man by the river, it's the not knowing that gets to me. the loss of stability, trust, companionship, of that unnoticed steady footing you gain...
i like your takes. and i agree with them in large part. but i'm not sure i find the last verse to be so miffing. to me, the man is lost. his bride to be never showed, which leaves only so many inferences for him to make. but why? and where is she? when i hear that verse, and i put myself in the shoes of that man by the river, it's the not knowing that gets to me. the loss of stability, trust, companionship, of that unnoticed steady footing you gain when in a solid relationship. and then to be by the river while all this happens...the allegorical, to me, is obvious. just like the river keeps on moving, no matter what, so also his reason to believe keeps on keepin on.
@ZFT This song is just about hard stuff in life. Methinks there are few things more personally devastating to a man than his bride failing to show at the wedding. To discover the betrayal of love and trust in this setting hurts the head, the heart and the ego. It's hard enough to call off a wedding off before the event, it's just plain brutal to do a no-show the day of, when people have gathered to celebrate love.
@ZFT This song is just about hard stuff in life. Methinks there are few things more personally devastating to a man than his bride failing to show at the wedding. To discover the betrayal of love and trust in this setting hurts the head, the heart and the ego. It's hard enough to call off a wedding off before the event, it's just plain brutal to do a no-show the day of, when people have gathered to celebrate love.