My City Of Ruins

Album: The Rising (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Springsteen wrote this about Asbury Park, New Jersey, a resort town near where he grew up. Springsteen went there a lot when he was young, and watched it deteriorate as he got older. It is now mostly neglected.
  • This took on new meaning after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the US. It became a message to New York City about rising from the ruins.
  • Springsteen first played this in December 2000, on his US tour with The E Street Band. He performed it only at a few shows in New Jersey.
  • This was the first song performed on the "Tribute To Heroes" telethon, held 10 days after the attack to benefit victims of the terrorism.
  • Springsteen played this at two benefit shows he held in New Jersey in October 2001.
  • The song had not yet been released when Springsteen performed it at the benefits.
  • A cover by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, which was recorded in December 2009 at the Kennedy Center Honors' tribute to Bruce Springsteen, entered the Hot 100 in February 2010. Proceeds of the song went to Artists for Peace and Justice Haiti Relief after the earthquake that devastated the country.

Comments: 3

  • Glenn Wiener from White Plains, NyThis song is very special as it tells all of us to rise up after we have faced adversity. Very overlooked as this is one of Bruce's best songs of all time.
  • MikeThis was Springsteen's finest moment among so many. It was the perfect song to open the tribute show, and the perfect song to start a nation healing. It may not have been originally about 9/11, but it became so after his performance.
  • James Thomson from Glasgow, United KingdomThis is a brilliant song, even though it wasn't written about the attacks, it sums up the aftermath so effectively
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.