Bruce Springsteen was advocating for the rights of the common working-class man. The song was widely misinterpreted as jingoistic, and in connection with the 1984 presidential campaign became the subject of considerable folklore. In 1984, conservative columnist George Will attended a Springsteen concert and then wrote a column praising Springsteen's work ethic. Six days after the column was printed, in a campaign rally in Hammonton, New Jersey, Reagan said, "America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts. It rests in the message of hope in the songs of a man so many young Americans admire—New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen." Two
The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen song) The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen song) "The Promised Land" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1978 album "Darkness on the Edge of Town". It was released as a single in Europe, backed by another song from "Darkness on the Edge of Town", "Streets of Fire", the third single from the album after "Badlands" and "Prove It All Night". "The Promised Land" was also included on the compilation album "The Essential Bruce Springsteen". The song has been a staple of Springsteen's live shows since 1978, and has been included on several concert albums and videos. The live album "Live/1975–85"