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Welcome to American Mosaic from VOA LearningEnglish. I'm Caty Weaver.

On the show today, it's all about "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen.

Musician, singer, songwriter Bruce Springsteen is one of the world's best-selling artists, with a career that covers 40 years. In a new book, “CountingDown Bruce Springsteen,” writer and music critic Jim Beviglia ratesSpringsteen’s songs. The rating is based partly on how powerfully the wordsexpress people’s fears, hopes and dreams. Christopher Cruise reports.

Bruce Springsteen is known for his poetic songs that deal with social andpolitical issues, as well as more personal subjects. His energetic liveperformances are also famous. Music journalist Jim Beviglia says the artist’schildhood in a New Jersey working class family was a major influence on hismusic.

The Underground Railroad by Charles T. Webber, 1893 (Cincinnati Art Museum)

“The social and the political issues, Springsteen’s never been shy aboutwriting about those. They sort of started to come into play with an albumcalled, ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town,’ where he started to look at smalltown lives and how people are just sort of doing the same things their parentsdid, and couldn't get out of that."

Mr. Beviglia says the music grew even darker in the 1982 album “Nebraska.” He says those songs show people pushed to the edge of poverty and criminalactivity.

Thirteen years later Springsteen released “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” Mr.Beviglia says the album was a direct discussion of issues like immigration,hunger and poverty.

Then in 2012, in the album “Wrecking Ball,” the critic says Springsteen foundpeople to blame for some of those social problems.

Slaves Waiting for Sale, Richmond, Virginia, by Eyre Crowe (Public Domain)

“‘Wrecking Ball’ really pointed at that sort of financial leaders and the powersthat allowed that dichotomy between the rich and the poor.”

One of Springsteen's best-known songs, “Born in the USA”, is nine onBeviglia's list.

“It’s an amazingly complex song, it's got this really rousing music, verypatriotic, big drums, it's used in fireworks displays. But when you get to thelyrics, it’s a very sharp criticism of the way America treated its Vietnam vetsupon returning home.”

The song was released in 1984 as President Ronald Reagan was running forre-election. Jim Beviglia says that conservative politicians and observersmisunderstood the song.

Nat Turner captured by Mr. Benjamin Phipps, a local farmer

“It came out in 1984 and a couple of conservative politicians sort of picked upon the song. They talked about how Springsteen sort of reflected theAmerican values and Springsteen, when he found about that, quickly pulledback and he said ‘wait a second here, they’re mistaking this song here, this ismore of a criticism and maybe their values don’t coincide with my values.”

Springsteen also wrote about personal relationships. Mr. Beviglia places“Brilliant Disguise,” in fifth place on his list of Springsteen’s 100 finest songs. The song is from the 1987 album “Tunnel of Love.”

“It’s basically a couple who are putting on disguises for each other becausethey don’t reveal their true selves. And there’s mistrust and the relationship iskind of crumbling."

Mr. Beviglia says that was the state of Springsteen's marriage at the time. He and his first wife divorced shortly after.

Harriet Tubman c.1885

"Born to Run" tops Beviglia's list.

He says Springsteen’s album company was thinking of ending business withhim after poor sales of his first two albums. But then “Born to Run” hit thestores and airwaves in 1975. It saved Springsteen’s career.

“The lyrics, they leave you breathless, this idea of, you know, maybe we nevercan actually get free from our pasts, from our home towns, and things likethat, but you have to give it a shot, and take your chance. You know it cost alot of money to produce. He used all these instruments. Had it failed, I mean, we might not be talking about Bruce Springsteen today."

But we are - talking about him, and listening to him. Jim Beviglia says themusician’s ability to stay true to himself and express the concerns and hopesof ordinary people is what has made him a living legend.

I'm Caty Weaver. Join us again next week for American Mosaic from VOALearning English.