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In the alt/country ditty "Tomorrow Never Knows," Springsteen warbles, "You and me, we been standing here my dear / Waiting for our time to come / Where the green grass grows." And on "Life Itself," he sings, "You were life itself, rushing over me / Life itself in your heart and your eyes / I can't make it without you." And then, "Why do the things we treasure most slip away in time / Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind / [But] I can't make it without you."

The marital bliss continues on "Kingdom of Days": "I count my blessings that you're mine for always / We laugh beneath the covers and count the wrinkles and the grays / Sing away, sing away, sing away." And "Surprise, Surprise" includes a blessing for his beloved: "In the hollow of the evening, as you lay your head to rest / May the evening stars scatter a shining crown upon your breast / In the darkness of the morning as the sky struggles to light / May the rising sun caress and bless your soul for all your life."

When's the last time you heard a rock superstar so unabashedly rejoice in his marriage—much less be married for almost two decades? Springsteen, raised in the Catholic church, has long been haunted by the holy, frequently acknowledging heaven's hand in his work. In Working on a Dream, it's clear he understands that marriage is a sacred gift from God.

It's also clear that he understands that life itself is a gift. Last spring, Danny Federici, one of Springsteen's best friends and a founding member of The E Street band, died of melanoma. Working on a Dream, dedicated to Federici, ends with "The Last Carnival," a song written in his memory: "We'll be riding the train without you tonight," Springsteen sings, "the train that keeps on movin' / Its black smoke scorching the evening sky / A million stars shining above us like every soul livin' and dead / Has been gathered together by a God to sing a hymn over your bones."

Mark Moring has written about spirituality in Springsteen's music before, particularly here, here, and here. Note: One song on the album, "Queen of the Supermarket," includes the f-word, but there's no other offensive language on the album.

Unless specified clearly, we are not implying whether this artist is or is not a Christian. The views expressed are simply the author's. For a more complete description of our Glimpses of God articles, click here.

Springsteen photo by Danny Clinch

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