In 2021 I listened to, and ranked, every Bruce Springsteen song in chronological order. I placed them into my list immediately, and didn’t adjust or rerank later. These rankings only include officially released albums and EPs — not including live albums. If a song appeared twice (like demos on Ties That Bind) I included the album version. Only two songs appear twice (The Promise and The Ghost of Tom Joad), and that is because I considered the two versions to be distinctly unique. I probably missed some one-offs.
My only goal for this list was compile my personal considerations of best-to-worst songs from one of my favorite artists.
I hope you can use this list to discover a new favorite (or least favorite) Springsteen song.
Rankings, first to last, are down the page.
I put this all in a handy ranked Spotify playlist for you here.
ALBUMS BY AVERAGE SONG RANKINGS
After ranking each song, I looked at the average ranking of songs by album. This provided a quick way to rank albums in order as well. Below you’ll see each of the 22 albums in order. Included is their average song ranking (out of 345) and the differential between the top ranked song and the lowest ranked song on that particular album. Some outliers… Born To Run is clearly head and shoulders above the rest. It is the perfect Springsteen album. The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle has the highest differential, mainly because Wild Billy’s Circus is ranked so low.
If Springsteen’s original Greatest Hits album (released in 1995) was compiled by track, it would have ranked third overall.
Random Musings
I tracked a few other data points, which gave me these personal preferences.
Song Rankings
Without further ado, here are the rankings. I’ve included a couple notes, but I’ll keep the critiques and exposition to the professionals (Caryn Rose did a great track-by-track breakdown on Vulture here).
Thunder Road — Born to Run — One and two are essentially interchangeable for me, however the theme of Thunder Road encapsulates everything I love about Springsteen into one track.
Born to Run — Born to Run
Racing in the Street — Darkness on the Edge of Town
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Jungleland — Born to Run
Backstreets — Born to Run
I’m on Fire — Born in the U.S.A.
New York City Serenade — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Wages of Sin — Tracks — First originally unreleased track making the list. Written during the Nebraska sessions. Check out the fantastic Damien Jurado & Rosie Thomas cover here.
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Badlands — Darkness on the Edge of Town
Highway Patrolman — Nebraska
Thundercrack — Tracks
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out — Born to Run
The River — The River
The E Street Shuffle — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
One Step Up — Tunnel of Love
Drive All Night — The River
Downbound Train — Born in the U.S.A.
Atlantic City — Nebraska
Tunnel of Love — Tunnel of Love
Dancing in the Dark — Born in the U.S.A. — Is the music video the pinnacle of 80’s MTV cheese? 100% yes. But the Courtney Cox zeitgeist must live on. Under the instrumentation, and cheeseball music video, this song is hiding some depth.
Incident on 57th Street — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Something in the Night — Darkness On the Edge of Town
Darkness On the Edge of Town — Darkness On the Edge of Town
The Ghost of Tom Joad — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Streets of Philadelphia — Greatest Hits — Bruce deservedly won an Oscar for this song he wrote specifically for the film. The telecast performance, and sweet mid-90’s goatee action here.
I’m Goin’ Down — Born in the U.S.A.
Nebraska — Nebraska
The Wrestler — Working On A Dream — After winning a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song, Bruce was snubbed and didn’t get an Oscar nom for this track for the Darren Aronofsky film of the same name.
Growin’ Up — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Independence Day — The River
Born in the U.S.A. — Born in the U.S.A.
Glory Days — Born in the U.S.A.
Land of Hope and Dreams — Wrecking Ball
Meeting Across the River — Born to Run
Blinded by the Light — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Streets of Fire — Darkness On the Edge of Town
State Trooper — Nebraska
Because the Night — The Promise
Secret Garden — Greatest Hits
Valentine’s Day — Tunnel of Love
Hungry Heart — The River
Adam Raised a Cain — Darkness On the Edge of Town
If I Should Fall Behind — Lucky Town
Walk Like a Man — Tunnel of Love
Gave It A Name — Tracks
The Rising — The Rising
Prove It All Night — Darkness On the Edge of Town
Night — Born to Run
Tougher Than the Rest — Tunnel of Love
American Skin (41 Shots ) - Studio Version — High Hopes
No Surrender — Born in the U.S.A.
Two Faces — Tunnel of Love
Take ‘Em as They Come — Tracks
The Ties That Bind — The River
Magic — Magic
She’s the One — Born to Run
Reason to Believe — Nebraska
Spirit in the Night — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Stolen Car — The River
Iceman — Tracks
My Hometown — Born in the U.S.A.
The Promised Land — Darkness On the Edge of Town
Fade Away — The River
Brilliant Disguise — Tunnel of Love
Back In Your Arms — Tracks
Wrecking Ball — Wrecking Ball
Into the Fire — The Rising
The Ghost of Tom Joad - Electric Version — High Hopes
I Wanna Be With You — Tracks
Darlington County — Born in the U.S.A.
My Love Will Not Let You Down — Tracks
Dream Baby Dream — High Hopes
Lonesome Day — The Rising
Lost in the Flood — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Santa Ana — Tracks
Bobby Jean — Born in the U.S.A.
Radio Nowhere — Magic
It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Out In the Street — The River
Janey Don’t You Lose Heart — Tracks
For You — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Roll of the Dice — Human Touch
Working on the Highway — Born in the U.S.A.
Straight Time — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Open All Night — Nebraska
Paradise — The Rising
Ain’t Got You — Tunnel of Love
Cover Me — Born in the U.S.A.
We Take Care of Our Own — Wrecking Ball
Seaside Bar Song — Tracks
Nothing Man – The Rising
Sherry Darling — The River
My City of Ruins — The Rising
Souls of the Departed — Lucky Town
Rocky Ground — Wrecking Ball
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day — The Rising
Brothers Under the Bridge — Tracks
All That Heaven Will Allow — Tunnel of Love
Human Touch — Human Touch
City of Night — The Promise
Fire — The Promise
If I Was The Priest — Letter To You
Cindy — The Ties That Bind
Kitty’s Back — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Used Cars — Nebraska
Youngstown — The Ghost of Tom Joad
You’ll Be Comin’ Down — Magic
The Promise — Tracks
Roulette — Tracks
One Minute You’re Here — Letter To You
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Cadillac Ranch — The River
Jackson Cage — The River
Wrong Side of the Street — The Promise
Mary Queen of Arkansas — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Two Hearts — The River
The Brokenhearted — The Promise
Mansion on the Hill — Nebraska
Highway 29 — The Ghost of Tom Joad
You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch) — The River
When You're Alone — Tunnel of Love
Point Blank — The River
Livin' In The Future — Magic
Stray Bullet — The Ties That Bind
We Are Alive — Wrecking Ball
Rockaway The Days — Tracks
The Price you Pay — The River
Better Days — Lucky Town
Shut Out The Light — Tracks
Blood Brothers — Greatest Hits
Give The Girl A Kiss — Tracks
So Young And In Love — Tracks
All or Nothin' At All — Human Touch
Sad Eyes — Tracks
From Small things (Big Things One Day Come) — The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Breakaway — The Promise
Devils & Dust — Devils & Dust
Cynthia — Tracks
Cautious Man — Tunnel of Love
Wreck on the Highway — The River
The Big Muddy — Lucky Town
Murder Incorporated — Greatest Hits
Two For The Road — Tracks
Frankie — Tracks
The Wall — High Hopes
Brothers Under the Bridges — Tracks
Countin' On A Miracle — The Rising
Working On a Dream — Working On A Dream
The Big Payback — The Essential Bruce Springsteen
The Promise — The Promise
Be True — Tracks
Mary Lou — Tracks
Hunter of Invisible Game — High Hopes
You've Got It — Wrecking Ball
30 Days Out — Roll of the Dice B Side
Western Stars — Western Stars
Gloria's Eyes — Human Touch
My Beautiful Reward — Lucky Town
Bring On The Night — Tracks
Mr. Outside — The Ties That Bind
All The Way Home — Devils & Dust
Real World — Human Touch
Johnny 99 — Nebraska
Lucky Town — Lucky Town
Crush On You — The River
Linda Let Me Be The One — Tracks
Hitch Hikin' — Western Stars
This Hard Land — Tracks
Death To My Hometown — Wrecking Ball
Paradise By The "C" — The Ties That Bind
Hearts of Stone — Tracks
Cross My Heart — Human Touch
Loose Change — Tracks
I'll See You In My Dreams — Letter To You
Zero And Blind Terry — Tracks
Missing — Missing EP
Rendezvous — Tracks
All I'm Thinkin' About — Devils & Dust
Lucky Man — Tracks
Drive Fast (The Stuntman) — Western Stars
Shackled And Drawn — Wrecking Ball
Sinaloa Cowboy — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Dead Man Walkin' — Dead Man Walkin' Single
High Hopes — High Hopes
Letter To You — Letter To You
County Fair — The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Gypsy Biker — Magic
When You Need Me — Tracks
Empty Sky — The Rising
It's a Shame — The Promise
Long Time Comin' — Devils & Dust
What Love Can Do — Working On A Dream
Spanish Eyes — The Promise
Terry's Song — Devils & Dust
Johnny Bye-Bye — Tracks
Local Hero — Lucky Town
Chain Lightning — The Ties That Bind
My Best Was Never Good Enough — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Restless Nights — Tracks
Whitetown — The Ties that Bind
The Little Things (My Baby Does) — The Promise
One Way Street — The Promise
Your Own Worst Enemy — Magic
Stones — Western Stars
Down in the Hole — High Hopes
Easy Money — Wrecking Ball
Save My Love — The Promise
Happy — Tracks
The Fever — Tracks
Soul Driver — Human Touch
The Angel — Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Night Fire — The Ties That Bind
Lion's Den — Tracks
My Father's House — Nebraska
The Wish — Tracks
I Wanna Marry You — The River
The Time That Never Was — The Ties That Bind
Outside Looking In — The Promise
Hello Sunshine — Western Stars
Talk to Me — The Promise
Party Lights — The Ties That Bind
Devil's Arcade — Devils & Dust
Man's Job — Human Touch
My Lover Man — Tracks
Sundown — Western Stars
Lift Me Up — The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Reno — Devils & Dust
Spare Parts — Tunnel of Love
Factory — Darkness On the Edge of Town
Mary Mary — American Beauty EP
Little White Lies — The Ties That Bind
Good Eye — Working On A Dream
American Land — Wrecking Ball
Moonlight Motel — Western Stars
Mary's Place — The Rising
Car Wash — Tracks
He's Guilty (The Judge Song) - Steel Mill — Chapter and Verse
Loose Ends — Tracks
Come On (Let's Go Tonight) — The Promise
The Line — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Don't Look Back — Tracks
Without You — Blood Brothers EP
American Beauty — American Beauty EP
Chasin' Wild Horses — Western Stars
I Wish I Were Blind — Human Touch
You're Missing — The Rising
Gotta Get That Feeling — The Promise
Ghosts — Letter To You
Across the Border — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Viva Las Vegas — The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Meet Me In The City — The Ties That Bind
Frankie Fell in Love — High Hopes
Jack Of All Trades — Wrecking Ball
Man At The Top — Tracks
The Man Who Got Away — The Ties That Bind
The Ballad of Jesse James — Chapter and Verse
Hurry Up Sundown — American Beauty EP
Girls In Their Summer Clothes — Magic
Someday (We'll Be Together) — The Promise
With Every Wish — Human Touch
I'm a Rocker — The River
Swallowed Up (In The Belly Of The Whale) — Wrecking Ball
Kingdom of Days — Working On A Dream
Last Man Standing — Letter To You
Dollhouse — Tracks
Ramrod — The River
Hey Blue Eyes — American Beauty EP
Just Like Fire Would — High Hopes
Goin' Cali — Tracks
Leah — Devils & Dust
The Honeymooners — Tracks
Last to Die — Magic
Where The Bands Are — Tracks
Heaven's Wall — High Hopes
This Depression — Wrecking Ball
The Last Carnival — Working On A Dream
I'll Stand By You — Blinded by the Light Soundtrack
Somewhere North of Nashville — Western Stars
Book of Dreams — Lucky Town
The Wayfarer — Western Stars
Leavin' Train — Tracks
Burnin' Train — Letter To You
Tuscon Train — Western Stars
Life Itself — Working On A Dream
When The Lights Go Out — Tracks
Janey Needs A Shooter — Letter To You
You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover - The Castilles — Chapter and Verse
There Goes My Miracle — Western Stars
Rainmaker — Letter To You
Maria's Bed — Devils & Dust
None But the Brave — The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Trouble River — Tracks
Galveston Bay — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Leap of Faith — Lucky Town
Over The Rise — Tracks
Matamoros Banks — Devils & Dust
Henry Boy — Chapter and Verse
The Long Goodbye — Human Touch
Song For Orphans — Letter To You
A Night With the Jersey Devil — Online Single
This is Your Sword — High Hopes
Living Proof — Lucky Town
The Hitter — Devils & Dust
Dry Lightning — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Candy's Room — Darkness On the Edge of Town
The Fuse — The Rising
Living On The Edge Of The World — Tracks
Worlds Apart — The Rising
Trouble In Paradise — Tracks
Further On (Up the Road) — The Rising
The Power of Prayer — Letter To You
Tomorrow Never Knows — Working On A Dream
Seven Angels — Tracks
Ain't Good Enough For You (NYC, 78) — The Promise
Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin) — The Rising
I'll Work for Your Love — Magic
Harry's Place — High Hopes
My Lucky Day — Working On A Dream
Long Walk Home — Magic
House Of A Thousand Guitars — Letter To You
This Life — Working On A Dream
Jesus Was an Only Son - The Song — Devils & Dust
A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh) — Tracks
Silver Palomino — Devils & Dust
Stand On It — Tracks
Black Cowboys — Devils & Dust
Balboa Park — The Ghost of Tom Joad
Held Up Without a Gun — The Ties That Bind
Sleepy Joe's Cafe — Western Stars
Ricky Wants A Man Of Her Own — Tracks
Bishop Danced — Tracks
Candy's Boy — The Promise
Baby I - The Castilles — Chapter and Verse
Surprise, Surprise — Working On A Dream
The New Timer — The Ghost of Tom Joad
TV Movie — Tracks
Real Man — Human Touch
Outlaw Pete — Working On A Dream
57 Channels (And Nothin' On) — Human Touch
Wild Billy's Circus Story — The Wild, the Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Queen Of The Supermarket — Working On A Dream
Part Man, Park Monkey — Tracks
Pony Boy — Human Touch