Bruce Springsteen is teaming up with former President Barack Obama once again for the upcoming book Renegades: Born in the USA. After joining forces for their podcast of the same name, this unlikely duo co-wrote a book that "explores everything from their origin stories and career-defining moments to our countryâs polarized politics and the growing distance between the American Dream and the American reality," according to Penguin Random House.
On Monday (October 25), The Guardian released an excerpt from the upcoming project. The except, written by Springsteen, reflects on the iconic musician's strained relationship with his father. Springsteen opens up about the profound influence his father had on his body of work, as well, writing that everything he's ever written has drawn inspiration, in some way, from his father's life story.
âFrom when I was a young man, I lived with a man who suffered a loss of status and I saw it every single day,â Springsteen writes. âIt was all tied to lack of work, and I just watched the low self-esteem. ⌠There was something in his illness or in who he was that involved a tremendous denying of his family ties. I always remember him complaining that if he hadnât had a family he wouldâve been able to take a certain job and go on the road. It was a missed opportunity. ⌠So we felt guilt. And that was my entire picture of masculinity until I was way into my 30s, when I began to sort it out myself because I couldnât establish and hold a relationship ⌠I just couldnât find a life with the information that heâd left me, and I was trying to over and over again.â
âThe thing that happens is: when we canât get the love we want from the parent we want it from, how do you create the intimacy you need? I canât get to him and I canât have him. Iâll be him. Thatâs what Iâll do. Iâll be him," the 'Badlands' singer continues. "Iâm way into my 30s before I even have any idea that thatâs my method of operation. Iâm on stage. Iâm in workmenâs clothes. Iâve never worked a job in my life. My dad was a beefy, bulky guy. Iâve played freaking guitar my whole life, but Iâve got 20 or 30 extra pounds on me from hitting the gym. Whereâd that come from? Why do I spend hours lifting up and putting down heavy things for no particular reason? My entire body of work, everything that Iâve cared about, everything that Iâve written about, draws from his life story.â
Springsteen waited to have his own children until after he had tackled his issues with his father. âI donât have my children until Iâm 40,â he shares. âIâm eight years into looking into a lot of these things, because what I found out about that archetype was it was fucking destructive in my life. It drove away people I cared about. It kept me from knowing my true self. And I [realized]: âWell, if you wanna follow this road, go ahead. But youâre going to end up on your own, my friend. And if you want to invite some people into your life, you better learn how to do that.ââ
Renegades: Born in the USAÂ will be available for purchase beginning on Oct. 26. Will you be picking up a copy?