Bruce Springsteen "Born In The USA (Acoustic)"

Today is Veteran's Day.  Maybe you've thanked a Veteran.  But is there something more you could do?


My father-in-law passed away this fall.  In making arrangements to have him buried at the National Cemetery at Otis National Air Guard Base, we visited the V.A. in Plymouth, as they were helping with his funeral expenses.

In talking with the very kind-hearted V.A. Administrator, and in looking over his affairs, she realized that they could have helped him so much more when he was alive.

"He was eligible for a number of other benefits."

While he had gone to V.A. hospitals for his health benefits, he hadn't explored his options beyond that.  Maybe he hadn't known about them.  Maybe he was too proud to ask.  I don't know.

My father-in-law was hardly a war hero.  He spent his entire time in the service, stationed in New York.  As a photographer.

BUT, he served his country in the way that they had asked him too.  Those benefits were there for his asking.

Since that day that the V.A. we have tried to reach out to the other veterans in our life---including my wife's step-father who is a Vietnam-era combat veteran---and encourage them to visit or call the V.A.

Veterans can be eligible for assistance with supplemental income, life insurance, housing, medical and prescription expenses, home loans, education help, job placement, and yes, burial.

They may not know of the benefits available.  They may be too proud to ask.

Push them to do it.  Do it for them.  Take them down to the V.A. yourself.

Contact your local V.A. or at least start with the Veteran's Affairs website for details.

Saying "thank you for your service" is great.  Serving them as your way of saying thanks, is even better.


Hear the song on Youtube.

Bruce Springsteen "Darlington County"

I used to be this huge Simpsons geek.  Up to a certain point (through the first fifteen seasons or so) I had seen every episode.**

At the time it came out in 1997, "The City Of New York vs. Homer Simpson" was one of my least favorite episodes.  The plot involves Homer, his car ticketed and booted between the World Trade Towers, waiting for his car to be released by the police.   I remember thinking that a lot of the jokes were weak (though there is a really funny "crab juice" gag) and the target ("New York City sure is a rough, unfriendly place!") was a been-there-done-that concept.

After September 11th, 2001, when this episode comes on in syndication, I stop and watch.

Same thing if I happen to catch the opening "Working Girl," where they show the ferry going into the city.

I can't really explain why.  I had never, and have never, been to the World Trade Center.  I can't really tell you what I am looking for.

But its what keeps "Darlington County" in rotation on mvyradio, too.

It's a perfectly serviceable Bruce Springsteen song.  While it is funny and full of well-realized details, it probably doesn't even make the list of the top 40 Springsteen songs. 

But hearing him try to impress a couple of girls by saying "Our pas each own one of the world trade centers" for some reason makes me want to hold on to it.


Hear the song on Youtube.

**Once I got married and started having kids, my ability to be an episode completest was vastly diminished.

Bruce Springsteen "Born In The USA" (acoustic)

It's Veterans Day, so I thought I would post this raw version of Bruce Springsteen's bleak view of a Vietnam Veteran returning home to no job, no prospects and no future.

Despite yesterday's show of solidarity in the Senate, approving a bill to help returning Veterans and their families find post-Service employment, Springsteen's song is sadly as applicable today as it was 30 years ago.

Unemployment for post-9/11 Veterans is at 13.3%, well above the National average.

There are "Support The Troops" rallying cries when we want funding for military spending, when we want our National interests protected, when we want a police action in a foreign land.

But does all that ring hollow, if we're even having this discussion?

Have a thoughtful holiday.


Hear the song on Youtube.

Stephen Stills “Treetop Flyer”

Radio stations always play songs for Christmas and Halloween, but (perhaps in keeping with an all-too-pervasive social attitude) Veterans and Veterans Day can be forgotten.

Of course, songs about Veterans are not as cheery as “Holly Jolly Christmas” or “The Monster Mash.” And it’s not like people are looking for tunes to play while decorating their home for Veterans Day.

But there are a lot of great songs for and about veterans, so let me point you to a couple, in case you wanted to put together a playlist. Maybe even make a compilation for your favorite Vet as a way to say Thanks.

One of the most requested Library (i.e. not new) songs we have at mvyradio, is Stephen Stills “Treetop Flyer,” about a Vietnam Pilot, who still flies dangerous missions, with the skills picked up at war.

Perhaps the best, angriest, starkest Veterans song, was originally recorded as an upbeat, kick-ass anthem, which obscured the despair of the narrator. Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The U.S.A." probably SHOULD have been part of his "Nebraska" album, alongside the story of another veteran, the errant brother in "Highway Patrolman." (Check out a neat graphic essay on the Legacy of "Born In The U.S.A" and listen to the clips below for a live version of the song, who's tone matches the lyrics)

You can click through the player below, for more songs about Veterans and Soldiers. Listen to these songs, and their lyrics, and maybe have a moment of thoughtful reflection today.



See Stephen Stills do "Treetop Flyer" with Neil Young, see Bruce do his tune with bombast and angst.

The original version of "Treetop Flyer" is out of print, but you can get it here if you're feeling flush. If not, you can buy a newly released live version.