tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post2748528421181353806..comments2023-10-31T05:58:15.068-07:00Comments on Teacher Trenches: Springsteen's "The Rising" and September 11thMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564865784846288966noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-83067428496560927762017-03-13T00:52:37.162-07:002017-03-13T00:52:37.162-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lee Huffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05864994495005076763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-60061196647939638622016-08-10T17:45:32.001-07:002016-08-10T17:45:32.001-07:00Each year this should be played in schools and the...Each year this should be played in schools and the days events shown. NEVER FORGET.NJ Remembershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14553761388954182151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-48840884950141547572016-08-10T17:45:15.868-07:002016-08-10T17:45:15.868-07:00Each year this should be played in schools and the...Each year this should be played in schools and the days events shown. NEVER FORGET.NJ Remembershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14553761388954182151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-86325289381443721622015-09-10T20:14:24.719-07:002015-09-10T20:14:24.719-07:00This will be my 5th year of using this song in my ...This will be my 5th year of using this song in my classroom on 9/11 (along with Alan Jackson's "Where Were You...") <br /><br />Thank you for sharing your passion, mine as well, for this artistry.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15076397455564366821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-63403021093497859382015-01-07T17:31:01.308-08:002015-01-07T17:31:01.308-08:00Every time I hear this song, I get caught in the &...Every time I hear this song, I get caught in the 'Mary' (my name), and then have to listen again and google the lyrics because The Rising IS so important. That's how I found your site.<br /><br />In some ways, your analysis matches what I feel with this song, and is really enlightening with your proofs - I'll have to look for the VH1 show sometime.<br /><br />The line "Left the house this morning" IS a simple line - and I hadn't thought of it in the 'leaving everything behind' way (heartbreaking for sure). I remember that perfect day, beautiful blue sky and I always thought of him leaving his home - the last moment of happy life before being blindsided.<br /> <br />I hadn't thought of the 'house' as being the firehouse, but maybe it is - a normal day doing your job-until it's a situation that only 'The Bravest' can manage.<br /><br />As far as the chorus - "Lay your hands in mine" - I think there's more to that line because of his choice of words. It's not take my hand, or hold my hand, like you would say if you were welcoming someone, or praying together, or commiserating at a memorial service. <br /> <br />He says 'Lay your hands'. To me, that is a phrase of healing - There are stories that Jesus raised the dead by laying hands on. The Apostles brought the Holy Spirit and the speaking in tongues through the laying on of hands. Then there's alternative healing like Reiki - the transfer of 'life force energy' by the laying on of hands. Ok, so the problem with this healing theory is that he says 'Lay your hands IN mine', not ON mine. But it's still something to think about.<br /><br />It's been years since you posted this, but the song endures and it is still worth considering. <br /><br />Plus, I've been accused of over-thinking many topics, many times, so I'm loving this.I m the kitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06847681067483833173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-87905071579785252612012-09-11T06:54:32.423-07:002012-09-11T06:54:32.423-07:00I loved reading your analysis. I am an English te...I loved reading your analysis. I am an English teacher , too, and plan to begin my Rhetoric and Civic Life class with this song today. I hope to illustrate one of the various ways people are called to civic duty.<br /><br />I think the "tonight" in the chorus does signal a shift in perspective. I believe the song shifts form the narrator's first hand account of his final moments and passing to his more general and ephemeral call from the afterlife to rise up from the despair and ashes of 9/11, just as he did. "Tonight" signals that this call to civic duty comes after the horrors of that morning, perhaps on the night of 9/11. He seems to be saying, "Don't waste time wallowing, rise up TONIGHT!" lest the terrorists win by throwing us into despair. <br />Bruce at his patriotic and civic best, no doubt. Thank you for this post.Italian Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08738019171457946222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-20248094129349218172011-12-19T17:14:39.832-08:002011-12-19T17:14:39.832-08:00Book of Revelation seems to be a strong influence....Book of Revelation seems to be a strong influence. It's a song about the connection between those living and those on the other side. The rising refers to not only physical ascent of a firefighter, the spiritual ascent of Gods people, detailed in the book of revelation.bigtunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01619869717581298226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-11193931242133200862011-12-19T17:14:01.116-08:002011-12-19T17:14:01.116-08:00Book of Revelation seems to be a strong influence....Book of Revelation seems to be a strong influence. It's a song about the connection between those living and those on the other side. The rising refers to not only physical ascent of a firefighter, the spiritual ascent of Gods people, detailed in the book of revelation.bigtunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01619869717581298226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-61288991433510334562011-09-07T10:28:52.087-07:002011-09-07T10:28:52.087-07:00Thanks for your analysis, I'll have my student...Thanks for your analysis, I'll have my students explore this for the 10th anniversary.Jamesolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12297014540100362940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-32722702772575589162008-09-30T20:49:00.000-07:002008-09-30T20:49:00.000-07:00i must admit after the attack i was pissed (and le...i must admit after the attack i was pissed (and lets face it what american or freedom loving people wasn't) but i actually forgot how powerfull this song was. <BR/><BR/>now that i have read this article i remember hearing the song and thinking "wow that is a great song by springsteen" and then hearing the "rumors" on how it was an "F you" response from springsteen to the people who committed this atrocity. <BR/><BR/>But after initially hearing it, i can't recall hearing it on the radio or any other venue for quite a while or at least long enough that if i hadn't read this article the song probably would have been lost to me (which in and of itself is a shame). so if nothing else Mr. Dursin you have rekindled the love of this song for me (i now download it regularly)<BR/><BR/>lets all remember and honor the men and women who actually risked their lives and ran into jaws of hell even before they relized it was an act of terrorism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462821333260536298.post-20510823976081779322008-09-10T18:17:00.000-07:002008-09-10T18:17:00.000-07:00I think Bruce's initial inspiration was obviously ...I think Bruce's initial inspiration was obviously the fireman refernced in that Time article, but as he wrote he probably expanded it to have a more universal appeal (as is typical of the Boss.) I think Mary is certainly Mary, and I think the pictures of the children is a reference to the fact that the narrator's children will always be with him. As for the "tonight?" Sometimes things just sound good.dursinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14619612135789633338noreply@blogger.com