10 Immersive Songs That Would Make Killer Movies

4. Meeting Across The River - Bruce Springsteen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbX2LYZx2A Technically speaking, Bruce Springsteen's "Meeting Across The River" isn't a "story-song," since it doesn't tell a fully constructed tale. Rather, it gives us a glimpse of a scene that takes place in the midst of a story. However, the lyrics and music imply so much that it fills in the gaps that the lyrics leave. Therefore, I feel that "Meeting"'s inclusion on this list is justified. More importantly, it's one of my favourite Springsteen tunes, and I'll take any excuse to write about it. The lyrics follow a man as he tries to bum a ride from his friend Eddie. Our nameless protagonist needs to get across town to meet a mysterious man. Said mysterious man wants to cut a deal with our hero, and our hero offers to cut Eddie in on the profits if he gives our hero a ride. The protagonist seems to be nervous about this meeting; he tells Eddie to keep his mouth shut, implying that the man waiting across town is uptight & dangerous. The lyrics imply that our hero has been in trouble before, but he promises Eddie that if this deal goes well, he'll give up his life of crime forever. The protagonist tells Eddie to dress nice and to make himself look like he's packing a gun. The song ends with the protagonist again promising that he'll go off with his girlfriend and abandon his life of crime if this deal goes well. "Meeting Across The River"'s lyrics are vague, but, paired with the film noir-esque music, they imply a great deal. The somber feel of the song suggests that the deal that our hero and Eddie are anticipating (a heist, according to original pressings of Born To Run's album track list) will not go as planned, possibly resulting in the death of our heroes. The lyrics also imply that our nameless hero is a small-time crook who has gotten in over his head. Eddie seems to be a close friend of our hero; he might be a little wiser than his buddy, but not much. "Meeting Across The River" could be the basis for a great noir film. The film could open on our hero attempting a robbery. He fails and is sent to jail. The hero gets out of prison. The hero's girlfriend tries to help her guy get back on his feet; their relationship is strained, however, when the hero hocks his girl's radio. The girlfriend threatens to break up with our hero. Our hero, in a last-ditch effort to save his relationship with his girl, agrees, with his friend Eddie, to join a heist crew. The heist goes badly, resulting in the death of all involved, including our hero.