Highway Patrolman
Encyclopedia
"Highway Patrolman" is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen
, and was first released as the fifth track on his 1982 album Nebraska
.
The song tells the story of Joe Roberts, the highway patrol
man of the title - from whose viewpoint the song is written - and his brother, Frankie, and is set in the 1960s. Frankie is portrayed as unruly and frequently causing and encountering trouble, while Joe is the more mature, sensible (and likely elder) brother who always comes to his aid.
In 1965, Frankie joins the United States Army
(and presumably is sent to Vietnam
, although this is not made explicit), while Joe takes a farm deferment and marries a girl called Maria (who, it is implied, had attracted the attentions of both brothers at different times). Within three years however, falling wheat prices cause Joe to leave the farm and take a job as a highway patrolman; meanwhile, in 1968, Frankie leaves the army and returns home. One night, Joe receives a call and visits a bar where a boy has been attacked and possibly killed, with witnesses identifying his attacker as Frankie, who has fled. Joe chases Frankie through rural Michigan
until they reach - and Frankie crosses - the Canadian border, the implication being that Joe has allowed him to escape; as the lyrics suggest, "when it's your brother, sometimes you look the other way" and "I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his tail-lights disappear"
As with the whole of the album, the song was recorded on Springsteen's four-track cassette recorder with the intention of it being performed for the album with full band orchestration; however, it was felt the demo version of the song was superior to the eventual 'band cut', and consequently was released on the album in its original form. It features the same stark, bleak atmosphere as the remainder of its parent album, and in terms of instrumentation, contains simply vocals, (very quiet) harmonica
and finger-picked acoustic guitar
.
Springsteen featured the song only once on the "American Land" leg of his critically acclaimed tour with the Seeger Sessions band, and the version is featured on the 2007 release Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin
. This version was praised by Rolling Stone critic Andy Greene as "fantastic, maybe definitive" in its incarnation as a country weeper4.
based the screenplay of his 1991 directorial debut The Indian Runner
on the song's story. Penn also directed a music video of the song that appears on Video Anthology / 1978-88
.
The song was covered by Johnny Cash
on his 1983 album Johnny 99
. The title track of the album is also a Springsteen song originally released on the album Nebraska.
Dar Williams
performed "Highway Patrolman" on Badlands - A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, and was first released as the fifth track on his 1982 album Nebraska
Nebraska (album)
-Themes:The album begins with "Nebraska", a first-person narrative based on the true story of 19-year-old spree killer Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, and ends with "Reason to Believe", a complex narrative that renders its title phrase into contemptuous sarcasm...
.
The song tells the story of Joe Roberts, the highway patrol
Highway patrol
A highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
man of the title - from whose viewpoint the song is written - and his brother, Frankie, and is set in the 1960s. Frankie is portrayed as unruly and frequently causing and encountering trouble, while Joe is the more mature, sensible (and likely elder) brother who always comes to his aid.
In 1965, Frankie joins the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(and presumably is sent to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, although this is not made explicit), while Joe takes a farm deferment and marries a girl called Maria (who, it is implied, had attracted the attentions of both brothers at different times). Within three years however, falling wheat prices cause Joe to leave the farm and take a job as a highway patrolman; meanwhile, in 1968, Frankie leaves the army and returns home. One night, Joe receives a call and visits a bar where a boy has been attacked and possibly killed, with witnesses identifying his attacker as Frankie, who has fled. Joe chases Frankie through rural Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
until they reach - and Frankie crosses - the Canadian border, the implication being that Joe has allowed him to escape; as the lyrics suggest, "when it's your brother, sometimes you look the other way" and "I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his tail-lights disappear"
As with the whole of the album, the song was recorded on Springsteen's four-track cassette recorder with the intention of it being performed for the album with full band orchestration; however, it was felt the demo version of the song was superior to the eventual 'band cut', and consequently was released on the album in its original form. It features the same stark, bleak atmosphere as the remainder of its parent album, and in terms of instrumentation, contains simply vocals, (very quiet) harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
and finger-picked acoustic guitar
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
.
Springsteen featured the song only once on the "American Land" leg of his critically acclaimed tour with the Seeger Sessions band, and the version is featured on the 2007 release Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin
Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin
Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin is a 2007 video and audio offering that captures in-concert performances from the Bruce Springsteen with The Seeger Sessions Band Tour recorded in November 2006 at The Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The release consists of a concert DVD,...
. This version was praised by Rolling Stone critic Andy Greene as "fantastic, maybe definitive" in its incarnation as a country weeper4.
Artistic licenses
Like many creative writers, Springsteen creates a time and place for the song that many can relate to, but may not necessarily exist:- The story is clearly set in an area where one can drive into Canada, however
- the lyrics say that Joe is "a sergeant out of Perrineville," - the only American city with that name is in New Jersey. There is, however, a Perronville in Michigan, which is in all probability to where the song refers Perronville, Michigan
- while the lyrics state, "I must've done one hundred and ten through Michigan County that night," in actuality there is no 'Michigan County' anywhere in the United States.
- The chorus of the song refers to "dancin' with Maria as the band played 'Night of the Johnstown Flood'." There was no song with such a title or nickname until 2010 when the Rock Creek Jug Band included a bluegrassBluegrass musicBluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
song entitled "Night of the Johnstown Flood" on their CD "Simpler Times".
Legacy
Sean PennSean Penn
Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...
based the screenplay of his 1991 directorial debut The Indian Runner
The Indian Runner
The Indian Runner is a 1991 drama film written and directed by Sean Penn. It is based on Bruce Springsteen's song, "Highway Patrolman".-Plot:...
on the song's story. Penn also directed a music video of the song that appears on Video Anthology / 1978-88
Video Anthology / 1978-88
Bruce Springsteen's Video Anthology / 1978–88 is a collection of 18 music videos made on his behalf, released in VHS format on January 31, 1989....
.
The song was covered by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
on his 1983 album Johnny 99
Johnny 99
Johnny 99 is an album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1983. It is notable for including two covers of Bruce Springsteen songs, "Highway Patrolman" and "Johnny 99". "I'm Ragged But I'm Right," a George Jones song, was a minor hit, reaching No. 75...
. The title track of the album is also a Springsteen song originally released on the album Nebraska.
Dar Williams
Dar Williams
Dar Williams is an American singer-songwriter specializing in pop folk.She is a frequent performer at folk festivals and has toured with such artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, The Nields, Shawn Colvin, Girlyman, Joan Baez, and Catie Curtis.-Biography:Williams was born...
performed "Highway Patrolman" on Badlands - A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska.
External links
- Lyrics & Audio clips from Brucespringsteen.net
- Lyrics for several versions and detailed info from SpringsteenLyrics.com
- http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/14936203/review/15040407/live_in_dublin?source=album_reviews_rssfeed