Spare Parts (song)
Encyclopedia
"Spare Parts" is a song by Bruce Springsteen
from his 1987 Tunnel of Love
album. It was released as a single in some countries, following "Brilliant Disguise
", the title track
and "Tougher Than the Rest
", but was not released as a single in the United States. Although it was not released as a single in the United States, it reached the Top 40 in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, reaching #16 in Sweden.
. The song has one of the largest backing bands on the album. On this song, Springsteen played several instruments and is backed by Danny Federici
on organ, Max Weinberg
on percussion, Garry Tallent
on bass and James Wood (a non-E Street Band member) on harmonica.
"Spare Parts" is the most flat-out rock song on Tunnel of Love, but lacks the subtlety and understatement that highlights most of the album, although the theme of love as a lie sets up the middle section of the album. Musically, the song features an engaging, blistering guitar part and propulsive drum sound. The themes of the song include alienation and terror in love, the consequences of evading commitment, and the impossibility of living without commitment. Overall, the song is harrowing, bleak, abrasive and tough-minded.
The bitter, cold lyrics tell of an unwed mother who is abandoned by her boyfriend, who gives her nothing but empty promises. The opening lines are jarring, establishing the mood: "Bobby said he'd pull out/Bobby stayed in/Janey had a baby/It wasn't any sin/They were set to marry on a summer's day/Bobby got scared and ran away." She tries to support the child on her own, and hears of another young mother who committed infanticide
. Although she considers doing the same by drowning her son, she ultimately accepts her responsibility and decides against, baptizing
the boy instead.
Unlike the other videos of songs from Tunnel of Love, the video for "Spare Parts" was not directed by Meiert Avis
. Rather, the video was directed by Carol Dodds.
that supported the initial release of the album through July 2005, the song received 132 live performances in concert.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
from his 1987 Tunnel of Love
Tunnel of Love (album)
Tunnel of Love is the eighth studio album by Bruce Springsteen released in 1987.In 1998, Q magazine readers voted Tunnel of Love the 91st greatest album of all time....
album. It was released as a single in some countries, following "Brilliant Disguise
Brilliant Disguise
"Brilliant Disguise" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 album Tunnel of Love. It was released as the first single from the album, reaching the #5 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States...
", the title track
Tunnel of Love (Bruce Springsteen song)
"Tunnel of Love" is the title song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as the second single from the album, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Like the first single from the album, "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" reached number one on...
and "Tougher Than the Rest
Tougher Than the Rest
"Tougher Than the Rest" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as a single in some countries, following "Brilliant Disguise" and the title track, but was not released as a single in the United States...
", but was not released as a single in the United States. Although it was not released as a single in the United States, it reached the Top 40 in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, reaching #16 in Sweden.
History
Like much of the Tunnel of Love album, "Spare Parts" was recorded in Springsteen's home studio, called Thrill Hill East, between January and May 1987 with several members of the E Street BandE Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
. The song has one of the largest backing bands on the album. On this song, Springsteen played several instruments and is backed by Danny Federici
Danny Federici
Daniel Paul "Danny" Federici was an American musician, best known as the longtime organ, glockenspiel, and accordion player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.- Career :...
on organ, Max Weinberg
Max Weinberg
Max Weinberg is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.Weinberg grew up in suburban New Jersey...
on percussion, Garry Tallent
Garry Tallent
Garry Wayne Tallent , sometimes billed as Garry W. Tallent, is an American musician and record producer, best known for being the longtime bass player in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band....
on bass and James Wood (a non-E Street Band member) on harmonica.
"Spare Parts" is the most flat-out rock song on Tunnel of Love, but lacks the subtlety and understatement that highlights most of the album, although the theme of love as a lie sets up the middle section of the album. Musically, the song features an engaging, blistering guitar part and propulsive drum sound. The themes of the song include alienation and terror in love, the consequences of evading commitment, and the impossibility of living without commitment. Overall, the song is harrowing, bleak, abrasive and tough-minded.
The bitter, cold lyrics tell of an unwed mother who is abandoned by her boyfriend, who gives her nothing but empty promises. The opening lines are jarring, establishing the mood: "Bobby said he'd pull out/Bobby stayed in/Janey had a baby/It wasn't any sin/They were set to marry on a summer's day/Bobby got scared and ran away." She tries to support the child on her own, and hears of another young mother who committed infanticide
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
. Although she considers doing the same by drowning her son, she ultimately accepts her responsibility and decides against, baptizing
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
the boy instead.
Unlike the other videos of songs from Tunnel of Love, the video for "Spare Parts" was not directed by Meiert Avis
Meiert Avis
Meiert Avis is an Irish music video and commercial director. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, New Found Glory and Josh Groban amongst many others....
. Rather, the video was directed by Carol Dodds.
Live performance history
"Spare Parts" has been one of the most popular of the Tunnel of Love songs in live performances. From the Tunnel of Love Express TourTunnel of Love Express Tour
The Tunnel of Love Express was a concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place in 1988. It followed by four and a half months the release of Springsteen's 1987 album, Tunnel of Love.-Itinerary:...
that supported the initial release of the album through July 2005, the song received 132 live performances in concert.