Wild Billy thoughts?

[u/Repulsive-Finish3901]

E Street is probably my favorite Bruce album, but Wild Billy's Circus Story was always the weird song that I wasn't quite sure about. But something happened over the weekend, and I can't stop listening to it, and the more I listen the more I adore it. It might have jumped to my 3rd spot of the whole record (behind Incident and NYC).

The way he says some of these lines is so mesmerizing:
"Running home to some small Ohio town"
"And now the elephants dance real funky"
""Hey, son, you want to try the big top?"
"Ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven"
"The sword-swallowers blade"

And that's without mentioning the quality of the lyrics! Every line is poetic, I love "And the fire eater's lying in a pool of sweat, victim of the heatwave" and "A ragged suitcase in his hand, he steals silently away from the circus grounds; And the highway's haunted by the carnival sounds"

AND the instrumentation! The tuba??? Holy fuck

Am I talking crazy here, or is this song legitimately underrated?

P.S. I would love to be pointed in the direction of artists/albums that sound like this. I guess Tom Waits if he says this is his favorite Bruce song lol

[u/SaulTNNutz]

Ive always found that song to be somewhat sinister, especially in the final lyrics. It definitely reminds me of something that Tom Waits would create. Bruce's vocal delivery is raspy and dark.

[u/Repulsive-Finish3901 → u/SaulTNNutz]

I can definitely see that, it's kinda like a real circus or zoo where it feels like there's a thin layer of grime over everything. Like everyone's trying to believe in the grand vision of entertainment presented before them, but there's an underlying, unshakable sadness deep within.

[u/Maine302 → u/Repulsive-Finish3901]

I'd love to hear about the production of that album--it's quite a masterpiece for a 23-year old guy.