MILLWORKER by Bruce Springsteen

[Aiden057]

Great version of the song. You can hear the machine grinding way into the forever days of the worker's life.

[pennysworth]

I didn't like this the first time I tried to listen to it. But I gave it a second listen and it works. Very well.

One caveat: is the grit appropriate for a female narrator?

[72183richard]

wow stunning

[anitadavideduo]

THIS IS GREAT!

[szerio]

best version of this JT song

[sweetray52]

anyone know where I can get an mp3 of this version?

[mcjazz35]

@sweetray52 I would love to know too. This and other songs that were sung in tribute to JT.

[FishOfPain]

I like this version... Sounds like he's merged the original "Millworker" with "Goin' Back"...

[jcp1984again]

Oh my God, his harmonica solo near the end gets me emotional every time. Every note depicts the millworker's memories and sadness. Incredible. I also love how The Boss handles his 12-string guitar.

[onefoot7]

He said the Fuckin F word, awesome

[KleWdSide]

@onefoot7 Kinda similar to him improvising the F bomb on "Lost In The Flood." Haha

[ve2ogh]

Poor version, realy poor...

[Esqurl]

You people are Fucking Idiots. This guy can't play guitar for shit. There should be a Federal Law against him playing guitar, singing, or playing a Harmonica. Granted he's writtin a hand full of songs, but COME ON! He RAPED this song! You all are the reason that the radio is full of shit music. You wouldn't know a good song or performance if it bit you in the ass. He's the Boss allright, Boss of shitty music!!!!

[tiffndad]

@Esqurl you wanker wot a stupid comment u prob listen to that Gothic crap or something that u couldn't even understand the words of this guy has been singing since before the best part of you rundown the inside of your mothers leg when you were conceived u parasite

[tiffndad]

@Esqurl you wanker wot a stupid comment u prob listen to that Gothic crap or something that u couldn't even understand the words of. This guy has been singing since before the best part of you rundown the inside of your mothers leg when you were conceived u parasite

[miller144stuff]

How can one man with a guitar have so much stage presence? The Boss is the boss. I watch this all the time and still tear up. Beautiful.

[jcp1984again]

I love Bruce with 12-string steel. In my opinion the best musicians in the world can perform great gigs both with and without a band. Bruce can.

I think that Millworker is a song that deserves two different versions. I love 'em both and maybe this one just a little more.

[111kevinkelly]

Too stark, too tragic: the Millworker is not suicidal, she knows that she's just got to get on with it" she's got those three faces to feed

[TonyDale]

It's not very often that one gets to hear The Boss sing a song from a Broadway musical. . .right up there with Jennifer Warnes' version from the television production.

[Derbstaff76]

I want to make an obvious point but must be understood, he just played that amazingly moving version of that song with only his guitar, harmonica, and voice........it really feels like a whole string and brass band is behind him.....great job Bruce!

[karsten19]

bruce tears this song up and makes it stronger...incredible stuff

[subcomandantetroncos]

amazing! thanx for sharing

[Otispuss2]

The most idiotic conversation I've ever heard is someone saying that their individual preference is THE best. Fucking stupid.  Bruce is amazing. He makes the song his, and it's powerful. JT's version is beautiful, melodic and haunting. They are two completely different ways of expressing and both are excellent. They obviously respect each others' work. It's the losers in the audience that have to put one down in comparison to the other.

[skills1ent]

@Otispuss2 Extraordinary comment and observation!!!! Thank you!

[Britman4life]

absolutely amazing, more evidence why bruce is the boss

[mrghin22]

I had never even heard this song before I seen it during the tribute. I immediately found the JT version and didn't like it after hearing Bruce's.

[leedswardy]

C'mon people. Can't the Boss do a tribute to to a song and songwriter he respects without criticism. Great version with a lot of feeling.... Love to hear James T version of the River....MOT

[sstyblo]

no more talky, talky..more playey playey

[catndryer]

Sadness, yes, but dignity in Jame's version. Springsteen just growls songs because that is all he can do....growl. He is like a nasty old geezer who will never have another original thought in his sorry life. Pointing out the ultimate beauty of Mr. James Taylor......who will always be thinking and expressing what is.....not what must be.

[fingerhorn]

When I listen to James version I hear a sadness behind this character, when I listen/watch Bruce play it you can feel an anger and desperation. I found it interesting how he interpreted it. Amazing job.

[martinaxman]

A unique perspective. I liked it. Could have done without the swearing. That just detracted from it.

[Mmarksuter]

I especially LIKED the use of the f-word. Anybody who has ever actually worked in a factory (me) would appreciate the use of that word.

[gymnosophy]

@Mmarksuter right on

[TREWBLUE2004]

In my opinion...if you are honoring someone at a dinner party and you change their own song to this extent...its a bit of an insult and self indulgent. Kind of like saying that the original was not good enough to present....if Bruce were putting it out and I heard this...might be a different story.

[StonewallVH5150]

It wouldn't be a tribute to play the song the exact same way. James has heard it the way he wrote it. I am sure he would rather hear another artists interpretation of his work.

[bronzester]

Sorry, Didn´t like this. Bruce use the lyrics of Millworker but sings another song. About chills rolling down my spine, well, i stick with James version. He sings with his soul. Bruce just yells a lot.

[staggjb]

As a former "factory worker", this song gives me chills.

[janineroux]

Didn't like it so much the first time, now I like it as much or more than James's version

[CJPHOTO3]

This version more then any other I have ever heard on youtube or any where else is a shining example of what personal life experience brings to the creation of great works of art.

I am primarily a James Taylor fan and I'm in love with this song and the style in which james plays it.

Listening to Bruce sing it brings forth a completly different experience. Much different then Jame but just as powerefull and beautiful in its own way .

[WillYouTasteMyJuice]

If this does not give you a chill down your spine, you have no soul.

[burjazz]

Very respectable performance.Great job Bruce.

[cjirvin]

How great it would be... to get paid for being an alcoholic drug addict.

The Boss~!!!! = the man

[eyescandeceive]

wow--what a unique interpretation of this classic

[tapper43]

hey lumpagogo.. ur an idiot man as is mancow miller 'springsteen has lost his voice' and 'bruce springsteen has become an embarrassment' what a statement eh.... show me another star that has stood by what he believes in as much as the boss has without fear of consequence???? pair of twats....

[Seif69]

great version. eddie vedder does this song as well. saw him do it on his last solo tour. it was captivating. found out later that it was JT song.

[MTnormous]

You got to respect James Taylor as a song writer, but Bruce just made this song his own. I think it fits Bruce alot better than it does James.

[lumpagogo]

James Taylor can sing. Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen should be locked up for impersonating a singer.

[MTnormous]

Yes James Taylor can sing, that goes without saying. This song I feel requires the emotion that Bruce provides in this rendition.

Bruce did this at a benefit for James Taylor. You're an idiot for your last comment.

[lumpagogo]

MT-norman:

Why you had to go ad hominem, mangg? The Boss has become a corporate agent in addition having lost his voice. Mancow Muller the radio guy was right: 'Bruce Springsteen has become an embarrasment'.

[MTnormous]

I'm not the biggest Springsteen fan, it does annoy however when people always say someone sold out. Now some people have for instance Metallica. Bruce hasn't at all as far as i am concerned and even if he did his music is still good so who cares?

Oh ya and James Taylor didn't write Millworker. So I guess he needs to be locked up to.

[lumpagogo]

Bruce put on a fine show in Tampa: only complaint = choice of "Born To Run."  That's the most corporate song

of his. He could have done something from the first album.

P.S. Did you see the band 'Psychotic Norman' when they opened for 'Suicidal Tendencies' (April 6, 1985--W. Catty Playground)?

[TurtleRocker12]

lumpagogo: you are a poser

i mean really do you even know what the word corporate means? Bruce is the opposite of a corporate agent - he never sells out - he refused to have one of his albums sold at starbucks for some reason he's also always preaching politics

I LOVE HIS MUSIC

i may not totally dig his politics all the time but you can't say he sold out ... and Born to Run is about love and running away - it's about an endless summer night ... how is it corporate?

idiot

[lumpagogo]

Bruce Springsteen will always be known as "Wal Mart Guy." Then he tried to say he wasn't Wal Mart Guy but it was too late. He had phonied up. You see, people, it's easier to call someone an "idiot" than to confront reality.

You, 'ee?

[MTnormous]

Oh god who cares? Listen to the music for how it sounds. I don't care if bruce is a sell out or not this cover sounds good.

[lumpagogo]

To the nor-mouse and the Seif-a-roo:

At least the Boss has given us several great songs (personal fave is "The River"). But, Eddie Vedder has only yielded one: "Wish List."

P.S. to Bruce: You did advise: "When they said sit down, I stood up..." But you didn't mean it, son.

[U2bPsyche]

James wrote the song for a Broadway play, "Working", in 1979, in which several artists wrote songs portraying real people who were interviewed about their jobs. James also wrote "Traffic Jam" and "Brother Trucker" for the play.

"Millworker" Words and Music by James Taylor (c)1979

[therehabaddicts]

he did write it. it was for a fairly unsuccessful musical. I agree that Springsteen didn't sell out, although I'm not a big fan of his music anymore. But still, JT wrote this song.

[DrVonChilla]

Absolutely mesmerizing performance!!

[Fotrane]

Only Bruce could get away with that....well done.

[imaccuish]

Bruce could give all singers a lesson in owning a song.

[modoc63]

I was a millworker in Kansas City for 2 years and it ain't nothing but a boring F$%#$%$ Job!

[lgsintheparty]

ha ha ha. that's awesome. good song though

[gosmj]

this is the most incredible version of this song i've ever heard. dirty. grungy. broken sounding. james taylor is a great songwriter but he wrote this song for someone else: bruce.

[actlloyd]

@gosmj Grungy? What the fuck does that mean? This is folk music nimrod.

[gosmj]

@actlloyd not grungy as is genre; grungy as in tone, the sound of voice. the kind of thing you might here in a blues bar after hours.

[Aviva2121]

@gosmj: That makes no sense to me; surely if James Taylor wrote this song for anyone, it would be a woman, seeing as the character of the song is female. Personally I like James's version of his song for his sweet sweet voice. But for the same reason, Bruce's version grates on me. I'd rather hear James, or if not, a woman sing it.

[plutoe36]

Wow! Talk about putting breathing some passion and life into a song.  I would kill to see that live.

[fgar1492]

Great Video. Anyone know what chords or rather shapes he was using.

[ZeroBlindTerry]

THANKS!

[tippyboyle]

love the boss...if he ever does this in concert, there will be a mad race for the mensroom.

[Joecosby1]

tippyboyle.....If he ever did this in concert, those who left for the mens room would not appreciate music to begin with......

[KleWdSide]

Or something fairly obscure.

[KleWdSide]

There's alot of idiots as Bruce fans. They never like something different or they run straight for a piss break if "Drive All Night" is played

[TurtleRocker12]

I love "Drive All Night"

[hittsautosound]

how could James sit there with a straight face and listen to this dissonant tragedy. It's bad when Eddie Vedder does a better cover ......

[cobo1039]

oh, come on! It's obviously not Bruce at his best but it's not that bad!

[cobo1039]

and at least bruce puts emotion into it and conveys the song how it should be. No other artist can do that like bruce.