Hi All,

Every now and then I like to roam through my old songwriting notebooks.

I came across this particular song that I wrote in 1976. I figured after 47 years it was probably time to record this one...

Anyway, this is called I'm Not Bruce.

She talks in code
Likes Thunder Road
But she doesn’t look my way
And it’s just another day

But I play my songs when she’s in the room
Yeah I can’t seem to shake that radio loose
And who am I to her?
I’m not Bruce

Her dress doesn’t sway
Like Mary’s they say
But she’s everything to me
And that’s alright with me

But I play my songs when she’s in the room
Yeah I can’t seem to shake that radio loose
And who am I to her?
I’m not Bruce

She likes to walk
Past my front porch
But maybe love ain’t for free
And I know that he would agree

But I play my songs when she’s in the room
Yeah I can’t seem to shake that radio loose
And who am I to her?
I’m not Bruce

And who am I to her?
I’m not Bruce
Yeah who am I to her?
I’m not Bruce
Oh who am I to her?
I’m not Bruce

BIAB Tracks:
2474: Bass, Acoustic, Held Ev 085
1765: Guitar, Acoustic, High-Strung Fingerpicking Ev16 085
0362: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
2505: Piano, Electric, HeldChords 085
RealDrums: PopPromiseEv16^1-a: Snare on 4, HiHat

As always - thanks for listening!

Bob

Bob,

HA! Who of us is?

Didn't expect this to be so acoustic. (Figured there would be soaring guitars and rockin' piano).
(Thunder Road is one of my absolute, all-time favorites).

Good stuff. The write, the BAND, the vocal, the mix. Everything works.

If you've got more from back then, I'd love to hear them all...

fj

Like Floyd when I read Thunder Road I was not expecting acoustic instruments!
But you successfully got me hooked from the first beat.
I agree with Floyd as everything works and sounds fantastic.

Hi Bob ...

Listened to this last night but got sleepy and went to bed before posting a comment.

Man, you know how to write a lyric and choose a band. Your unique vocals are great and work so well with the music you write. You often remind me of John Prine. Nothing wrong with that, as far as I'm concerned! I think you could write a song about someone putting ketchup on their mac and cheese and make it sound like a million $$$!

You are, indeed, quite a talent!

Take care,

Alan

Floyd,

I really appreciate that - thank you.

I may revisit more of these old lyrics / songs. Although the majority of them are pretty terrible. LOL!

Bob

Way to go Bob!...glad you dug that one out of your 70's catalogue. The acoustic really shined so i looked at your BIAB content "1765: Guitar, Acoustic, High-Strung Fingerpicking Ev16 085" I wonder if the high-strung track is the same as a 'Nashville tuning'? I have tried that on one of my guitars and it sounds great in a mix. (i.e., using very light gauge strings). The story kept my attention on top of that.
THanks for sharing

Bob, another good one and well worth digging it out. I like that it’s acoustic because it supports the idea that you’re not Bruce. I will chime in on Chad’s question about the hi strung acoustic. ( see what I did there? ) I don’t think it’s Nashville tuning more like a capoed sound. And it does sound great. I always enjoy your lyrics, Tom

Bob...sometimes the past is better left alone but when you can dig up treasure well the past can be quite inspiring...this is a treasure...another great write, production and performance...you have a knack for making the acoustics in your songs sound so crisp and clean...you excel at meter and flow in your melodies...I'm a big fan!

Chad,

Thanks so much. I appreciate it!

In terms of the high-strung guitar - I'm with Tom on that. I believe it's just a capo.

Thanks again,
Bob

Mario,

Thanks so much.

Bob

Bob: I don't know the Thunder Road reference, but I think I get the idea of the lyrics. The rest, as usual ... another masterpiece from you. I don't know how you do it, I wish I could write in an as apparently simple a manner as you do (I complicate things all the time, with ever more difficult chord progressions, etc. ... and you write a seemingly simple song, which always turns out to be a masterpiece ... argh ) ... but whatever you do works. So please keep sharing your songs, old or new, simple or complex, they're really beautiful.

A cool song - an interesting look into your younger mind too.
Did you treat your vocals differently? They sound thinner in this song that usual. It may be some freq. conflict with the instrumentation though.
I started writing songs in 76. Prior to that I'd aimed at poetry...my poor poems made better lyrics so was swayed to the dark side.
Nice simple arrangement that allows the narrative to shine.
COOL.

Alan,

I always appreciate your very kind reviews. It means a lot.

Bob

Hi Bob.
Always interesting lyrics from you.
My only sugg. is to lose the "But".at the start of the chorus.
It's not needed and the line would flow better with the extra room.

Vic

Love everything about this. The acoustic arrangement is perfect and has some nice touches like the drums dropping out. Think the acoustic approach was a cool way to pull out the plaintive lyrics. On the other hand, there are some really nice hooks in here that would work at a faster tempo to make this a more defiant rock anthem. Anyway, GREAT job recovering a super tune, I really enjoyed it!

Tom,

Thanks very much.

Bob

Yep.... Put me in the "sure had me fooled" category.

Bob,

Cool to hear something from your early years . . . amazing you were writing equally well back then as you do now . . . good tune very much in your patented style. Clean compelling mix—like how the write really picks up some of the pieces of Thunder Road. Good stuff!

All my best to you,

Deej

Hi, Bob.

Fun listen!

With your voice higher and less raspy, I initially didn't recognize you. It certainly helps emphasize that you're not Bruce.

I couldn't help thinking that you could have brought it David Snyder to your song, since I'm sure he does a mean Springsteen impression:

Deej: I’m not Bruce
David: You sure aren't!

Dan,

Much appreciated. Thanks for the kind words.

Bob

James,

That's very kind. I appreciate your kind words and support.

Bob

That's another great song concept lyrically - I mean an original. Maybe the problem with lady is that she's into the dark and doesn't see you dancing in the Light?!

Ray,

Thanks so much. No special treatment on the vocals - I just sang in a slightly higher key than I normally do.

Would love to hear some of your early songs.

Bob

Ah, and he isn't you either, Bob Dean. Man, I love those lyrics. So relatable. What a good write. You should visit those notebooks more often.

Vic,

Thanks - appreciate the listen.

Bob

Great song Bob!!

If I ever get a chance I will have to do a full on Bruce impersonation just for laughs.



Thanks for planting this seed in my head.

Maybe I will call it I am Bruce.

Long ago I was at a Bruce Springsteen concert and my brother and I got locked out of the gate inside the auditorium because we went to get a soda.

We were standing there and the security guard told us there was no way we could get back in and we're about to burst into tears and then another guy came up and stood right beside me in a black leather jacket and said hey man the same thing happened to me you got to let me in man cause the show is about to start.

And I turned around and looked and I was like oh my God.

And the security guy was like who the hell are you??

And the guy said I'm Bruce. I'm Bruce Springsteen.

And the security guard was like oh yeah sure you are.

And then part of his crew came running up and went: he's telling the truth, that's Bruce Springsteen man, he needs to get on stage.

And the security guard was like oh my God I'm so sorry it's the boss. As it turns out Bruce had gone to the public concession stand too to get a soda along with all the commoners and he took the wrong way back and got locked out just like us.

And they opened the door for Springsteen and then Springsteen looked at the security guard and jerked his thumb towards my brother and me and said they're with me, and we went on in.

I think I need to write a funny song about that.

Ron,

Thanks - much appreciated.

Bob

Herb,

Thanks very much.

Bob

What a cool rediscovery, Bob. Bud said he wished he could find one like that.

The pretty fingerpicked guitar is such a perfect choice for supporting the “I’m not Bruce” fact.

Vocal and mix sound great. We hope you find more of these lost gems!

J&B

Deej,

I appreciate that - thanks for the great review and kind words.

Bob

Bob,

That's a really nice sounding ballad!
The chorus is really memorable and hangs around awhile! I always enjoy your songs Bob!
Thanks, TB

David,

LOL! Thanks very much.

Bob

Wao,

Thank you.

Bob

I see you had the knack for the lyrical hook 47 years ago. I really like the chorus. Cool picking acoustic.

An oldie but goodie!!! Sounds like a feeling that a young man would experience......I know I did many times, and sometimes still do . Really enjoyed this blast from the past Bob!!! Take care. Greg

Marty,

I appreciate that - thank you.

Bob

David,

Thank you.

That's a great story. Yes, you need to set that to music.

Bob

Clever! Just to let you know all of us ladies speak in code. It's a hard truth that men just have to deal with.

Janice & Bud,

As always, thanks so much.

Bob

Hi Bob,

You said you started writing songs in '76.
Ray said he did too. I did in '74. So we all were close in time...

Your lyrics are wonderful (again). You still have that talent that started in that year.
When I started listening, I already loved that first line. And I read Gayle doing that too.
Girls speak in code, but we still manage to understand them. Once in a while...

A very nice song. The use of the acoustic is very good.
It's a pitty the vocals are getting older too, but on the other hand they can give that extra emotion.
And your vocals did that.

Hans

Hi Bob.

Wow! 47 years! That's quite a discovery.
I listened to this song a little while ago.
As with all your works, it is immediately identifiable as a Robert Dean song. And that's a great thing.
You have your own unique sound and unique lyric voice.
I loved the song

May good things come your way!
--Noel

Torrey,

Thanks very much.

Bob

Scott,

Thanks - much appreciated.

Bob

Greg,

Thanks very much.

Bob

Gayle,

LOL! Thank you.

Bob

Hans,

Thank you for the kind review.

Bob

Noel,

Thanks so much.

Bob

Really good work Robert, definitely one of your best!

Rob and Anne-Marie,

Thank you - much appreciated.

Bob