[includes lyrics plus article from NPR] January 29, 2026
We publish below the lyrics of a new song Bruce Spingsteen released on January 28, 2026. The Boss, as the singer is known, released “Streets of Minneapolis” as part of a protest movement across the United States demanding an end to the terror unleashed by the Trump administration through its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol thugs against undocumented immigrants and all working people.
We also publish an article first released by National Public Radio (NPR) News announcing the song’s debut.
I mean, the guy is 30 years past his prime. What’s crazy is that no other pop stars are making songs about this. Back in the day we had “4 dead in ohio” and “bloody sunday” and countless others … where are the revolutionary songs these days?
I mean, there has been a lot of consolidation of the music industry. There isn’t the same kind of music apparatus like there was when those songs were written. Plus, there have been some good protest songs recently. On May 6th, 2024 Macklemore put out Hinds Hall, then in September he put out Hinds Hall 2, then 11 months ago he put out Fucked Up. He’s also not signed to a label, so maybe that’s why. Famously, groups like Bob Vylan and Kneecap have taken a lot of heat for their positions. Vylan was dropped from their label, I believe they were facing charges. Kneecap was facing terrorism charges which were eventually dropped. Sure, this isn’t explicitly ICE related, but these struggles are all connected.
Radio is basically dead, most of the US and Canadian radio stations are corporate owned. As of 2021 only 80ish US stations were independent, and 13 Canadian stations were independent. The idea that a corporate owned radio station would play a “protest” song in 2026 seems unrealistic. Plus, most people are getting their music through corporate algorithms via services like Spotify or YT Music. Maybe there is some really great protest songs, but I have a feeling they don’t get the same kind of traction in the algorithms as other forms of music.
I, for one, hope Trump goes out of his way to disrespect Kendrick Lamar. How can we have a famous diss track about Drake being a pedophile, but not one about the president? Missed opportunity…
Yeah, I share your disappointment.
jesse wells. go through the late show performers and even the ones playing older songs emphasize parts you can tell is about ice or the administration.
You expecting a rousing anthem from Katy Perry?
Past his prime is doesn’t really say much in the case of Springsteen, his new albums are still great and his concerts are incredible. But I appreciate that you’re attributing his prime to the period around the Ghost of Tom Joad, which is one of his most underrated albums for sure.
I’m saying his best material was in the 70s and 80s, that was 30+ years ago.
You might want to check your calendar. 1986 was 40 years ago. Ugh has it really been that long since I graduated high school?
Yeah, I was initially going to object that his best work was surely 44 years ago with Nebraska, but then I realized it’s only 31 years since Ghost of Tom Joad and it’s a crazy good album. But that was 1995.
Personally I’m a huge fan of his latest albums as well, but each to their own.
tull was 60’s and 70’s but anderson reformed it and I sometimes feel the zealot gene was some of their best stuff and that was more around trump one and what has happened in the millenium.