Bruce Springsteen Releases New Protest Song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’

Bruce Springsteen shared a new song, “Streets Of Minneapolis.” The rousing ballad mourns the loss of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, and champions the people’s response in taking to the streets in protest.

Influenced by famed protest writers such as Bob Dylan, John Fogerty and John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen has been a voice for the people and for peace throughout his career. One of his most famous songs, 1984’s “Born In The U.S.A.,” is an indictment of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War and the treatment of the conflict’s veterans.

“Streets Of Minneapolis” came together quickly. “I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” Springsteen wrote on social media.

In 1993, Bruce released “Streets Of Philadelphia” for the film Philadelphia. The Academy Award-winning song examines the alienation felt by a person with HIV/AIDS. Both the film and song appealed to our common humanity in the face of human nature’s ugly side.

Following 9-11, Springsteen released his album The Rising, which was largely a reflection on the attack and the people’s response. America is once again under attack, and The Boss is now speaking out for the people of Minneapolis:

Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Singing through the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
Here in our home they killed and roamed
In the winter of ’26
We’ll remember the names of those who died
On the streets of Minneapolis

Listen to “Streets Of Minneapolis” below: