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From the moment I heard the drums kick in at the start of "Born To Run", I knew there would never be anyone else like him. That one song sums up in four minutes all of the hope, frustration, defeat, and triumph I've ever felt. Along with the E Street Band, he has taken me through an amazing musical journey since that first day in 1974, and though I listen to all types of music, for me no one has ever come close to Bruce.

In the film "Bull Durham," Annie Savoy says that while she's tried most religions, for her the only church that truly feeds the soul is the Church of Baseball. I can relate to that sentiment. I've been everything from a Catholic to a Buddhist (now I'm a Baptist). But as far as music, the only church that's ever worked for me is the Church of Bruce Springsteen.

Before you decide that I'm a raving lunatic, let me explain. I don't have an altar with a picture of Bruce on it, and I don't burn incense to a copy of "Born in the USA" (probably only his fifth-best album anyway). I don't think he's the Messiah, although he may very well be a Saint. But if religion is where we draw inspiration, encouragement, and comfort in times of trouble, then Springsteen's fits the bill for me.

Long before "Born in the USA" made him a commercial superstar, his music was the soundtrack of my life. Driving at night, nothing was better than listening to tape one of "The River" (now it's disc one). The "Tunnel of Love" CD brought me through multiple break-ups and one divorce. "The Rising" put into words things about 9/11 that most of us never could have expressed ourselves. I have always been amazed at how his lyrics stand even without the music; he could just as easily have been a Greenwich Village poet.

It was seeing Springsteen in concert ruined all other live acts for me. I saw him first in Dallas in 1984, and when the band walked off the stage after two hours, I thought it had been a good show, but that he had left some good songs out. I didn't realize at first that the break was an intermission. They came back and played two more hours, followed by almost an hour of encores. It was an incredible five hours, and it felt more like a big tent revival meeting than just a rock concert.

Bruce has gotten older, as have I. But the connection remains. My two children have listened to his "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" CD so much that I may need to buy a new one. With that CD, he connected with my kids the same way he connected with me. It makes me think of that day in '74, and of the fact that he's always been there when I needed him. So you can have your fancy church buildings; as long as I've got a CD player everything will be fine.

Learn more about this author, Bruno Somerset.
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