Hey, Eddie can you lend me a few bucks, tonight can you get us a ride.
July 12, 2006 12:08 PM   Subscribe

Among Springsteen fans, the song "Meeting Across The River," has become something of a point of contention and parlor game in terms of what happens to the protagonists afterwards. Many speculated that "Jungleland," was a continuation of the story. Several authors have taken the enterprise a step further in a new anthology.
posted by jonmc (12 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Springsteen fanfic...who'da thunk it?

I never thought of Jungleland as a continuation of Meeting. Always thought of the characters in Meeting as adults and the characters in Jungleland as kids. I also figured that the characters in The River live next door to the characters in Racing in the Street.
posted by scratch at 12:24 PM on July 12, 2006


Well, in the companion DVD to the 30th anniversary Born To Run (well worth purchasing, BTW), Springsteen says that BTR is the album where he "creates characters that he revisits in all his later work."
posted by jonmc at 12:27 PM on July 12, 2006


I'm picking this book up after work. I reserved it at the Columbus Circle Borders.

/fanboy
posted by jonmc at 12:28 PM on July 12, 2006


Ironically, Eddie was killed by Cherry's radio in a freak accident.
posted by gubo at 12:47 PM on July 12, 2006


I always thought Eddie did a 5 year stretch on Riker's and is now playing a bit part in the Soprano's.
posted by 2sheets at 12:58 PM on July 12, 2006


I love that song. Bruce paints a picture like few others. Despite being a huge Bruce fan, I'll probably leave the fantasy of the lyrics to my own imagination. Interesting book idea though.

Thanks jon.
posted by caddis at 1:09 PM on July 12, 2006


I've always assumed that the deal went wrong and this was the last anyone saw of the protagonist, as in, Eddie remembers him asking for the ride and said no, and now he'll never know if it was his fault, or what actually happened.

Previous fiction based on Springsteen characters: The Indian Runner was based on a song from Nebraska if you didn't know.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 7:22 PM on July 12, 2006


Cool post ta. I've just ordered it of amazon for my dad with strict instructions to pass it on to me once he's done.
posted by handee at 2:49 AM on July 13, 2006


Not exactly new, it's been out for a year. I remember hearing about it in January. But, yeah it's on my list.
posted by JJ86 at 7:19 AM on July 13, 2006


Cool post. I didn't know about the book, so I'll be ordering it soon.

I never thought of Jungleland as a continuation of Meeting either.
posted by whatideserve at 2:08 PM on July 13, 2006


Thanks jon.... I can't read the links right now, but I will look at this in depth when I get a chance.
posted by Doohickie at 8:30 PM on July 13, 2006


BTW... Born to Run is on my "Top 5 Best EVAR" albums. The high point of the album, is where "She's the One" blows out and "Meeting Across the River" picks up with that mellow horn & piano. Absolutely brilliant moment.
posted by Doohickie at 8:34 PM on July 13, 2006


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