“Nebraska”

In Songs, Springsteen defines “Nebraska” as “the record’s center” (138). The song encapsulates the tone and themes of the entire album: it’s the story of a man isolated and pushed to the edge of society, to the point where “the thin line between stability and that moment when time stops and everything goes to black, when the things that connect you to your world—your job, your family, friends, your faith, the love and grace in your heart—fail you” (138-139). The song is a dramatic monologue sung “in a horrifyingly blank first-person voice” (Marsh 336), and was inspired by the story of Charles Starkweather’s 1957 murder spree. Rob Kirkpatrick writes, “Springsteen was so fascinated by Badlands,” Terrence Malick’s film adaptation of Starkweather’s story, “that he was moved to call journalist Ninette Beaver, the author of Caril, a nonfiction book on the Starkweather murders, to learn more about the case” (86). The first two lines, “I saw her standin’ on her front lawn/ just twirlin’ her baton,” are taken almost directly from Malick’s film. In the film, Holly/ Caril, played by Sissy Spacek, is twirling her baton in the street; and this image of innocence, in both the lyrics as well as the scene, provides a dramatic contrast to the senseless murders committed by Starkweather.
After a mournful harmonica intro, Springsteen’s dream-like guitar and the lack of emotion in his character’s voice echoes Malick’s portrayal of Holly and Kit/ Starkweather in their disturbing lack of affect and their sense of detachment to their horrific actions. The quiet, almost peaceful mood of the song is paradoxical, considering its subject matter. In a 1998 interview with Will Percy, Springsteen explains: “In most of the recent songs, I tell violent stories very quietly. You’re hearing characters’ thoughts—what they’re thinking after all the events that have shaped their situation have transpired” (308). Springsteen’s Starkweather shows no remorse as he politely addresses the Sheriff as “sir,” stating:
I can’t say that I’m sorry for the things
that we done
At least for a little while, sir, me and
her we had some fun
The use of “sir” shows that, at one time, Starkweather was an assimilated member of society, and this makes his actions, the meaningless murder of innocent victims, that much harder to explain. Just before his execution, he asks:
Sheriff, when the man pulls that
switch, sir, and snaps my poor head
back
You make sure my pretty baby is sittin’
right there on my lap
Critics often interpret the last two lines as Starkweather asking Caril to be there when he dies, and they are probably correct. Physically, however, with the volts of electricity coursing through both their bodies, this scenario is unlikely. Emotionally, in keeping with the theme of isolation, this would make Starkweather’s last request contradictory to his nature, and would be a sign of some last spark of humanity, also unlikely. A more compelling image, would be Starkweather asking for the “sawed off .410” that was on his lap in the second stanza, like a warrior going to his grave with his preferred weapon. The song ends with representatives of Authority asking why he killed those people, and all he has to say is, “well, sir, guess there’s just a/ meanness in this world.” It is as if he sees his actions as fulfilling a role, providing the “meanness” that is already a part of an uncaring, violent world.