--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's…" description: "\"'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece.\" — David Means" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg" --- # 'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece. ![“'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece.” quote by David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg) > “'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece.” [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques a popular work, suggesting it falls short of the artist's best. **In simple terms:** It says the song isn’t the artist’s top piece. Key Takeaway Recognize that not every work by a great creator is a masterpiece. Themes critique art expectations Mood analytical contemplative Type critical interpretive When to use this quote - music reviews - personal taste - cultural discussion Key Concepts subjectivity evaluation Questions to Reflect On - What criteria do you use to judge a masterpiece? - Can a work be good without being a masterpiece? A Different Perspective Artistic merit is subjective and varies by listener. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Masterpiece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) ## Related quotes > [You know, you'd hide behind a Public Enemy or Ice Cube, or Bruce Springsteen, or U2, because they spoke for you. But now everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/you-know-you-d-hide-behind-a-public-enemy-or-ice-cube-or-bruce/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [The label of liberalism is hardly a sentence to public ignominy: otherwise Bruce Springsteen would still be rehabilitating used Cadillacs in Asbury Park and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/the-label-of-liberalism-is-hardly-a-sentence-to-public-ignominy/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [Back 20 years ago, I was recording with Bruce Springsteen, and his producer called me and said I had to be in the studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-spector/back-20-years-ago-i-was-recording-with-bruce-springsteen-and-his/) [Ronnie Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-spector/) > [It probably all started with The Beatles, and then I guess it goes out from there. Springsteen... Fleetwood Mac... I mean, that's all so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-antonoff/it-probably-all-started-with-the-beatles-and-then-i-guess-it-goes-out/) [Jack Antonoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-antonoff/) > [Neil Young, who isn't really evident when you listen to my music, is probably my favorite of the legends, besides Dylan. They're all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/neil-young-who-isn-t-really-evident-when-you-listen-to-my-music-is/) [Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/) > [I'm a huge Springsteen fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-driver/i-m-a-huge-springsteen-fan/) [Minnie Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-driver/) > [You want to be commercially successful and critically acclaimed. But the truth is, there's only a few Bruce Springsteens and Paul McCartneys out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buble/you-want-to-be-commercially-successful-and-critically-acclaimed-but/) [Michael Buble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buble/) > [I would say, from an all-around point of view, Bruce Springsteen is one of the two great poet lords of America, Bob Dylan, coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-would-say-from-an-all-around-point-of-view-bruce-springsteen-is-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [Nirvana's amazing, but they're just never going to find another one, there's no artist development anymore, you're never going to have a U2, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/nirvana-s-amazing-but-they-re-just-never-going-to-find-another-one/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [I definitely listened to country music. I don't think I listened to hair bands as much as I did Bruce Springsteen and U2 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-definitely-listened-to-country-music-i-don-t-think-i-listened-to/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Grace abounds in contemporary movies, books, novels, films and music. If God is not in the whirlwind, He may be in a Woody Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/grace-abounds-in-contemporary-movies-books-novels-films-and-music-if/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Wait a minute man, who do you think I am? He answered, Mr. Springsteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-springfield/wait-a-minute-man-who-do-you-think-i-am-he-answered-mr-springsteen/) [Rick Springfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-springfield/) > [I would love to play a show with Kanye West. That would be amazing. I want to play a show with Tom Petty or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-would-love-to-play-a-show-with-kanye-west-that-would-be-amazing-i/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [Listen, the story of the United States is this: One kid, without anything, walks out of his house, down the road, with nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/listen-the-story-of-the-united-states-is-this-one-kid-without/) [T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/) > [“One time, she waddled out and showed Peg her bandages from her last suicide attempt, which invokes sympathy in some, but usually makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-keaton/one-time-she-waddled-out-and-showed-peg-her-bandages-from-her-last/) David James Keaton ## More by David Means > [In the days following 9/11, when we were reeling and disoriented, there was a kind of solace to be found in old recordings, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/in-the-days-following-9-11-when-we-were-reeling-and-disoriented-there/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [Wars never simply end, not for those in combat and not for the culture, and one way or another, they shape-shift from generation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/wars-never-simply-end-not-for-those-in-combat-and-not-for-the-culture/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [Every interaction with another person involves a dance of expectation, even when you're just passing someone in the street. Inside those moments - however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/every-interaction-with-another-person-involves-a-dance-of-expectation/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [I love the nooks and crannies of the American landscape; the back roads and back alleys, the places that are still untouched by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-love-the-nooks-and-crannies-of-the-american-landscape-the-back/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [I love novels, and I read them more than anything, but stories cut in sharp and hard and are able to reveal things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-love-novels-and-i-read-them-more-than-anything-but-stories-cut-in/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [The more you know about Bob Dylan, the less you know. A truly enigmatic artist, Mr. Dylan's work and life offer vaporous handholds, explanations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/the-more-you-know-about-bob-dylan-the-less-you-know-a-truly-enigmatic/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [As a story writer, you have work with sharp but relatively small tools, the picks of metaphor, the shovel blade of images, the trowel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/as-a-story-writer-you-have-work-with-sharp-but-relatively-small-tools/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [In 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac,' Mr. Yorke's lyrics were often unfathomable, moaned and mumbled and forced beneath the surface of the music. In 'Hail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/in-kid-a-and-amnesiac-mr-yorke-s-lyrics-were-often-unfathomable/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [Alice Munro is an atomic writer blasting doors into narrative time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/alice-munro-is-an-atomic-writer-blasting-doors-into-narrative-time/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [Iggy Pop is a pure Michigan product - gritty, smart, but not afraid of looking stupid or foolish. His father was once a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/iggy-pop-is-a-pure-michigan-product-gritty-smart-but-not-afraid-of/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [I like landscape, I guess. It's kind of a game to see how you can describe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-like-landscape-i-guess-it-s-kind-of-a-game-to-see-how-you-can/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [You don't know what you need when you're a young writer. You can get small slivers of critical input, advice, comments, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/you-don-t-know-what-you-need-when-you-re-a-young-writer-you-can-get/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [I'm not sure if a writer should talk about themes. Themes arrive out of the deeper structure and concerns, but to me, the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-m-not-sure-if-a-writer-should-talk-about-themes-themes-arrive-out/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [I was an at-home father, taking care of them for seven years when they were babies. I was one of those new-age, at-home dads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-was-an-at-home-father-taking-care-of-them-for-seven-years-when-they/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [I'm a relatively optimistic kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/i-m-a-relatively-optimistic-kind-of-guy/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) [Explore all 55 David Means quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) ## More Masterpiece quotes > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [It is easy to take a photograph, but it is harder to make a masterpiece in photography than in any other art medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/it-is-easy-to-take-a-photograph-but-it-is-harder-to-make-a/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Light and subject is inseparable. But when it is well integrated, it becomes the work of a fine masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-chong-hasang/light-and-subject-is-inseparable-but-when-it-is-well-integrated-it/) Paul Chong Hasang > [Know your literary tradition, savor it, steal from it, but when you sit down to write, forget about worshiping greatness and fetishizing masterpieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/know-your-literary-tradition-savor-it-steal-from-it-but-when-you-sit/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [I have tried to defend what is most precious to our American society, a society that is now at war against the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-have-tried-to-defend-what-is-most-precious-to-our-american-society/) [Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [The future turns out to be something that you make instead of find. It isn't waiting for your arrival, either with an arrest warrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/the-future-turns-out-to-be-something-that-you-make-instead-of-find-it/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [“May we each design our own masterpiece”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-muehlfelder/may-we-each-design-our-own-masterpiece/) Tammy Muehlfelder > [Of all the arts in which the wise excel, nature's chief masterpiece is writing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/of-all-the-arts-in-which-the-wise-excel-nature-s-chief-masterpiece-is/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [Respect the masterpiece. It is true reverence to man. There is no quality so great, none so much needed now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/respect-the-masterpiece-it-is-true-reverence-to-man-there-is-no/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The goal of a passionate artist is to try and make a masterpiece each and every time, yet be wise enough to know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donato-giancola/the-goal-of-a-passionate-artist-is-to-try-and-make-a-masterpiece-each/) Donato Giancola [Browse all 624 Masterpiece quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masterpiece/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Means" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpiece/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Masterpiece" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpiece/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a1/david-means-12399_masterpiece_the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpie_1773383.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece.” — David Means", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Means", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "'The Rising' isn't Springsteen's masterpiece.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpiece/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/the-rising-isn-t-springsteen-s-masterpiece/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```