The Rising is the twelfth studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released on July 30, 2002, on Columbia Records. An immediate critical and commercial success, it was Springsteen's first to top the US Billboard 200 since Tunnel of Love. Hailed as a triumphant return to form for Springsteen, the album won two Grammy awards and marked the start of a successful collaboration with producer Brendan O'Brien. The Rising came seven years after 1995 album The Ghost of Tom Joad, the longest interlude between studio albums for the artist, and was his first in almost two decades with the E Street Band. The album is based in large part on Springsteen's reflections in the aftermath of 9/11.
- Audience Participation Song: "Waitin' On A Sunny Day" is the most common example here. Though
as a fan you either absolutely enjoy the song (and Springsteen's happy smile while singing it live) or loathe it. - Dying Town: "My City of Ruins" was written for Asbury Park, the home of Bruce's first prominent music scene, which had been on a long economic decline. Fortunately, it's gained a revival since then.
- Recycled Lyrics: Some lyrics from "Further On Up The Road" were recycled for a song on 2005 album Devils & Dust, "Maria's Bed". Both contain the lines, "Got on my dead man's suit and smiling skull ring, lucky graveyard boots and a song to sing." There's also a line in both songs about being "out in the desert, doing my time."
- Repurposed Pop Song: Barack Obama used "The Rising" in his campaign, and Springsteen himself played it at a few rallies.
- Scatting: "The Rising" and "Worlds Apart" feature "lie-la-lie-lie" in their refrains.
- Shout-Out: The chorus of "Mary's Place" is from Sam Cooke's song "Meet Me at Mary's Place".
- World Music: "Worlds Apart" features vocals from Pakistani singer Asif Ali Khan.
