Bruce Springsteen Responds to Minneapolis Protests with Fiery New Protest Song 'Streets of Minneapolis'
In response to protests in Minneapolis, Bruce Springsteen releases a powerful protest song, 'Streets of Minneapolis,' addressing state terror and injustice.
Just days after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Bruce Springsteen has released "Streets of Minneapolis," a fiery protest song reminiscent of Phil Ochs. The song denounces "Trump's federal thugs," "[Stephen] Miller and [Kristi] Noem's dirty lies," and demands that ICE leave the city immediately.
Bruce Springsteen
"I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” Springsteen stated. “It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
Prior to Pretti’s death, Springsteen made a surprise appearance at the Light of Day benefit in Red Bank, New Jersey, where he denounced ICE and the senseless killing of Renee Good. He asserted the importance of the rule of law and condemned the use of "gestapo tactics" against American citizens protesting.
"Streets of Minneapolis" channels sorrow and rage. Springsteen sings of the violence inflicted upon Alex Pretti, highlighting the disparity between official claims and the reality of the situation. He ends with a message of solidarity.
He sings, “We’ll take our stand for this land/And the stranger in our midst/We’ll remember the names of those who died/On the streets of Minneapolis/We’ll remember the names of those who died/On the streets of Minneapolis.”
The title echoes his 1994 Oscar-winning song “Streets of Philadelphia.” Springsteen has a history of topical songs, including “American Skin (41 Shots),” “We Take Care of Our Own,” and “Living in the Future,” but this release marks one of his quickest responses to a current event.
Springsteen's plans for the year include a new solo album he told Rolling Stone he plans on releasing at some point in the near future.
“Streets of Minneapolis” Lyrics
Through the winter’s ice and cold
Down Nicollet Avenue
A city aflame fought fire and ice
‘Neath an occupier’s boots
King Trump’s private army from the DHS
Guns belted to their coats
Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law
Or so their story goes
Against smoke and rubber bullets
By the dawn’s early light
Citizens stood for justice
Their voices ringing through the night
And there were bloody footprints
Where mercy should have stood
And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets
Alex Pretti and Renee Good
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Singing through the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
Here in our home they killed and roamed
In the winter of ’26
We’ll remember the names of those who died
On the streets of Minneapolis
Trump’s federal thugs beat up on
His face and his chest
Then we heard the gunshots
And Alex Pretti lay in the snow, dead
Their claim was self defense, sir
Just don’t believe your eyes
It’s our blood and bones
And these whistles and phones
Against Miller and Noem’s dirty lies
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Crying through the bloody mist
We’ll remember the names of those who died
On the streets of Minneapolis
Now they say they’re here to uphold the law
But they trample on our rights
If your skin is black or brown my friend
You can be questioned or deported on sight
In chants of ICE out now
Our city’s heart and soul persists
Through broken glass and bloody tears
On the streets of Minneapolis
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Singing through the bloody mist
Here in our home they killed and roamed
In the winter of ’26
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
We’ll remember the names of those who died
On the streets of Minneapolis
We’ll remember the names of those who died
On the streets of Minneapolis
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