Bruce Springsteen Dedicates Song to Jersey Storm Victims at Penn State Gig

Bruce Springsteen dedicated a wrenching version of “My City of Ruins” to Asbury Park, New Jersey, during a performance last night in Pennsylvania as part of a tribute that included praise for Gov. Chris Christie and thanks to police and firefighters for the way they have responded to the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. The Associated Press reports that Springsteen signaled for quiet midway through the song to say that he and the E Street Band have an unbreakable bond with New Jersey.

“There’s just been terrible disruption all along the coast we grew up on,” said Springsteen, who will perform Friday with Sting, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Christina Aguilera as part of an NBC fundraiser to benefit hurricane victims. 

Springsteen made several other references to the storm, pausing during “Wrecking Ball” after singing the line “Now my home is on the Jersey shore,” and, at another point, holding up a sign handed to him by someone in the crowd that read, “Never forget, 4th of July, Asbury Park.”

“There you go,” Springsteen said. “We can’t let a hurricane get rid of that one.”

Springsteen thanked Christie, a devoted fan, for “doing a fine job” of seeing to people’s needs in the wake of the storm.