The Boss Takes the Stage, and a Stand
Manchester’s vibrant Co-op Live arena pulsed with anticipation as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band launched the European leg of their ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ tour. The city is no stranger to historic musical moments, but on this night, history came laced with urgent political fervor. Before the first chord rang out, Springsteen’s gravelly voice cut through the tension with a denunciation of former President Donald Trump so blistering, it instantly lit up social media feeds worldwide: “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.”
This was more than a concert—it was a clarion call to resist authoritarianism. Springsteen invoked the power of art and collective action, declaring, “The last check on power after the checks and balances of government have failed are the people, you and me…. It’s in the union of people around a common set of values now that’s all that stands between a democracy and authoritarianism. At the end of the day, all we’ve got is each other.” (Pew Research, 2023, underscores that trust in democratic institutions among Americans has reached historic lows, especially when political leaders exploit partisan divisions.)
Beyond that, the night’s setlist doubled as protest. Opening with “Land of Hope and Dreams,” Springsteen moved into the searing “Death to My Hometown,” his voice trembling with the conviction of someone who’s not merely entertaining, but testifying. The live debut of “Rainmaker”—a haunting critique of political demagogues—drove home the sense of national peril that animates so much of his recent work.
Trump, Authoritarianism, and the Power of Dissent
The audience, a sea of raised hands and upturned faces, knew they were witnessing a fusion of music and resistance loaded with historic resonance. Springsteen didn’t shy from specifics. “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent… The richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death… They are rolling back historic civil rights legislation… They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom,” he warned.
How many mainstream rock legends wield their platform with such unapologetic clarity? This is a tradition Springsteen has cultivated for decades, reminiscent of artists like Dylan and Seeger during the Vietnam War. Historian Michael Kazin has drawn such comparisons, noting that cultural icons who channel the anxieties of their era can energize public demands for change. (The Guardian, 2022)
“The last check on power after the checks and balances of government have failed are the people, you and me… At the end of the day, all we’ve got is each other.”
Springsteen has often used his tour stops as platforms for progressive advocacy, from campaign trail appearances to poignant moments on his Broadway stage. In this political cycle, he’s called Trump “the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime,” and warned against the normalization of antidemocratic impulses. His vocal support for Kamala Harris and other Democratic leaders underpins his belief that music, like democracy, demands participation and vigilance—not passive consumption.
Behind the scenes, recent headlines reveal a broader crackdown on dissent and due process. The cancellation of Austin-based band Lord Buffalo’s European tour after U.S. Customs detained their drummer is just the latest reminder that civil liberties are never guaranteed. These stories, small as they may seem, echo the warning Springsteen issued from the stage: when leaders turn against their own laws, ordinary citizens become the last line of defense.
Why Springsteen’s Critique Matters Now
A closer look reveals this isn’t just another celebrity outburst. Springsteen’s criticisms land with force because they articulate what millions of Americans feel but may struggle to say aloud: the sense that core rights—speech, assembly, protection under the law—are alarmingly fragile. Harvard constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe notes, “When artists speak out, they embolden citizens to recognize the stakes of our time. Their visibility brings urgency to threats the public might otherwise ignore.”
With conservative leaders continuously attacking voting rights, criminalizing protest, and undermining trust in elections, concerts like this become spaces of rare communal solidarity. Music’s power to unite isn’t just sentimental—it’s strategic. From the anthems of the civil rights movement to antiwar protests, songwriters have always helped hold a mirror to politics’ ugliest impulses. The strength of Springsteen’s message lies in its refusal to accept injustice as inevitable or democracy as self-sustaining.
Emerging research from the Brookings Institution finds that nations where civil society is engaged—where free expression is celebrated and art flourishes—are more resilient against the slide into authoritarianism (Brookings, 2023). Springsteen’s tour is a reminder that, in a time when media is weaponized and facts are called into question, gathering together to bear witness still matters. It’s an act of courage—and of hope.
What does that look like for you? Maybe it’s voting, maybe it’s attending a protest, or simply supporting organizations that stand for democratic freedom. The lesson here is that democracy doesn’t defend itself: people do. As Springsteen put it, “All we’ve got is each other.”
