As his Land of Hope and Dreams Tour began at the Co-op Live in Manchester England, today, Bruce Springsteen shared a political message that he had undoubtedly been thinking about for months. (This was his first show with the E Street Band since November.)
Bruce Springsteen had some harsh words for the American president during his 2025 tour launch in Manchester, England.
After taking the stage and welcoming fans, he introduced the show’s opening song, “Land of Hope and Dreams,” by saying: “The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock ‘n roll, in dangerous times. In my home — the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years — is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent …”
This next word or phrase was inaudible because the crowd was cheering so loudly. Springsteen – who has never been shy about offering his political views – received thunderous applause for his opening remarks.
Springsteen continued, “Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring!”
Later in the set, Springsteen again took the opportunity to rage against the Trump administration. “There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous shit going on out there,” the rocker said prior to performing “My City of Ruins.” “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now. In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now.”
“And in my country, they are taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers,” Springsteen continued. “They are rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and moral society. They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom.”
The show also included the live debut of “Rainmaker,” a song about a con man from Springsteen’s 2020 “Letter to You” album. He dedicated the song, which includes lines such as “Rainmaker says white’s black and black’s white/Says night’s day and day’s night,” to “our dear leader.”
In this song, Springsteen also changed the line, “they don’t care or understand what it really takes for the sky to open up the land,” to “they don’t care or understand how easy it is to let freedom slip through your hands.”
Springsteen’s Manchester performance featured an array of tunes from throughout his iconic career. There were timeless hits – like “Born to Run,” “Darkness of the Edge of Town” and “Thunder Road”
The Boss closed the night with his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom,” performed for the first time since 1988.
“Land of Hope and Dreams”
“Death to My Hometown”
“Lonesome Day”
“My Love Will Not Let You Down”
“Rainmaker”
“Darkness on the Edge of Town”
“The Promised Land”
“Hungry Heart”
“My Hometown”
“Youngstown”
“Murder Incorporated”
“Long Walk Home”
“House of a Thousand Guitars”
“My City of Ruins”
“Letter to You”
Because The Night
Human Touch
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
Born In The USA
Born to Run
Bobby Jean
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Chimes Of Freedom
The Fat Angel Sings 