Experience Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ Live at NYFF

## Bruce Springsteen’s Surprise Performance

Bruce Springsteen graced the stage following the New York Film Festival’s premiere of *Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere* last night, delivering an unexpected rendition of his song “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

### Reflecting on the Film

Before diving into the performance with his acoustic guitar, Springsteen took a moment to discuss the film. It features actor Jeremy Allen White portraying him, to which Springsteen humorously remarked about White “playing a much better-looking version of me.” He also expressed appreciation for Jeremy Strong, who portrays his manager Jon Landau, saying he played “a much, much better-looking version” of Landau.

Springsteen paid tribute to his late parents, Douglas “Dutch” Springsteen and Adele Springsteen, emphasizing the importance of the film as a way to commemorate them. “They’re all gone now, so it’s nice to have this piece of film,” he reflected.

### A Political Stance

After expressing gratitude to the film’s contributors, Springsteen shifted to a political tone. He reminded the audience of the current atmosphere, stating, “These days we have daily events reminding us of the fact that we’re living through these particularly dangerous times.” With a career spent on the road, he considers himself a “musical ambassador for America,” aiming to highlight the gaps between the American dream and reality.

He remarked, “But for a lot of folks out there, she continues to be a land of hope and dreams, not fear or divisiveness or government censorship or hatred. That America’s worth fighting for.” In that spirit, he brought with him his “lifelong weapon of choice, my guitar.”

#### Quotes from the Event

> “Bruce Springsteen’s speech and full performance of Land Of Hope and Dreams.”
> — Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_)

> “Bruce Springsteen’s full, surprise rendition of ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ at #NYFF and his remarks about our ‘dangerous times’ and his version of the American Dream.”
> — Jada Yuan (@jadabird)

### About the Documentary

*Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere* explores the creation of Springsteen’s iconic 1982 album, *Nebraska*. The documentary is set for a theatrical release on October 24.

How do you feel about Springsteen’s reflections on his song and the current state of America?