Question 1

True or false: Springsteen won an Academy Award for the song 'Streets of Philadelphia'.

Accepted Answer

True. He won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1994 for 'Streets of Philadelphia' from the film 'Philadelphia'.

Question 2

True or false: Springsteen’s song 'Born in the U.S.A.' was written as a patriotic anthem for the Reagan era.

Accepted Answer

False. The song is actually a critical take on the mistreatment of Vietnam veterans, not a jingoistic anthem.

Question 3

True or false: Springsteen’s 1975 album 'Born to Run' was recorded in just two weeks.

Accepted Answer

False. It took over 14 months to record, with Springsteen famously obsessing over every note and lyric.

Question 4

True or false: Bruce Springsteen once released an album entirely recorded on a 4-track cassette in his bedroom.

Accepted Answer

True. His 1982 album 'Nebraska' was recorded on a 4-track Teac recorder at home, intended as demos but released as-is.

Question 5

True or false: Springsteen’s mother, Adele, bought him his first guitar when he was 16 years old.

Accepted Answer

False. His mother actually rented a guitar for him when he was 7, and later bought him a $60 Kent guitar at 16.

Question 6

True or false: Springsteen’s father was a bus driver, which inspired the song 'The River'.

Accepted Answer

False. His father worked various jobs, including as a bus driver, but 'The River' was inspired by his sister’s marriage.

Question 7

True or false: Springsteen has never performed a concert in the state of Alabama.

Accepted Answer

True. As of 2025, Springsteen has never played a show in Alabama, one of the few states he’s skipped entirely.

Question 8

True or false: Springsteen’s first public performance was at a high school talent show singing 'Blowin' in the Wind'.

Accepted Answer

True. At age 16, he performed Bob Dylan’s 'Blowin' in the Wind' on guitar at St. Rose of Lima School talent show.

Bruce Springsteen Trivia Questions