The Diggerer

Springsteen said ,"I have always admired the people of West Virginia. I admire their work ethics, traditional values, and liberal beliefs. These people are the sort of every man that my best songs have been about. The characters in "Born To Run" or "Thunder Road" could have easily have been from West Virginia."

Springsteen mentioned that he has never performed in West Virginia. "I have never played any shows in West Virginia. It is probably the only state I have never been to but there just isn't enough money there for it to be worthwhile for me to play there. However, early in my career when we were traveling by bus we did pass through there on the way down south. We ate at a Cracker Barrel and the food was really, really good."

The first single will be an acoustic version of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads." The cd has several songs that look at myths and the rich heritage surrounding West Virginia. "The Ghost of Mamie Thurman" examines the myth of the legendary ghost that has haunted Logan, WV. Thurman's body was found on 22 Mountain Road near Holden, WV on June 22, 1932. She was murdered and there has been countless sightings of her ghost in that area.

"The Battle of Matewan" is about the infamous coal mine wars in the early 1900's. "Dance, Jesco, Dance" is an acoustic stomper about West Virginia resident Jesco White who has appeared in several notorious documentaries. "Mothman Blues" is a sorrowful blues number about the hero of West Virginia folklore that doubts his own existence because no one else believes in him.

Springsteen says that although it may not be profitable for him to actually tour West Virginia, he will try to pass through West Virginia and try to do something to help their economy like "buy a tank of gas or a WVU T-shirt" in exchange for the inspiration for his new album.