Bruce Springsteen’s “Used Cars” and The Hidden Injuries of Class

Richard Sennett, Jonathan Cobb, and Rabbi Michael Lerner have written about the hidden injuries of class (i.e., the spiritual and psychological harm beyond the not-so-hidden if still not adequately addressed material deprivations suffered by the US working class). These authors argue that justice, fairness, and equality will not exist in the United States until both the unhidden and hidden injuries of class are recognized and addressed. Bruce Springsteen’s “Used Cars,” from his Nebraska album, provides a cinematically lyrical presentation of these hidden injuries, which is developed in this article. Springsteen’s “Used Cars” musically complements and clarifies the concept of the hidden injuries of class, making a useful contribution to our understanding of class politics.