Bruce Springsteen fans are trying to solve the meaning behind Tunnel of Love deep cut, Brilliant Disguise.
Dubbing the song their “favourite of his from any era,” a post to Reddit has attempted to deep dive into the song, with fans suggesting several interpretations. Springsteen was asked about the song on The Howard Stern Show and credits collaborator and wife Patti Scialfi for “transforming” the song they sing together. A post to the Bruce Springsteen Reddit page reads: “This is one of my favourite songs of his from any era, but it never occurred to me until now, what is the ‘something tucked in shame underneath your pillow’ that Bruce talks about?”
Fans scrambled for an answer to the meaning of the song, with several suggestions found in the comments. One user wrote: “I always thought a love note or a memento from the person the partner is keeping a secret.” Another agreed, adding: “Yes, this was always my interpretation also. What’s he have in the palm of his hand, later in the song?”
A separate interpretation was offered by another user, who suggested: “Him. I always took it as he felt out of place with someone “better” than him. That’s the song in a nutshell. Great tune.” Another agreed, adding: “The entire record is just one long gut punch, love it.”
Another user believes they have solved the mystery within Brilliant Disguise. They suggested: “It is his wedding ring under the pillow. He feels like an imposter and he feels in his mind that ring he wears is undeserving and he feels he tricked her somehow. This song is incredibly deep.
“I also think it is very personal to him regarding his first marriage. He has so much shame about cheating on Julie Despite his sins. His fame and money bother him tremendously. Is he really the good guy or is it all a Brilliant Disguise. The conclusion? ‘God have mercy on the man who doubts what he is sure of.’ I say the greatest single lyric in rock and roll history.”
Others in the thread agreed with this interpretation and recalled hearing the song for the first time. They wrote: “When the album first came out my best friend and I listened to the whole thing and we just looked at each other and said “Yup, he’s getting a divorce’.”
Springsteen, speaking on The Howard Stern Show, said the song was about “the masks that we wear when we initially get together with people.” He said: “Or, as we carry on, how difficult it is to know someone or to simply know yourself. But when Patti sings it with me she turns it into a love song, a tough-hearted love song which is a really cool thing.” Springsteen confirmed Scialfi “changed the meaning of the song”.
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