"Bobby Jean" is an upbeat rock song written by Bruce Springsteen, composed and recorded in 1983 during the sessions for the Born in the U.S.A. album. The track was laid down on July 28, 1983, at the Hit Factory in New York City with the E Street Band. The composition is widely understood as a farewell tribute to guitarist Steven Van Zandt, who departed the E Street Band during these sessions to pursue a solo career, though Springsteen has framed it more broadly as a song about youthful friendship and the bonds forged through shared devotion to rock and roll. The melody is direct and anthemic, propelled by a driving rhythm that announces itself with a count-in, establishing an energetic, celebratory tone from the outset. The layered arrangement makes room for piano, synthesizer, glockenspiel, and a prominent saxophone part alongside the core rock instrumentation. A notable harmonic feature is the shift from minor to major altered chords near the end of the chorus, which lifts the song from wistful reflection into something more generous and optimistic. Thematically, the composition echoes earlier Springsteen works about fractured relationships, particularly "Backstreets" from Born to Run, but channels those emotions through a warmer, more accepting lens. It has become a staple of Springsteen's live performances and a beloved deep cut from his most commercially successful album.
