Through spiritedly energized songs like “Dancing in the Dark” and anthemic hits like “Born in the U.S.A.,” Bruce Spingsteen has captivated America for decades. His return, “Letter to You,” is more than just a letter to America detailing why he remains a musical staple — it’s a well-composed declaration.

The 21-track album captures the Jersey Shore native in unfamiliar territory: aging. It is something that many artists find themselves grappling with as they lose the battle against Father Time. However, Springsteen’s timelessness is enough to keep him rooted and well-established in “Letter to You.” He acknowledges his place in an ever-evolving musical atmosphere and bravely accepts it, which makes “Letter to You” worthy of a listen, especially for longtime fans. In “Letter to You,” Springsteen is like wine; he ages well enough to deserve just a few sips at first, until you find yourself wanting another glass.

The opening track, “One Minute You’re Here,” sets the tone for the album with sobering lyrics like, “I thought I knew just who I was / And what I’d do but I was wrong / One minute you’re here / Next minute you’re gone,” accompanied by Springsteen’s light acoustic guitar strumming. Lyrics like this tell listeners they are not in for an album of ’80s glory but one of introspection. The title track “Letter to You” is sure to dazzle fans with its sly old-school guitar and vibrant drums which offer a perfect amount of nostalgia, while simultaneously staying true to the core of the album: reflection on maturation. Springsteen shows that he is not afraid to get retrospective when he sings in allusion to his past, “In my letter to you / I took all my fears and doubts / In my letter to you / All the hard things I found out / In my letter to you / All that I’ve found true / And I sent it in my letter to you.” Springsteen’s lyrical brilliance truly emanates here, as this is the moment where it dawns on fans and listeners alike that this album was not meant to be an album returning to roots. Rather, it is meant to serve as a reflection on a glorious career nearly three decades in the making. His lyrics may strike casual listeners as profound, but longtime fans who have followed his illustrious career will find them riveting. Although Springsteen sang the title track “Born to Run” in 1975, Springsteen shows that in 2020 his days of running are over as he boldly confronts his storied past.

“Janey Needs a Shooter” is a particularly interesting track, as it tells an entertaining story of a woman who encounters different potential love interests throughout her life that ultimately fail to work out. What makes this song so much fun to listen to is how masterfully Springsteen is able to deliver meaningful storytelling through zany lyrics. Springsteen sings, “Janey’s got a doctor who tears apart her insides / He investigates her and silently bates her sighs / He probes with his fingers but knows her heart only / Through his stethoscope / His hands are cold and his body’s so old / Janey turns him down like dope.” It is a delicacy how Springsteen is able to inject original lyricism into a story about a woman with a love life that never truly materializes while providing the almost-formulaic guitar sound that has been his signature.

“Rainmaker” is a stirring song relatable to all Americans now, in an era where the American dream seems to have turned into a nightmare with upwards of 200,000 lives lost to COVID-19 and many Americans struggling to survive. Springsteen sympathizes with this plight when he sings, “Parched crops dying ’neath a dead sun / We’ve been praying but no good comes / The dog’s howling, home’s stripped bare / We’ve been worried but now we’re scared.” Springsteen is undoubtedly one of the biggest legends in rock music, but by taking a moment to reflect on the struggles of millions of Americans, Springsteen shows that even legends are still human and that struggle is what defines the human experience. “Rainmaker” provides necessary moisture to a season of drought in America, and it will surely quench the thirst of many listeners.

Although he is born to run, Bruce Springsteen proves on “Letter to You” that his days of running are over. Bruce Springsteen was born in the U.S.A., and he is here to stay.