The Lineage of the American Songwriter
There’s a direct line that runs through American songwriting — one built on storytelling, honesty, and songs that feel lived-in rather than polished. This week’s Nick & Tiff Music Weekly Playlist explores that lineage through three artists who represent different generations, but share the same core instincts: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Zach Bryan.
These aren’t just great songs. They’re moments. Scenes. Confessions. Songs that sit with you long after they end.
Get weekly album deep dives, playlists, and local music news — delivered free.
IMPORTANT:
After subscribing, check your Spam, Junk, or Promotions folder
for a confirmation email from Nick & Tiff Music and click confirm.
Move it to your inbox so you don’t miss future posts.
Why We Chose These Songs
This playlist is built around conversation and continuity — how one voice echoes through another, even decades later. Dylan’s influence on Springsteen is well documented. What’s fascinating is hearing how that same spirit carries forward into Zach Bryan’s writing today.
They write songs that:
- Value storytelling over spectacle
- Trust the listener to meet them halfway
- Feel personal without being exclusive
You’ll hear:
Dylan’s poetic bite and moral weight Springsteen’s cinematic storytelling and emotional release Zach Bryan’s stripped-down honesty and modern restlessness
Each song was chosen not just because it’s iconic, but because it talks to the songs around it.
Weekly Playlist #3 — Tracklist
- Pink Skies – Zach Bryan
2. Tangled Up in Blue – Bob Dylan
3. Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
4. Something in the Orange – Zach Bryan
5. Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
6. Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen
7. Sun to Me – Zach Bryan
8. Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
9. Atlantic City – Bruce Springsteen
10. I Remember Everything – Zach Bryan
11. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan
12. Lonesome Day – Bruce Springsteen
13. Nine Ball – Zach Bryan
14. Ballad of a Thin Man – Bob Dylan
15. The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
16. Revival – Zach Bryan
17. Pledging My Time – Bob Dylan
18. Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen
19. Fear and Friday’s – Zach Bryan
20. Masters of War – Bob Dylan
21. Backstreets – Bruce Springsteen
Listen on Amazon Music
Weekly Playlist #3: From Dylan to Springsteen to Zach Bryan
A Few Standout Moments
“Tangled Up in Blue” → “Thunder Road” → “Something in the Orange”
Three different eras. Same emotional pull. Each song opens a door and invites you inside a life in progress.
“Atlantic City” & “Nine Ball”
Songs about desperation and consequence — one filtered through Springsteen’s stark realism, the other through Bryan’s quiet ache.
“The Rising” & “Revival”
Two songs built for communal release. Different sounds, same intention: connection through music.
“Masters of War” & “Backstreets”
Dylan’s confrontation and Springsteen’s emotional sprawl sit side-by-side here — reminding you how many forms truth can take.
Why This Playlist Works
What connects these artists isn’t genre or era — it’s intent.
They write songs that:
Value storytelling over spectacle Trust the listener to meet them halfway Feel personal without being exclusive
Zach Bryan doesn’t sound like Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen — and that’s the point. He doesn’t need to. The influence lives in the approach, not the imitation.
Final Thoughts
Great songwriting doesn’t age — it travels.
This playlist isn’t about ranking legends or crowning heirs. It’s about hearing how songs evolve while staying rooted in the same human truths: love, regret, hope, anger, memory.
If you’ve never listened to these artists back-to-back like this, give it a try. The connections reveal themselves.
Like, comment, or share — and let us know your take in the comments, or if you’re a subscriber and would rather reply directly, just hit reply to the email. I read every message.
Read our in depth article on this same subject…
Visit our Homepage where all of our Blog posts are…
Nick & Tiff Music Blog – ALBUM REVIEWS – WEEKLY PLAYLISTS – GEAR TALK
Support the Blog: These links help support Nick & Tiff Music at no extra cost to you… If you purchase anything after clicking one, even if it’s not the exact item listed, we still receive a small credit — and we truly appreciate it!
Catch Zach Bryan on Tour…
Zach Bryan Tour Dates & Tickets
Shop Zach Bryan Vinyls, CDs, & Merch on Amazon
Nick & Tiff Music Blog 
Leave a comment