Imagery: Springsteen paints vivid pictures through his lyrics, drawing on the experiences of working-class Americans:
* "Down in the factory, workin' on the line" - this imagery evokes the harsh and repetitive nature of factory work.
* "Got a job at the mill, worked my fingers to the bone" - the image of "fingers to the bone" highlights the physical toll of hard labor.
* "Gotta find a woman, gotta find a job" - this image encapsulates the struggles of finding stability and meaning in life.
Metaphor: The song uses metaphors to express complex ideas:
* "Born down in a dead man's town" - this metaphor suggests a lack of opportunity and hope in the speaker's hometown.
* "The river's run dry, and the factory's closed down" - the river and factory symbolize the decline of economic prosperity.
* "The war is over, but it's still going on" - this metaphor implies that the psychological effects of war continue to linger.
Repetition: The repeated phrase "Born in the U.S.A." serves as a refrain, emphasizing the speaker's identity and the stark contrast between the American dream and the reality of his life.
While not a poem in the traditional sense, "Born in the U.S.A." effectively uses poetic devices to convey the anxieties and struggles of a generation of Americans.