"He went to the movies and borrowed from features such as Thunder Road (1958)"
he saw the poster for the movie, and added some lyrics to Wings for Wheels. If he saw that movie, it was later. Springsteen has a mind that never stops creating amazing images from the world around us. I was reading his book today, and I was amazed how the further you go, the wilder it gets. The real gift he has is the ability to communicate those amazing images to other people.
His song writing method usually starts with the title. That's all he needs to get started. Thunder Road, Badlands, Jungleland...he got the title "Born In the USA" from the script Paul Schrader sent him, and he turned "Vietnam Blues" into Born In the USA. He didn't read the script, he just saw the title, and the rest is history.
He has other talents, like taking other songs, and adding his magic. I remember the first time I heard "Then She Kissed Me". "I knew that she was mine so I gave her all the love I had, but I ain't the kind of guy she could take home to meet her dad"
He didn't write that song, but everybody at the Bottom Line and listening on the radio was blown away. He didn't have a top 10 hit for 10 years, but when he made an album with 7 top 10 singles, some people started calling him a sellout. He is the last person I would call a sellout. He's one of the rare people that can get away with doing what ever he wants, and some people just hate that. I guess you can always look on the dark side, and find an angle to put people down.
I can't even do the poll who do you like better, Neil or Bruce. That never occured to me until I saw it. I also like my old Glenn Campbell songs.