Bruce Springsteen has sung about hundreds of great characters in his songs throughout the years, and some of them have even inspired works of film (see: Sean Penn's 1991 directorial debut The Indian Runner, which was based on Springsteen's "Highway Patrolman"). Now, one of Springsteen's songs has inspired, of all things, a children's book.
Outlaw Pete is based on Springsteen's 2009 song of the same name from his Working On A Dream album, about a "bank robbing baby whose exploits become a meditation on sin, fate, and free will." The book features illustrations by cartoonist Frank Caruso to accompany Springsteen's lyrics, and will be published through Simon & Schuster and will be available on Nov. 4. You can check out the cover of Outlaw Pete below.
"When Bruce wrote 'Outlaw Pete,' he didn't just write a great song, he created a great character," said Caruso in a statement posted to Springsteen's website. "The first time I heard the song this book played out in my head. Like Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Dorothy Gale and for me, even Popeye, Outlaw Pete cuts deep into the folklore of our country and weaves its way into the fabric of great American literary characters."
The lyrics to "Outlaw Pete" were inspired by the 1950 children's book Brave Cowboy Bill, which Springsteen's mother read to him as a child. "Outlaw Pete is essentially the story of a man trying to outlive and outrun his sins," Springsteen said.
You can check out Bruce Springsteen's original "Outlaw Pete" song right here:
