Fifteen years ago, Bruce Springsteen wrote a dirge about Asbury Park, his adopted musical hometown, called “My City of Ruins,” in which he lamented the fate of this forlorn seaside resort:
Young men on the corner
Like scattered leaves
The boarded up windows
The empty streets.
This summer, Mr. Springsteen took note of the city’s changing fortunes during a performance at Asbury’s Wonder Bar. As he introduced another song, “Atlantic City,” he said, “But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.” He paused for a moment, before continuing, “Maybe Asbury Park is back?” — to cheers from the crowd.