Released: April 8, 1977
Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen
Producer: Jonathan King
Growing Up – Growing Up – Growing Up
Well I stood stone-like at midnight
Suspended in my masquerade
And I combed my hair, 'til it was just right
And commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain, across by the rain
And I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fall-out zone
And came out with my soul untouched
And I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
And when they said "sit down", I stood up
Oooh – Growing Up – Oooh – Growing Up
And the flag of piracy, it flew from my mast
And my sails were set wing to wing
I had a juke box graduate for first mate
She couldn't sail, but she sure could sing
And I pushed B52 when I bombed 'em with the blues
With my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school
Never once gave a thought to landing
And I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
And when they said "come down", I threw up
Oooh – Growing Up – Oooh – Growing Up
I took month long vacations in the stratosphere
You know it's really hard to hold your breath
Swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared
I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
My feet finally took root in the earth
I got me a nice little place in the stars
Yeah, I swear I found the key to the universe
In the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd
And when they said "pull down", I pulled up
Oooh – Growing Up – Oooh – Growing Up
You know it was cool just growing up
Yeah we were cool growing up
Well I stood stone-like at midnight
Suspended in my masquerade
And I combed my hair, 'til it was just right
And commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain, across by the rain
And I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fall-out zone
And came out with my soul untouched
And I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
And when they said "sit down", I stood up
Oooh – Growing Up – Oooh – Growing Up
And the flag of piracy, it flew from my mast
And my sails were set wing to wing
I had a juke box graduate for first mate
She couldn't sail, but she sure could sing
And I pushed B52 when I bombed 'em with the blues
With my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school
Never once gave a thought to landing
And I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
And when they said "come down", I threw up
Oooh – Growing Up – Oooh – Growing Up
I took month long vacations in the stratosphere
You know it's really hard to hold your breath
Swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared
I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
My feet finally took root in the earth
I got me a nice little place in the stars
Yeah, I swear I found the key to the universe
In the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd
And when they said "pull down", I pulled up
Oooh – Growing Up – Oooh – Growing Up
You know it was cool just growing up
Yeah we were cool growing up