Bruce Springsteen lyrics -- Bruce Springsteen shows -- Bruce Springsteen records

Song title: Growin' up


Growin' up

I stood stonelike at midnight suspended in my masquerade
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said “Sit down” I stood up
Ooh-ooh growin’ up

The flag of piracy flew from my mast my sails were set wing to wing
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate she couldn’t sail but she sure could sing
I pushed B-52 and 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 thought to landing
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said “Come down” I threw up
Ooh-ooh growin’ up

I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere
and you know it’s really hard to hold your breath
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared I was the cosmic kid
Well my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars
I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said “Sit down” I stood up
Ooh-ooh growin’ up
Ooh-ooh growin’ up

Notes: An interesting early working can be found in Elouise.
Live version and out-take present no relevant differences.

Statistics from the KILLING FLOOR (www.brucespringsteen.it) database

Published on the following official releases:

First known live performance: 02/05/1972 The Gaslight au go go, New York,NY ,USA
Last known live performance: 15/12/2018 Walter Kerr Theatre, New York,NY ,USA

Song 'history':

During the early years (1965-1972), played live (at least) 2 time(s) in the period immediately before forming the E Street Band.
Then, also played live 4 time(s) during the so-called 'Greetings Tour' and 16 time(s) during the gigs preceeding the official Born To Run Tour.
Keep in mind that only a small amount of the setlists of these years has surfaced, so it may have been played a lot more.
Apart from the above live performances, the song was recorded for the historical 'Hammond demos' in May 1972 and also during the Greetings / Wild sessions in 1972-73 (and released on GREETINGS....)
A discrete number of performances (74) was given during the Born to Run tour
A discrete number of performances (49) was given during the Darkness tour
17 perfomances were given during the River tour
The Born in the U.S.A. tour counted 40 apparitions of this song
The song (in live version) was then included in the 'LIVE 1975-85' box set
The Human Touch tour counted 12 apparitions of this song
Not much used during the Ghost of Tom Joad tour, deserving only less than a dozen renderings
The TRACKS studio out-take collection included an alternate version of the song. Also included in the TRACKS 'greatest hits', '18-TRACKS'.
Scarcely used during the Reunion tour, with less than a dozen inclusions
Not much used during the Rising tour, deserving only less than a dozen renderings
Played during the 'Double Take' shows in 2002
Bruce inserted it 13 times in the setlists of the Devils and Dust tour
Just less than a dozen shots during the The Seeger Session tour
Played during the Magic tour (12 times)
14 perfomances were given during the Working on a Dream tour
It only saw the light less than a dozen times in the whole Wrecking Ball tour
Not much used during the High Hopes tour, deserving only 5 renderings
During the 2016 The River tour, the song was played less than a dozen times
Published in live soundtrack of 'Springsteen on Broadway' show
Performed 3 times during the 2017 Summer tour
Bruce performed this song during each show of the Springsteen on Broadway tour

The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database