Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just to cover it up now

Born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
Born in the USA now

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA
I was born in the USA

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said, "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my VA man
He said, "Son, don't you understand now?"
(Ok)
(No, no)
(No, no, no)

I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off all the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone

He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go

Born in the USA
I was born in the USA now
Born in the USA
I'm a long gone Daddy in the USA now
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
Born in the USA
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the USA now

(Oh, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
(Oh, no, no)
(Oh, no, no, no)
Hey
(Oh, no, no)
Woo


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Born in the U.S.A. Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Born in the U.S.A. song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    At first listen, this could be a fist-pumping cry for all the mouth-breathing, non-questioning folks who grew up voting for Ronald Reagan and tell us on a daily basis "America - Love it or Leave it" through their bumpersticker mentality. My brother fought in Vietnam, and even though he came back in one piece, his mixed feelings toward what happened in the 60s and 70s in Vietnam are captured fairly well in the verses. If you have ever heard Bruce perform the acoustic version, especially live, you hear that struggle between patriotism and self-doubt. This song takes on new meaning when held up to current events. Is it OK to not question the actions of our government... or risk being labeled a traitor or worse, if you refuse to have blind-faith in our decisionmakers?

    stealthbeetleon January 11, 2002   Link

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