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Growin' Up Lyrics
I stood stone-like 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 … 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 … 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 in full costume dress
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars
And 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 but when they said, "Pull down," I pulled up
Ooh … growin' up. Ooh … growin' up
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 … growin' up
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 … growin' up
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars
And 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 but when they said, "Pull down," I pulled up
Ooh … growin' up. Ooh … growin' up
Song Info
Submitted by
fearofmusic On Aug 23, 2002
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I believe the line actually says
"I hid in the clouded warmth of the crowd but when they said, "Calm down," I threw up"
@Image In Nation I came here (and resurrected my SongMeanings login) to say that. The lyrics above have two errors, substituting "wrath" for "warmth" and "come down" for "calm down".
@Image In Nation I came here (and resurrected my SongMeanings login) to say that. The lyrics above have two errors, substituting "wrath" for "warmth" and "come down" for "calm down".
Hearing "come down" for "calm down" is understandable. The sounds are very similar, and he was just talking about flying an airplane and strafing his school. But it ruins the poetry of the line, which is about being an adolescent rebel without a clue who makes life tough and unpleasant for himself by doing the opposite of what he's told....
Hearing "come down" for "calm down" is understandable. The sounds are very similar, and he was just talking about flying an airplane and strafing his school. But it ruins the poetry of the line, which is about being an adolescent rebel without a clue who makes life tough and unpleasant for himself by doing the opposite of what he's told.
This is the critical point of each verse, where the tension of both the words and the music maxes out (before the title line brings it all home). In each case, "they" tell the first-person narrator one thing and he does the opposite. It's clearer but more prosaic in the other verses. This requires a little more thought, but you get a bigger payoff in exchange.
Swapping "wrath" for "warmth" is less big a deal, but also a dumber mistake. It's easy to hear the word if you listen instead of assuming he'll repeat himself.
The acoustic version on 18 tracks is way better than the Asbury Park version in my opinion. I think this song can be related to anyone in the teenage/early 20 years.
Pretty simple song to realize the meaning, its all about growin up.
Good one. I'll agree.
reminds me of myself...great metaphors and stuff it reminds me of summer
Live version is superb - "bye bye New Jersey, we were airbourne"
so much better
so much better
the live 1975-1985 version is really strong. "i guess you'll have to settle for rock and roll"...BOOM! (paraphrased). amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dy7RTicVr0 - "It's about becoming a man - or maybe a woman too, I don't know" =D
The general meaning is about him growing up but there are a lot of things to question - such as this - strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched