Well 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
Well, I strode all alone into a fallout zone
And came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
When they said "sit down" I stood up
Oh... growin' up
Well 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
We broke all the rules and I strafed my old high school
Never once gave thought to landing
I stayed in the clouded warmth of the crowd
Bbut when they said "come down" I threw up
Oh... growin' up
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere
And you know it's really hard to hold your breath
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
I swear I found the key to the universe
In the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mothered breast of the crowd
But when they said "pull down" I pulled up
Oh... growin' up
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
Well, I strode all alone into a fallout zone
And came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd
When they said "sit down" I stood up
Oh... growin' up
Well 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
We broke all the rules and I strafed my old high school
Never once gave thought to landing
I stayed in the clouded warmth of the crowd
Bbut when they said "come down" I threw up
Oh... growin' up
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere
And you know it's really hard to hold your breath
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
I swear I found the key to the universe
In the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mothered breast of the crowd
But when they said "pull down" I pulled up
Oh... growin' up
****
NOTES
Produite par John Hammond, cette version a été enregistrée le 03 mai 1972, dans le studio CBS (New York, NY), par Bruce Springsteen (voix, guitare) au cours d'une audition pour le label Columbia. La version studio sortira sur l'album Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ.