GROWIN' UP^©

Live 24 Sep 1999 version

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, say!
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, came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, when they said "sit down" I stood up
Ooooh, 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 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 thought to landing
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, when they said "come down" I (crowd: threw up)
Ooooh, growin' up

Big Man!

[spoken intro]

I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere, 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
My feet they finally took root in the earth, 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, when they said "sit down" I stood up
Ooooh, growin' up
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Growin' up

These lyrics refer to the live 24 Sep 1999 performance at First Union Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA.

Check also the album's version (more details), the Tracks version, and the alternative version. The live versions are all pretty similar, and have no important lyrics variations. Only the spoken intro differs. Check them out: 10 Aug 1972, 31 Oct 1973, 05 Feb 1975, 30 Dec 1975, 07 Apr 1976, 27 Oct 1976, 04 Nov 1976, 23 Mar 1977, 24 Mar 1977, 31 May 1978, 25 Jun 1978, 05 Jul 1978, 07 Jul 1978, 04 Aug 1978, 09 Aug 1978, 20 Aug 1984, 14 Sep 1984, 22 Sep 1992, 19 Feb 2003, and 22 Jun 2003.

Spoken intro on 24 Sep 1999 at First Union Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA:

And there I was, and I was ???, and really I'd, I'd rather be in Philadelphia