GROWIN' UP^©

Live 10 Aug 1972 version

Well I stood stone-like at midnight suspended in my masquerade
And I combed my hair till it looked 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, 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 bombed 'em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school, I never once gave thought to landing
I hid in the clouded warmth of the crowd, but when they said "come down" I threw up
Ooooh, growin' up

I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere, and you know it's really hard to hold your breath
Swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
But my feet they finally took root in the earth though 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
Whoa I hid in the mother breast of the crowd, but when they said "pull down" I pulled up
Ooooh, growin' up
Ooooh, growin' up
Alright, growin' up

These lyrics refer to the live 10 Aug 1972 performance at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY. Read below for more info.

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: 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, 24 Sep 1999, 19 Feb 2003, and 22 Jun 2003.

Spoken intro on 10 Aug 1972 at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY

[cut] ...about, becoming a man, which everybody's supposed to be on the way to be in. That is all you guys... it could be a song about becoming a woman too, but I don't know. Here uh, song 'bout growing up.

From Brucebase, about the 10 Aug 1972 show at Max's Kansas City, New York City, NY:

01- HENRY BOY
02- GROWIN' UP
Two shows, triple bill, with Springsteen (solo) opening for headliner Dave Van Ronk and folk stylist Doris Abrahams. Each of Bruce's shows was limited to about 30 minutes (3 to 5 songs).
Very brief audio-video excerpts of both HENRY BOY and GROWIN' UP from one of the 12 shows during this Aug 1972 Max's residency first surfaced in a 1990 documentary about John Hammond called From Bessie Smith To Springsteen. The complete audio-video of both songs has recently leaked out and is circulating among collectors. These complete takes represent what was originally supplied to the Hammond film producers by CBS. The producers were only allowed to use brief excerpts of the two songs in the documentary – and were not supplied any footage of the rest of the show. HENRY BOY is the opening number of Bruce's show and GROWIN' UP is the closing number. The remainder of the show (probably only a couple of more songs) exists in CBS's vault but has never circulated. The other show this night may also have been filmed.
...Brucebase has placed this audio-video segment under this date but it could be from any of the shows during this residency.