Born In The USA
- Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." is a reflection on the experiences of a Vietnam War veteran, and the struggles of working-class Americans. The opening verse depicts the singer’s upbringing in a “dead man’s town," highlighting the feelings of alienation and hopelessness faced by the working class. He then alludes to being drafted into the Vietnam War, where he was expected to fight against the "yellow man." The third verse describes the difficulties encountered by veterans attempting to acclimate to civilian life, including a lack of support and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Despite its upbeat melody and anthemic chorus, the song is a critique of the U.S. government's treatment of working-class people and veterans. Springsteen’s song was heavily criticized by some who mistakenly interpreted the chorus as a rallying cry for American patriotism, rather than a statement of the singer's roots.
Overall, "Born in the U.S.A." can be seen as a powerful statement on the emotional toll of war and the struggles faced by the working class in America.
Line by Line Meaning
Born down in a dead man's town
I was born in an area with no prospects, in which opportunities were scarce.
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
Life has been a constant struggle for me, and I've had to fight since my birth.
End up like a dog that's been beat too much
I was treated unfairly throughout my life and forced to endure a lot of pain and hardship.
'Til you spend half your life just to cover it up now
It took me a long time to get over my past and escape from the shadows of my early years.
Got in a little hometown jam
I got in trouble with the local authorities in my hometown.
So they put a rifle in my hands
I was drafted into military service and forced to fight in a war I didn't believe in.
Sent me off to a foreign land
I was shipped away to a far-off place to fight for something I didn't understand.
To go and kill the yellow man
I was ordered to fight against the people of Vietnam, who were labeled as enemies solely on the basis of their nationality.
Come back home to the refinery
After returning home from war, I had to take up a job in an oil refinery to make ends meet.
Hiring man said, "Son if it was up to me"
Despite my military service, I wasn't seen as a valuable worker and had to beg for a job.
Went down to see my VA man
I went to see a veteran's affairs representative for help with post-war trauma and adjustment issues.
He said, "Son, don't you understand now?"
The VA official tried to explain to me that the war had negative effects on my mental health, but I struggled to see it myself.
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
My brother also fought in the Vietnam War, at a famous battle in Khe Sanh.
Fighting off all the Viet Cong
He fought bravely against enemy soldiers in Vietnam.
They're still there, he's all gone
Despite all the sacrifices he made, my brother didn't make it out of the war alive.
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
In the midst of the war, my brother found love with a Vietnamese woman in Saigon.
I got a picture of him in her arms now
I have a photograph of my brother with his girlfriend, which serves as a bittersweet reminder of their love and his loss.
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
I'm stuck in a place where crime and punishment are the norm, and where people struggle to survive.
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm working hard in a dangerous job, surrounded by the flames and fumes of industry.
I'm ten years burning down the road
I've been traveling for a long time, but haven't been making any significant progress in terms of achieving my dreams or escaping my past.
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
I'm stuck in a difficult situation, with limited options for escape.
I'm a long gone Daddy in the USA now
I'm an older man now, who has moved on from his youthful dreams and who has seen many years and experienced much pain.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the USA now
Despite all the hardships I've faced, I'm still cool and fierce, with a rebellious spirit that refuses to be broken.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dimadrochip2400
[Verse 1]
Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up, now
[Chorus]
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A. now
[Verse 2]
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
[Chorus]
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
[Verse 3]
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says, “Son, if it was up to me”
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said, “Son, don't you understand”
[Verse 4]
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off them 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
[Verse 5]
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
[Chorus]
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A. now
@jasonjones8768
I know what you mean,
when i was in elementary school -
i had a friend who's father was in Vietnam..
& without being to graghic,
he would tell us war stories that were terrible..
Like one minute him & a buddy would be walking side by side,
then all of a sudden - a sniper had open fired & dropped his buddy with a clean shot..
Jesus, he must have repeated the word senseless after every event he talked about - i must agree with him, (WAR) it's all senseless..
@ellenabramsblankenship4455
This is a protest about how poorly the Vietnam vets were treated upon their return to the States. And my brother's name is one of the 58,000 on the black granite wall in D.C.
@timothygibson2536
Shout at to your brother. He is with my uncle, and 2 cousins. That war still hurts.
@jimcab4279
Anyone who sacrifice's their own life for their country is a true hero, you should be very proud of your brother.
@hizwannassa8809
My uncle and 2 of my relatives died in that war my uncle served the korean war as well
@KodaLeck
You're brother died a honorable man and I respect that,yet its sad losing a loved one
@Cissy2cute
So many 😢
@gtob431
I was always blown away to see this song played at ball games, political events seemingly depicting a proud America... Born in the USA. The true meaning of the song is protest and the suffering the veterans went through and what they dealt with in the war along with the pain they experienced when they returned home. The song has always been glorified as proud America when in fact it is a very sad and painful story of suffering and a lack of appreciation of all the lives lost and suffering that came out of this war.
@natalierampone9750
That's the way I look at it.
@frenchyoathbreaker4095
You can call the song "ironic", I guess. Even though it calls living in the US to be shitty. lol But the way it is sang and portrayed with the American flag and the way Scorcese filmed it with Bruce in leather and looking badass I think works against its message. Because frankly most people enjoy the rhythm of songs and don't listen to the lyrics. With this message, it probably needed to be approached like a Bob Dylan song. More quiet.
@Goomba956
My eldest brother, RIP, had lifelong issues with the lives he was forced to take...being called a baby killer upon his return did not help matters any. I agree with your commentary.